We began by surveying existing Drosophila cell lines to identify those with distinct but uniform cell shape, size and adhesion properties. For a comparative study, we chose to further characterize two well-established lines, Kc₁₆₇ and S2R⁺ cells 789, because of their differences in cell shape. Although both lines apparently derived from embryonic hemocytes (blood cells), Kc₁₆₇ cells are small and round (10 μm; Figure 1b), whereas S2R⁺ cells are large, flat and strongly adherent to glass, plastic and extracellular matrix (averaging 50 μm; Figure 1c). The stereotypical morphology of each cell line could be modified in specific ways using drugs that perturb cytoskeletal function (for example cytochalasin, latrunculin, nocodazole or colchicine; see Figure 1d), ecdysone hormone treatment (Figure 1e), substrate-induced cell polarization (phagocytosis of bacteria or polystyrene beads; data not shown) or gene-specific RNAi (Figure 1a). For example, treatment with a drug that prevents the polymerization of filamentous (F-) actin caused Kc₁₆₇ cells to develop long microtubule-rich processes, a morphological change similar to that observed upon treatment with dsRNA corresponding to the gene encoding Cdc42 GTPase. Thus, both cell types could be used with RNAi to assay single-gene functions that contribute to cytoskeletal organization and cell shape.

We set out to conduct parallel RNAi screens with a microscopy-based visual assay to identify genes required for the characteristic round versus flat morphology of Kc₁₆₇ and S2R⁺ cells, respectively (Figure 1a,b,c). By labeling actin filaments, microtubules and DNA, it was possible to assay a wide range of cellular behaviors in these cell types, including cytoskeletal organization, cell shape, cell growth, cell-cycle progression, cytokinesis, substrate adhesion and cell viability.

We used dsRNA to Rho1, a gene required for cytokinesis 10, to optimize conditions for RNAi in a 384-well plate format. The addition of 0.3 μg Rho1 dsRNA to cells for a minimum of 3 days in culture generated a penetrant multinucleated cell phenotype (62–100% per imaged field over five wells). Under these conditions, RNAi was effective in both cell types, as judged by the appearance of phenotypes and/or depletion of the targeted gene products. When screening many genes under a single assay condition, several factors could influence the efficiency of RNAi. Given that dsRNA targets the destruction of endogenous mRNA, the efficacy of RNAi and thus the phenotypic strength could reflect gene- and cell-type-specific differences in mRNA levels, the levels and stability of the preexisting protein pool and/or the potency of the chosen dsRNA targeting sequence. In one example, a longer RNAi incubation time of 5 days was necessary to completely deplete the Capulet/Cyclase associated protein, as detected by western blot (although phenotypes affecting F-actin organization were observed by 3 days; data not shown). Thus, it is assumed that the strength or penetrance of RNAi-induced phenotypes observed under one screening condition could vary marginally for any specific gene target or cell type. We reasoned that screening under 'hypomorphic' conditions has the advantage of enabling the effects of gene product depletion to be analyzed rather than its terminal consequences (that is, potential cell lethality). Finally, differences in the phenotypic effects of targeting the same gene with RNAi in two different cell types could reflect true cell-type differences in the function of the targeted genes.

Screens of RNAi morphological phenotypes required the generation of a dsRNA library. In order to allow an assessment of the overall success of such an RNAi screening approach in Drosophila cells, we generated a selected set of 1,042 dsRNAs targeting 994 different genes. The set of genes represented in the library was chosen on the basis of primary sequence to include the vast majority of those predicted to encode signaling components and cytoskeletal regulators that could affect diverse cellular processes (a complete list of the selected categories of predicted gene functions are listed in Table 1; all targeted genes and primer sequences are listed in Additional data file 1). Gene-specific dsRNAs averaging 800 base pairs (bp) in length were generated by in vitro transcription, using selectively amplified products from Drosophila genomic DNA as templates, then aliquoted into 384-well optical bottom plates for image-based screens (see the Materials and methods section).

