A search for the antisense transcripts that affect higher-order life phenomena in nematodes

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An antisense transcript (asRNA) has a sequence that is complementary to its messenger RNA (mRNA). In this study, we tried to clarify the effects of asRNAs on higher-order life phenomena in a nematode. We confirmed that asRNAs were transcribed from a heat shock factor gene and a gene encoding a protein in the Notch signaling pathway. Then, we constructed a library to express transcripts that were complementary to mRNA. Nematodes were fed with the library to express asRNAs inside of the nematodes, and then phenotypic changes in development or fertility were examined. Indeed, developmental retardation or sterility of the nematodes was observed. Therefore, this method may provide a basis to functionally analyze the asRNAs that are involved in development.