WMD3 - Web app for the automated design of artificial microRNAs.
Artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) are 21mer small RNAs, which can be genetically engineered and function to specifically silence single or multiple genes of
interest in more than 90 plants, according to the previously determined parameters of target gene selection. It uses your favorite gene(s), which you want
to silence, and designs 21mer amiRNA sequences. You will retrieve oligo sequences to express the small RNA from endogenous miRNA precursors. Please read
the Procedure before you use WMD3 for the first time! More information about miRNAs, design and
application of amiRNAs and several guides on all the tools on this page can be found in the Help section.
Cloning protocols are available in the Download section.
The artificial miRNA vectors pRS300 and pNW55 are available from
Addgene. On their website, search for plasmids associated
with the keyword "weigel".
Proof of concept studies and other related publications:
The systematic design of amiRNAs has first been described in:
Rebecca Schwab, Stephan Ossowski, Markus Riester, Norman Warthmann, and Detlef Weigel. (2006)
Highly Specific Gene Silencing by Artificial MicroRNAs in Arabidopsis Plant Cell 18: 1121-1133.
Link to PubMed
Detailed overview of WMD:
Stephan Ossowski, Rebecca Schwab, Detlef Weigel (2008)
Gene silencing in plants using artificial microRNAs and other small RNAs The Plant Journal 53 (4) , 674-690
Link to PubMed
Oryza sativa:
Warthmann N, Chen H, Ossowski S, Weigel D, Hervé P. (2008)
Highly Specific Gene Silencing by Artificial miRNAs in Rice PLoS ONE 3(3): e1829.
Link to PLoS ONE
Physcomitrella patens:
Khraiwesh B, Ossowski S, Weigel D, Reski R, Frank W. (2008)
Specific gene silencing by artificial MicroRNAs in Physcomitrella patens: an alternative to targeted gene knockouts. Plant Physiol.
Link to Plant Physiol.
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii:
Molnar A, Bassett A, Thuenemann E, Schwach F, Karkare S, Ossowski S, Weigel D, Baulcombe D. (2008)
Highly specific gene silencing by artificial microRNAs in the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Plant J.
Link to Pubmed