The dsRNA collection was selected to enrich for genes encoding classes of central cell regulators, including putative GTPases, GTPase regulators, kinases and phosphatases that can act together as part of signaling pathways to control diverse cellular processes. We also selected cytoskeletal proteins and cell-cycle regulators predicted to be expressed and required in most cells. We favored target selection on the basis of identifiable domains within the primary sequence in order to enrich for both functionally known and uncharacterized genes affecting a wide range of processes. Choosing genes from one chromosomal region would be likely to yield fewer visible phenotypes, whereas choosing genes on the basis of their expression in existing cell lines would assume a correlation between expression levels and function.

A phenotypic analysis of Kc₁₆₇ or S2R⁺ cells treated with each dsRNA and labeled for detection of actin filaments, microtubules and DNA was performed by visual inspection of microscopic images. Defects were considered significant and reproducible when observed in multiple fields of replicate screens by independent observers. All changes observed were annotated using a limited set of phenotypic categories (described in more detail below). Of the genes screened, 16% (160/994) yielded a visible phenotype in Kc₁₆₇ or S2R⁺ cells (see Table 1 and Additional data file 2). Gene-specific phenotypes were identified in each of the different predicted protein classes screened (Table 1). In addition, genes within any one class exhibited distinct phenotypes, suggesting a high degree of RNAi specificity (for example, genes encoding the GTPases Rho1, Cdc42, R/Rap1 and Ras85D; see below).

To make screen-wide comparisons of the phenotypes identified, we generated concise phenotypic annotations. As a test of screening efficacy, we evaluated our results by focusing on genes with known or predicted functions in cell-cycle progression in other systems and likely to share conserved functions in Drosophila cultured cells; 20 such genes were identified in the screen, 16 of which exhibited an RNAi phenotype consistent with a defect in cell-cycle progression 11 (Figure 2). One group (Profile I) was characterized by an increase in cell size and an altered DNA morphology, indicative of growth in the absence of division. A second group (Profile II) was defined by an increase in the frequency of cells with a microtubule spindle, indicative of a defect in progression through mitosis. Both phenotypic groups could be further subdivided on the basis of additional attributes to generate four distinct sets of functionally related genes that regulate the passage from G1 to S phase (Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4), Cyclin E, and the Dp), G2 to M phase (cdc2 and string), the onset of anaphase (fizzy, cdc16 and Cdc27) and cyclin-dependent transcription (Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (Cdk9) and Cyclin T). Several additional genes were identified with related phenotypes (see Additional data file 2). For example, dsRNAs targeting a predicted Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (Cdk8) and a novel gene CG3618 both resulted in large cells with aberrant DNA morphology (data not shown), similar to cells with targeted cdc2 or string. It is therefore possible to use visual RNAi screens to functionally characterize a large set of genes and, by grouping genes according to morphological criteria, to identify functional modules.

For other cellular processes, limited Drosophila genetic data are available with which to measure the success of the screens. We discovered, however, many examples of RNAi-induced phenotypes that are consistent with the previously predicted or described gene function in another assay system (examples discussed below). Importantly, in one-third of all cases, an RNAi-induced phenotype identified a previously uncharacterized gene that lacked a corresponding mutant allele in Drosophila (at least 51/160 genes; see Additional data file 2) 12. This shows that RNAi screens represent a valuable addition to classical Drosophila genetic screens.

We detected a broad spectrum of distinct defects in cytoskeletal organization and cellular morphology, including subtle effects in the localization and level of actin filaments and microtubules (see Table 2, Figure 3 and Additional data file 2). To classify the results, phenotypes were scored using defined descriptions assembled under one of seven major categories, denoting visible defects in actin filaments, microtubules, DNA, cell shape, cell size, cell number and cell viability (Table 2). We were able to further define subcategories that describe specific morphological attributes (see Materials and methods section for more details). Some descriptions were interdependent and therefore redundant; for example, cell shape was determined by a combined assessment of the actin and microtubule organization.

