Oligopeptide polyarginine-mediated delivery of short interfering RNA to cells for gene silencing

Short interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated gene silencing plays an important role in functional identification of novel genes and therapeutic product development. Double stranded siRNA molecules are usually delivered to animal cells by injection and to plant cells by particle bombardment. Here, we reported that oligopeptide polyarginine (POA)/siRNA complex can be efficiently delivered to cultured cells for gene silencing in four plant species. The similar levels of the short interfering RNA-mediated gfp silencing were observed in four transgenic plant cell lines. Experimental results of northern blotting analysis and laser scanning microscopic images, as well as mRNA expression of siRNA analysis confirmed that POA-mediated delivery of siRNA has reduced the level of gfp expression and caused GFO silencing. These results suggested that POA-mediated delivery of siRNAs could be an effective method for gene silencing in plant cells.