Accelerated assessing of antisense RNA efficacy using a chimeric enhanced green fluorescent protein-antisense RNA-producing vector

The selection of suitable parts of a gene as antisense RNA sequences is largely a matter of trial and error and, as a consequence, a rather time-consuming process. In this study, we present a rapid and reproducible method to bypass this protracted procedure by using a chimeric enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-antisense RNA-producing vector, The combination of a reporter gene and antisense RNA allows easy measurement by flow cytometry of antisense RNA efficacy in successfully transfected cells shortly after transfection. Four chimeric EGFP-p185(c-erbB-2)-antisense RNA vectors were constructed and transfected into the p185-(c-erbB-2)-over- expressing cell line SKBR3. Within 1 week, we were able to estimate the inhibitory capacities of the different antisense RNA sequences used in this study. Our results strongly suggest that a chimeric EGFP-antisense RNA vector is an appropriate tool to expedite the laboratory work and time in screening the efficacy of antisense RNA strategies.