Using this system, a total of 417 phenotypic annotations were assigned to 160 genes, ranging from zero up to six annotations per gene in one cell type (Table 2, Figure 4). A comparison between the two RNAi screens revealed that 41% (65/160) of the genes were identified with phenotypes in both Kc₁₆₇ and S2R⁺ cell types. This overlapping set identified many genes that are known to control important cell-biological functions common to all cell types, such as cell-cycle progression and cytokinesis, and genes that may reflect a hemocyte origin (Figure 2 and see below). In comparing the two cell types, nearly twice as many of the genes were found to have a detectable RNAi phenotype in S2R⁺ cells (146/160 genes, or 91% of the total) as in Kc₁₆₇ cells (79/160; 49% of the total). Genes identified in S2R⁺ cells also had a greater mean number of phenotypic annotations assigned to them (2.0) than in Kc₁₆₇ cells (1.2; see Figure 4). This was due in part to the ease of detecting overt phenotypes in the larger S2R⁺ cells but may also indicate a difference in the number of genes required to maintain a flat versus a round cellular morphology (see below). Interestingly, the relative importance of a gene in the two cell types, as determined by RNAi, did not strictly correlate with the relative levels of expression. Furthermore, RNAi was shown to deplete the protein in cases in which there was no measurable phenotype in our assay (see below; and data not shown).

We also noted cases in which morphological defects were accompanied by a decrease in cell number. An RNAi-induced phenotype was accompanied by a notable decrease in cell number (estimated as fewer than half the normal number of cells per image) in 43% of cases (68/160 genes; see Additional data file 2). Less than 1% of the genes screened caused a catastrophic reduction in cell number (an estimated fewer than 100 cells per image) three days after the addition of dsRNA (6/994 genes, listed as having a cell viability defect in Additional data file 2). One example of this class of genes was a known inhibitor of apoptosis, D-IAP1 13. These data demonstrate that under these conditions, severe cytotoxicity is not a major obstacle for cell-based RNAi screens, even if many of the genes are essential for Drosophila development.

Changes in actin organization and cell shape were the most commonly observed phenotypes (94 and 105 out of 401 phenotypes, respectively). In some instances, specific dsRNAs led to defects in F-actin with related morphological consequences in both Kc₁₆₇ and S2R⁺ cells (22 genes). For example, both cell types displayed RNAi phenotypes characterized by an elevated accumulation or a polarized (asymmetric or uneven) distribution of F-actin (13 genes). These phenotypes identified genes encoding proteins thought to limit the rate of actin-filament formation 14, such as twinstar (encoding cofilin) and capping protein beta, as well as previously uncharacterized Drosophila genes, such as Pak3 and CG13503 (Figure 3b,g). Conversely, dsRNAs targeting several known regulators of actin-filament formation compromised cortical F-actin in both cell types (9 genes). In addition, actin-rich protrusions were observed in both cell types following dsRNA targeting of CG5169 (Figures 3c,h), a Drosophila gene encoding a homolog of a Dictyostelium kinase thought to regulate severing of actin filaments 15. Thus, one class of cytoskeletal regulators has similar functions in two morphologically distinct cell lines, irrespective of their characteristic shape. In addition, a significant proportion of the genes implicated in cell-cycle progression (65%) or cytokinesis (50%) exhibited similar RNAi phenotypes in both cell types.

To identify genes that specify different cell shapes, we focused on morphological phenotypes that were restricted to either Kc₁₆₇ or S2R⁺ cells. Indeed, 78% of the morphological phenotypes observed were detected in only one of the two cell types. Kc₁₆₇ cells frequently adopted a unique, bipolar spindle shape in response to specific dsRNAs (21 genes), reminiscent of the cell-shape change induced by actin-destabilizing agents or ecdysone (Figure 1). This shape change was usually associated with the formation of discrete F-actin puncta and opposing microtubule-rich processes and was seen in cells treated with dsRNAs targeting genes known to promote actin-filament formation (such as those encoding Cdc42 and SCAR) 14 and others known to affect microtubules (for example, par-1) 16. These observations suggest that actin filaments and microtubules play antagonistic roles in Kc₁₆₇ cells, with the contractile actin cortex opposing the formation of microtubule-based processes. Although Kc₁₆₇ cells exhibited a marked tendency to take on a bipolar morphology, various gene-specific manifestations of this phenotype were distinguishable. For example, a single, microtubule-rich extension formed directly opposite from a single, large, actin-rich protrusion in Kc₁₆₇ cells treated with dsRNA targeting the gene for the Hsp83 chaperone (Figure 3d). In addition, a large and flat bipolar morphology was induced in Kc₁₆₇ cells treated with dsRNAs targeting the puckered gene encoding JNK phosphatase (Figure 3e), CG7497, encoding a predicted G-protein-coupled receptor kinase, and the Pten gene encoding phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP₃) 3-phosphatase (see below).

