1
|
Das A, Koner S, Majumdar SS, Ganguli N. Isolation and characterisation of promoters from mouse genome to drive post-meiotic germ cell-specific robust gene expression for functional genomics studies. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2024; 1867:194994. [PMID: 37956710 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2023.194994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The generation of spermatozoa from developing germ cells through mitotic and meiotic divisions is a highly regulated and complex process. Any defect in this process, may lead to subfertility/infertility. The role of different transcripts (mRNA/miRNA/lncRNA) in regulation of the pre-meiotic, meiotic, and post-meiotic stages of spermatogenesis are being proposed based on various multiomics based approaches. Such differential gene-expression is regulated by promoter elements that are activated in a stage specific manner. To determine the role of these differentially expressed transcripts in the process of meiosis, a robust post-meiotic germ cell specific promoter is required. In the present study, we have isolated and characterized the expression of the mouse Proacrosin, SP10, and ELP promoters for driving post-meiotic germ cell specific gene-expression. Promoter regions of all these 3 genes were isolated and cloned to generate mammalian expression vector. The transgene expression in post-meiotic germ cells was assessed in mice using the testicular electroporation method in vitro as well as in vivo, using above promoters. It was also validated in goat seminiferous tubules, in vitro. We have also carried out a comparative analysis of the strength of these promoters to confirm their robustness that indicated Proacrosin to be the most robust promoter that can be useful for diving post-meiotic germ cells specific gene-expression. These promoters can be used to alter gene-expression specifically in post-meiotic germ cells for deciphering the role(s) of germ cell genes in spermatogenic progression or for expressing various genome editing tools for engineering the germ cell genome to understand basis of subfertility/infertility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Das
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Srimoyee Koner
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Subeer S Majumdar
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; Adjunct Faculty, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
| | - Nirmalya Ganguli
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; Adjunct Faculty, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kalla D, Flisikowski K, Yang K, Sangüesa LB, Kurome M, Kessler B, Zakhartchenko V, Wolf E, Lickert H, Saur D, Schnieke A, Flisikowska T. The Missing Link: Cre Pigs for Cancer Research. Front Oncol 2021; 11:755746. [PMID: 34692545 PMCID: PMC8531543 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.755746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cre/loxP system is a powerful tool for the generation of animal models with precise spatial and temporal gene expression. It has proven indispensable in the generation of cancer models with tissue specific expression of oncogenes or the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Consequently, Cre-transgenic mice have become an essential prerequisite in basic cancer research. While it is unlikely that pigs will ever replace mice in basic research they are already providing powerful complementary resources for translational studies. But, although conditionally targeted onco-pigs have been generated, no Cre-driver lines exist for any of the major human cancers. To model human pancreatic cancer in pigs, Cre-driver lines were generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated insertion of codon-improved Cre (iCre) into the porcine PTF1A gene, thus guaranteeing tissue and cell type specific function which was proven using dual fluorescent reporter pigs. The method used can easily be adapted for the generation of other porcine Cre-driver lines, providing a missing tool for modeling human cancers in large animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Kalla
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Krzysztof Flisikowski
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Kaiyuan Yang
- Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Beltran Sangüesa
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Mayuko Kurome
- Chair of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara Kessler
- Chair of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Valeri Zakhartchenko
- Chair of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Chair of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Heiko Lickert
- Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Dieter Saur
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Angelika Schnieke
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Tatiana Flisikowska
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Huang X, Zou X, Xu Z, Tang F, Shi J, Zheng E, Liu D, Moisyadi S, Urschitz J, Wu Z, Li Z. Efficient deletion of LoxP-flanked selectable marker genes from the genome of transgenic pigs by an engineered Cre recombinase. Transgenic Res 2020; 29:307-319. [PMID: 32410183 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-020-00200-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Genetically modified (GM) pigs hold great promises for pig genetic improvement, human health and life science. When GM pigs are produced, selectable marker genes (SMGs) are usually introduced into their genomes for host cell or animal recognition. However, the SMGs that remain in GM pigs might have multiple side effects. To avoid the possible side effects caused by the SMGs, they should be removed from the genome of GM pigs before their commercialization. The Cre recombinase is commonly used to delete the LoxP sites-flanked SMGs from the genome of GM animals. Although SMG-free GM pigs have been generated by Cre-mediated recombination, more efficient and cost-effective approaches are essential for the commercialization of SMG-free GM pigs. In this article we describe the production of a recombinant Cre protein containing a cell-penetrating and a nuclear localization signal peptide in one construct. This engineered Cre enzyme can efficiently excise the LoxP-flanked SMGs in cultured fibroblasts isolated from a transgenic pig, which then can be used as nuclear donor cells to generate live SMG-free GM pigs harboring a desired transgene by somatic cell nuclear transfer. This study describes an efficient and far-less costly method for production of SMG-free GM pigs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Huang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Guangken Animal Husbandry Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, 510610, Guangdong, China
| | - Xian Zou
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiqian Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
| | - Fei Tang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
| | - Junsong Shi
- Guangdong Wens Pig Breeding Technology Co., Ltd., Wens Foodstuff Group Co., Ltd., Yunfu, 527400, Guangdong, China
| | - Enqin Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
| | - Dewu Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China
| | - Stefan Moisyadi
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
- Manoa BioSciences, 1717 Mott-Smith Dr. #3213, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Johann Urschitz
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Zhenfang Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zicong Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
This chapter highlights the importance of reproductive technologies that are applied to porcine breeds. Nowadays the porcine industry, part of a high technological and specialized sector, offers high-quality protein food. The development of the swine industry is founded in the development of breeding/genetics, nutrition, animal husbandry, and animal health. The implementation of reproductive technologies in swine has conducted to levels of productivity never reached before. In addition, the pig is becoming an important species for biomedicine. The generation of pig models for human disease, xenotransplantation, or production of therapeutic proteins for human medicine has in fact generated a growing field of interest.
