Enhanced neuronal RNAi in C. elegans using SID-1

We expressed SID-1, a transmembrane protein from Caenorhabditis elegans that is required for systemic RNAi, in C. elegans neurons. This expression increased the response of neurons to dsRNA delivered by feeding. Mutations in the lin-15b and lin-35 genes further enhanced this effect. Worms expressing neuronal SID-1 showed RNAi phenotypes for known neuronal genes and for uncharacterized genes with no previously known neuronal phenotypes. Neuronal expression of sid-1 decreased non-neuronal RNAi, suggesting that neurons expressing transgenic sid-1(+) served as a sink for dsRNA. This effect, or a sid-1(−) background, can be used to uncover neuronal defects for lethal genes. Expression of sid-1(+) from cell-specific promoters in sid-1 mutants results in cell-specific feeding RNAi. We used these strains to identify a role for integrin signaling genes in mechanosensation.