One major behavioral difference between the two cell types used in this study is the ability of S2R⁺ cells to adhere to and spread over the substratum. As a result, subtle changes in cytoskeletal organization could be visualized in S2R⁺ cells, such as polarized (uneven) F-actin accumulation (in response to dsRNA targeting Abl-encoded kinase), actin stress-fiber formation (the RhoL-encoded GTPase) and the loss of cortical actin filaments (dsRNA targeting CG31536, encoding a predicted Rho guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) with a FERM actin-binding domain; Figure 3i). Of particular interest were genes required for the spreading process characteristic of S2R⁺ cells. S2R⁺ cells rounded up and detached from the plate in response to dsRNAs targeting 37 different genes, 20 (54%) of which had no visible effect on Kc₁₆₇ cells. Four genes identified in this way had known functions in cell-matrix adhesion 17 (see Figure 5c), including an enigmatic adhesion molecule that contains an integrin-ligand RGD sequence (Tenascin-major) 18, both α and β integrin subunits (inflated and myospheroid) and a focal-adhesion cytoskeletal anchor (talin) 19, as well as focal adhesion kinase (FAK56D, with a slightly different defect in cell spreading). This set also included novel genes (CG4629, encoding a predicted kinase; Figure 3j). The remaining 17 genes that, by RNAi, affected both S2R⁺ cell spreading and Kc₁₆₇ cell morphology may identify those that indirectly affect the cell-adhesion process (for example, S2R⁺ cells rounded up as a consequence of RNAi-induced arrest in mitosis; Figures 2 and 6).

The set of genes identified by RNAi defects in cell spreading suggested that S2R⁺ cells utilize focal adhesion complexes to flatten on the substrate. An implication of this finding is that Kc₁₆₇ cells may be unable to spread on the substrate because they fail to express adhesion-complex components. Surprisingly, quantitative PCR (qPCR) of reverse-transcribed mRNA revealed a 2.4-fold enrichment of βPS integrin (mys) expression in Kc₁₆₇ cells versus S2R⁺ cells (adjusted cross-point difference of 1.2 cycles; see Materials and methods section; data not shown). Furthermore, βPS integrin/Mys protein was detected in both cell types, with slightly elevated levels in untreated Kc₁₆₇ cells versus S2R⁺ cells, and similarly depleted in both upon treatment with mys dsRNA (Figure 7). We extended the analysis to other adhesion-complex components identified in the screen and discovered by qPCR that both α-integrin (if) and Rap1 (R) were also expressed in Kc₁₆₇ cells, although at slightly lower levels than in S2R⁺ cells (adjusted cross-point differences of 1.0 and 0.3 cycles, respectively). In contrast, S2R⁺ cells exhibited a nearly 4.6-fold enrichment of talin expression relative to that in Kc₁₆₇ cells (adjusted cross-point difference of 2.3 cycles). Moreover, Mys levels were sensitive to the loss of Rap1 by RNAi in S2R⁺ cells (Figure 7). This analysis demonstrated that although many of the same adhesion complex components are expressed in both the round Kc₁₆₇ and spread S2R⁺ cells, the genes function differently in the two cell types, so that integrin-mediated adhesion has little impact on the morphology of Kc₁₆₇ cells.

Furthermore, Kc₁₆₇ cells adhered but remained round even when plated on an adhesive concanavalin A substrate that induced round S2 cells to flatten 20 (data not shown), although Kc₁₆₇ cells do flatten when actin-filament formation is compromised (Figure 1). Thus, spreading of Drosophila cells probably requires both integrin-mediated adhesion and reorganization of cortical F-actin. This is supported by the fact that S2R⁺ cells rounded up when treated with cofilin dsRNA because of an accumulated excess of cortical actin filaments. Integrins may, therefore, function to mediate substrate adhesion in both cell types, while the levels of additional gene products (such as talin, cofilin and phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase activity) determine whether or not the cell will spread.

