The Tissue-Specific Expression of Antisense RNA Is One Experimental Approach

The tissue-specific expression of antisense RNA is one experimental approach for selectively shutting down production of a protein.For example,some researchers have proposed that this approach could be used to regulate the production of pollen in tobacco,oilseed rape,and maize.The controlled production of sterile male plants,for example,would eliminate the problem of self-fertilization in the production of hybrid maize seeds.In this approach,expression of antisense RNA would be controlled by coupling it to a promoter that is specific to anthers,the part of flowers where pollen is produced.Alternatively,the RNase activity inherent in self-splicing RNA might provide a sequence-specific means to regulate pollen production.Discuss how a catalytic RNA (i.e. ,a ribozyme)might be designed to prevent the expression of proteins needed for pollen production.