Construction and characterization of a eukaryotic expression vector for small interfering RNA targeting the NEDD9 gene

The aim of this study was to construct a eukaryotic expression vector for a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated 9 (NEDD9) gene, and to investigate the effects of RNA interference (RNAi) on NEDD9 expression in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. We used the siRNA design and analysis software to determine the target oligonucleotides according to the sequence of NEDD9 mRNA available in GenBank. Four siRNA sequences were obtained, and the corresponding cDNAs were synthesized and inserted into the pRNAT-CMV3.2 plasmid to construct the recombinant plasmids. These were transformed into the E. coli strain DH5 alpha. The plasmids, after identification by PCR and DNA sequencing, were transfected into the A549 cell line via the liposome method. NEDD9 mRNA and protein in the cells were determined by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (FQ-PCR) and western blotting, respectively. The pRNAT-CMV3.2-transfected plasmid was used as a control. Four recombinant plasmids were identified by PCR and sequence analysis, which contained the correct insertion of the designed sequences in the plasmids. FQ-PCR and western blotting showed substantially decreased mRNA and protein expression of the NEDD9 gene in the transfected cells, compared with the control group. In conclusion, the recombinant plasmids expressing the si RNA targeting the NEDD9 gene were successfully constructed, and the siRNA expression vectors inhibited the expression of NEDD9 in A549 cells.