The results from RNAi screens in both cell types were combined to generate a phenotypic profile for each gene. Genes with similar phenotypic profiles were involved in common morphogenetic functions, as indicated by several distinct sets of genes known to interact in pathways or complexes. In both cell types, dsRNAs specific for the pebble gene encoding a Rho-GEF, the Rho1 gene encoding a GTPase, and the CG10522 gene encoding citron kinase led to enlarged cells with multiple nuclei, indicative of a failure to form and constrict the actin contractile ring necessary for cytokinesis (Figure 5a). While Rho1 and pebble (and five other identified genes; see Figure 6) have already been shown to function in Drosophila cytokinesis 310, we identified CG10522 in the RNAi screen as a potential novel Rho1-effector required for cytokinesis 21. RNAi targeting of members of a different group of genes resulted in a profound loss of actin filaments in both cell types, identifying known regulators of F-actin formation. In Kc₁₆₇ cells, dsRNAs targeting the Cdc42-encoded GTPase, enabled-encoded actin-binding protein, and SCAR-encoded regulator of Arp2/3 complex 14, each led to a reduction in F-actin, the appearance of microtubule-rich protrusions and cell flattening (Figure 5b). In S2R⁺ cells, RNAi of Cdc42, enabled or SCAR similarly reduced the levels of F-actin, compromising the ability to form lamellipodia (as in Figure 3i, and data not shown). Ena protein was effectively depleted upon ena RNAi in both cell types (Figure 7).

The screen profiles also identified clusters of genes with phenotypes unique to a single cell type, such as the set of matrix-adhesion genes required for S2R⁺ cell spreading, as noted above (Figure 5c). Three dsRNAs caused S2R⁺ cells to assume a unique, amorphous shape. This striking phenotype identified Ras85D, Downstream of Raf1 (encoding mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase, or MEK) and kinase suppressor of Ras, all interacting components of the well-characterized MAP kinase signaling pathway 22 (Figure 5d). Thus, on the basis of phenotype alone, groups of genes were identified that function in the same cellular process, complex or pathway. In classic Drosophila genetic screens a similar logic was used to group genes on the basis of common mutant cuticle phenotypes, identifying genes that act together to control different aspects of embryonic development 23.

Part of the success of using Drosophila as a model genetic system has relied upon modifier screens to identify novel components acting in related processes or molecular pathways of interest 24. Using an analogous approach in cell culture, we designed an RNAi screen to identify genes that modify a specific RNAi-induced cell-shape change. Pten, a human tumor suppressor gene, is a lipid phosphatase that dephosphorylates PIP₃, acting in opposition to PI 3-kinase 25 to control many cellular processes including growth, adhesion, migration and apoptosis 26. In the initial screen, Pten RNAi was found to polarize Kc₁₆₇ cells, inducing microtubule extensions and a flattened, bipolar shape (Figure 8b). A lower concentration of Pten dsRNA caused a visible but less severe asymmetric microtubule phenotype (Figure 8c) that was used for a co-RNAi screen to identify Pten modifiers.

By screening for dsRNAs that modified the asymmetric microtubule distribution seen in response to Pten RNAi, 20 of the 229 dsRNAs targeting predicted kinases were identified as visible suppressors of this phenotype. These included dsRNAs corresponding to seven genes that were not identified in screens in untreated Kc₁₆₇ cells: Akt1, CG31187, LIM-kinase 1, MAP kinase activated protein-kinase 2, Pi3K92E, slipper and wee. Importantly, two of these encode known positive regulators of the pathway: Pi3K92E and Akt1 6 (Figure 8d,e). One suppressor, CG31187, encodes a predicted diacylglycerol kinase that may act directly in the phosphoinositide cycle 27. It is possible that other genes identified as RNAi suppressors may rescue the Pten-morphology phenotype indirectly by modifying actin-filament organization (LIMK1 28). These results demonstrate that modifier screens, like those used to identify new components of specific pathways in classical genetic systems, can now be carried out in cell culture using RNAi-screening technology.

