Action of morpholinos in Ciona embryos.

First, using morpholino against lacZ, we demonstrate that the morpholino specifically suppresses the translation of the gene introduced exogenously into Ciona eggs. Second, using morpholino against an alkaline phosphatase gene, we show that the morpholino suppresses the translation of the endogenous gene as well. Third, using morpholino against beta-catenin gene, we confirm that the suppression by the morpholino can be rescued by injection of beta-catenin mRNA. All of these results indicate that morpholino act in Ciona embryos to specifically block the function of endogenous genes as well as exogenously introduced genes. genesis 30: 103--106, 2001.