Collapse
|
5
|
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mosaic mutation of SRY gene induces hermaphroditism in rabbits. Biosci Rep 2018; 38:BSR20171490. [PMID: 29439141 PMCID: PMC5861328 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20171490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hermaphroditism is a rare disorder that affects sexual development, resulting in individuals with both male and female sexual organs. Hermaphroditism is caused by anomalies in genes regulating sex determination, gonad development, or expression of hormones and their receptors during embryonic development during sexual differentiation. SRY is a sex-determination gene on the Y chromosome that is responsible for initiating male sex determination in mammals. In this study, we introduced CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutations in the high-mobility-group (HMG) region of the rabbit SRY. As expected, SRY-mutant chimeric rabbits were diagnosed with hermaphroditism, characterized by possessing ovotestis, testis, ovary and uterus simultaneously. Histopathology analysis revealed that the testicular tissue was immature and lacked spermatogenic cells, while the ovarian portion appeared normal and displayed follicles at different stages. This is the first report of a rabbit hermaphroditism model generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. This novel rabbit model could advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of hermaphroditism, and identify novel therapies for human clinical treatment of hermaphroditism.
Collapse
|
6
|
Whitworth KM, Cecil R, Benne JA, Redel BK, Spate LD, Samuel MS, Prather RS, Wells KD. Zygote injection of RNA encoding Cre recombinase results in efficient removal of LoxP flanked neomycin cassettes in pigs. Transgenic Res 2018. [PMID: 29516259 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-018-0064-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Genetically engineered pigs are often created with a targeting vector that contains a loxP flanked selectable marker like neomycin. The Cre-loxP recombinase system can be used to remove the selectable marker gene from the resulting offspring or cell line. Here is described a new method to remove a loxP flanked neomycin cassette by direct zygote injection of an mRNA encoding Cre recombinase. The optimal concentration of mRNA was determined to be 10 ng/μL when compared to 2 and 100 ng/μL (P < 0.0001). Development to the blastocyst stage was 14.1% after zygote injection with 10 ng/μL. This method successfully removed the neomycin cassette in 81.9% of injected in vitro derived embryos; which was significantly higher than the control (P < 0.0001). Embryo transfer resulted in the birth of one live piglet with a Cre deleted neomycin cassette. The new method described can be used to efficiently remove selectable markers in genetically engineered animals without the need for long term cell culture and subsequent somatic cell nuclear transfer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Whitworth
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 159 ASRC, 920 East Campus Dr., Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Raissa Cecil
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 159 ASRC, 920 East Campus Dr., Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Joshua A Benne
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 159 ASRC, 920 East Campus Dr., Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Bethany K Redel
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 159 ASRC, 920 East Campus Dr., Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Lee D Spate
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 159 ASRC, 920 East Campus Dr., Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Melissa S Samuel
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 159 ASRC, 920 East Campus Dr., Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Randall S Prather
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 159 ASRC, 920 East Campus Dr., Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Kevin D Wells
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 159 ASRC, 920 East Campus Dr., Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Jin SD, Lee BR, Hwang YS, Lee HJ, Rim JS, Han JY. Regulatory elements and transcriptional control of chicken vasa homologue ( CVH) promoter in chicken primordial germ cells. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2017; 8:6. [PMID: 28101336 PMCID: PMC5237207 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-016-0133-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the precursors of functional gametes, have distinct characteristics and exhibit several unique molecular mechanisms to maintain pluripotency and germness in comparison to somatic cells. They express germ cell-specific RNA binding proteins (RBPs) by modulating tissue-specific cis- and trans-regulatory elements. Studies on gene structures of chicken vasa homologue (CVH), a chicken RNA binding protein, involved in temporal and spatial regulation are thus important not only for understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate germ cell fate, but also for practical applications of primordial germ cells. However, very limited studies are available on regulatory elements that control germ cell-specific expression in chicken. Therefore, we investigated the intricate regulatory mechanism(s) that governs transcriptional control of CVH. RESULTS We constructed green fluorescence protein (GFP) or luciferase reporter vectors containing the various 5' flanking regions of CVH gene. From the 5' deletion and fragmented assays in chicken PGCs, we have identified a CVH promoter that locates at -316 to +275 base pair fragment with the highest luciferase activity. Additionally, we confirmed for the first time that the 5' untranslated region (UTR) containing intron 1 is required for promoter activity of the CVH gene in chicken PGCs. Furthermore, using a transcription factor binding prediction, transcriptome analysis and siRNA-mediated knockdown, we have identified that a set of transcription factors play a role in the PGC-specific CVH gene expression. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that cis-elements and transcription factors localizing in the 5' flanking region including the 5' UTR and an intron are important for transcriptional regulation of the CVH gene in chicken PGCs. Finally, this information will contribute to research studies in areas of reproductive biology, constructing of germ cell-specific synthetic promoter for tracing primordial germ cells as well as understanding the transcriptional regulation for maintaining germness in PGCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- So Dam Jin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Bo Ram Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Young Sun Hwang
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Hong Jo Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Jong Seop Rim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Jae Yong Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, Minamiminowa, Nagano 399-4598 Japan
| |
Collapse
|