The set of genes represented in the RNAi library was chosen to include the vast majority of those encoding predicted signaling components and cytoskeletal regulators. Genes were selected on the basis of a combination of predictions using annotations in the FlyBase 12 and Berkeley Drosophila Genome Project (BDGP) databases 29 and by BLAST searches for orthologs of known genes with functional domains via NCBI/GenBank 30. The selected genes were categorized according to one of the following predicted protein functions or domains: adhesion molecules, adenylate and guanylate cyclases, cytoskeletal proteins and binding proteins (such as proteins with WH and FERM domains), G proteins, GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), GEFs, GTPases, kinases, lipid-associated proteins (such as phospholipases or proteins containing PH and PX domains), miscellaneous proteins (such as transcription factors, PI phosphotyrosine-binding domains and cell-cycle regulators), motors (such as dynein, kinesins and myosins), PDZ-domain-containing proteins, phosphatases, proteins involved in proteolysis (such as ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and ligases), proteins containing SH2 or SH3 domains and vesicle-transport-associated proteins (such as SNAREs, SNAPs and dynamins). A complete list is presented in Additional data file 1.

Primer sequences were predicted using genomic and annotation data from the BDGP Release 1 4 with the Primer3 software 31. Primers were preferentially selected to span predicted exonic sequences if confirmed by the existence of expressed sequence tag (EST) or protein homology data. Electronic PCR 32 was used to select amplification products from genomic sequence between 200 and 1,800 bp in length and possessing < 21 bp of exact match with any other predicted or confirmed transcript sequence. A smaller PCR product size was selected if the genomic sequence corresponded to > 500 bp coding sequence. PCR primers could only be predicted within the most proximal half of the intergenic sequence of each gene.

OregonR genomic DNA was PCR-amplified using Taq (PerkinElmer, Foster City, USA) with 5 μM each primer in 96-well plates (Tetrad from MJ Research Inc., Waltham, USA; 92°C for 1 min, 34 cycles of 92°C for 20 sec, 54°C for 40 sec, 72°C for 4 min, then 72°C for 3 min and held at 4°C), ethanol precipitated, washed, vacuum dried and resuspended in 7 μl DEPC-treated 100 mM Tris-HCl, 0.1 mM EDTA. Separate T3 and T7 in vitro transcription reactions were conducted (T3 and T7 MEGAscript; Ambion, Austin, USA) using 1.5 μl PCR product per well, incubated at 37°C for 4.5 h, and diluted with 47 μl of RNase-free water. T3 (50 μl) and T7 (50 μl) reaction mixes were combined, purified using RNeasy 96 Kits and a QIAvac 96 vacuum manifold (QIAGEN, Valencia, USA), soaked twice for 2 min and eluted in 80 μl RNase-free water. To anneal T3 and T7 single-strand RNAs, 50 μl purified RNA was mixed with 10 μl 6× buffer (40 mM KPO₄ pH 7.5, 6 mM K-citrate pH 7.5, 4% PEG 6000) and heated in a PCR block at 68°C for 10 min and 37°C for 30 min. Purified dsRNA and remaining non-annealed mixes were stored in 96-well plates at -70°C. For screens, an average of 0.3 μg dsRNA in 3 μl was transferred from stock plates to 384-well black-sided, tissue-culture-treated optical bottom-assay plates (Corning, Acton, USA) using a multichannel pipette or a CyBio robot (CyBio US Inc., Woburn, USA).

Kc₁₆₇ cells and S2R⁺ cells were grown in Schneider's medium (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, USA) with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (JRH Biosciences, Fenexa, USA) and penicillin-streptomycin (Sigma, St Louis, USA) at 24°C in treated culture flasks (Falcon from BD Biosciences, Bedford, USA). S2R⁺ cells were removed from culture flasks using Trypsin-EDTA (Invitrogen).

RNAi was performed as described 6. Briefly, 1.2 × 10⁴ cells in 10 μl serum-free Schneider's medium were added to dsRNAs in 384-well assay plates using a Multidrop384 liquid dispenser (Thermo Labsystems, Franklin, USA), centrifuged at 1,200 rpm for 1 min, then incubated at room temperature for 30 min before adding 30 μl more medium with serum by MultiDrop. Cells were grown for 3 days at 24°C. In the RNAi-modifier screen, 0.1 μg Pten dsRNA in 3 μl was added to each assay-well before plating cells. Cells were processed using the MultiDrop dispenser and a multi-channel manifold (Drummond Scientific, Broomall, USA). Cells were fixed for 10 min in 4% formaldehyde (Polyscience, Niles, USA) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), washed twice in PBS with 0.1% Triton-X-100 (PBST), stained overnight at 4°C with FITC-conjugated anti-tubulin (DM1A; Sigma) and TRITC-phalloidin (Sigma) in PBST with 3% bovine serum albumin, stained for 10 min in PBS with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, dihydrochloride (DAPI; Sigma) and washed in PBS.

