Specific genetic interference with behavioral rhythms in drosophila by expression of inverted repeats

We describe a new experimental technique that allows for a tissue-specific reduction of gene activity in the Drosophila. nervous system. On the basis of the observation that certain gene functions can be ubiquitously blocked by injecting double-stranded RNA into Drosophila embryos, we employed a met hod to interfere with an individual gene function permanently in a predeter mined cell type. This was achieved by the formation of an inverted-repeat R NA sequence in the tissue of interest under control of the GAL4/UAS binary expression system. As an example, we show that inverted-repeat-mediated int erference with the period gene produces a hypomorphic period phenotype. A s elective decrease of period RNA appears to be a component of the cellular r esponse.