Fluorescent images of cells in 384-well plates were acquired using an automated Nikon TE300 microscope with a 20× objective and HTS MetaMorph software (Universal Imaging, Downington, USA) running an automated Mac5000-driven stage, filter wheel and shutter (Ludl Electronic Products, Hawthorne, USA), an automated Pifoc focusing motor (Piezo Systems Inc., Cambridge, USA) and an Orca-ER cooled-coupled device camera (Hamamatsu Corporation USA, Bridgewater, USA). Images were also acquired using a similar automated microscope with a Prior stage and controller (instrument kindly shared by the Institute for Chemistry and Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School). Automated focusing was performed on DAPI-stained DNA. Images from UV, TRITC, and FITC channels were then collected within the same plane using preset exposures and a binning of 2 (640 w × 512 h pixels). Images from two different sites within each well were collected, representing around 12% of the total area. Multichannel images were combined as an RGB overlay within a stack of images for each plate.

Images from each channel and combined RGB images were visually scored independently by two researchers (B.B. and A.K.). Annotations assigned to each of the different sites imaged within every well were exported from MetaMorph into Excel spreadsheets. Phenotypes observed in multiple fields of replicate screens by independent observers were considered for further analysis. All visible phenotypes observed for an estimated majority of imaged cells per dsRNA treatment were recorded. Phenotypes were classified into one of seven major categories denoting visible defects in actin filaments, microtubules, DNA, cell shape, cell size, cell number and cell viability. Some descriptions were interdependent and therefore occasionally redundant: for example, cell shape was determined by an overall assessment of the actin and microtubule organization. Further subcategories were used to describe specific morphological attributes, although potentially subtle differences were still distinguishable between specific dsRNA phenotypes grouped within the same category. Specific categories included the following.

Cells were plated at 10⁶ cells per ml in 6-well plates with or without 15 μg dsRNA (results shown are either with gfp, mys, if, Rap1 or talin), as described above. After 3 days, cells in duplicate wells were processed for either protein or mRNA analyses. For protein detection on western blots, cells were washed, collected, resuspended in 75 μl lysis buffer (50 mM Tris, pH 7.5; 150 mM NaCl; 1 mM EDTA; 1% NP40; 0.5% DOC; 10% SDS; 10 mM NaF; 1 mM NaOV; protease inhibitors), incubated on ice for 15 min and spun at 4°C for 10 min before loading 10–12 μl supernatant with 2-mercaptoethanol to run on a 10% Tris-HCl polyacrylamide electrophoretic gel (BioRad, Hercules, USA). Semi-dry transfer to nitrocellulose membrane was probed with rabbit anti-Myospheroid (185E; gift of R. Hynes), mouse anti-Enabled (gift of D. Van Vactor) and mouse anti-α-tubulin (DM1A; Sigma) and detected with HRP anti-rabbit or anti-mouse (Jackson Labs, Bar Harbor, USA) with ECL Western Blotting Analysis System (Amersham Bioscience Corp., Piscataway, USA).

Alternatively, cells were lysed in 1 ml TRIzol (Invitrogen) and processed for total RNA resuspensions. Quantitated RNA samples (Bioanalyzer; Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, USA) were normalized for reverse transcription reactions with SuperScript III (Invitrogen), then diluted cDNA was used for quantitative PCR (LightCycler FastStart DNA Master SYBR Green I, Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, USA). Analyzed products were assayed in triplicates in multiple experiments. Individual samples were averaged, then normalized according to an adjustment factor, determined by the difference between cell types in the cross-point or cycle measurement for the rp49-positive control product. Relative levels of expression in the two cell types were presented as the difference between the averaged and adjusted cross-points (with one cycle difference approximately equivalent to a two-fold difference in expression level).