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Yamakawa S, Sasakura Y, Morino Y, Wada H. Detection of TALEN-mediated genome cleavage during the early embryonic stage of the starfish Patiria pectinifera. Dev Dyn 2023; 252:1471-1481. [PMID: 37431812 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Echinoderms have long been utilized as experimental materials to study the genetic control of developmental processes and their evolution. Among echinoderms, the molecular study of starfish embryos has received considerable attention across research topics such as gene regulatory network evolution and larval regeneration. Recently, experimental techniques to manipulate gene functions have been gradually established in starfish as the feasibility of genome editing methods was reported. However, it is still unclear when these techniques cause genome cleavage during the development of starfish, which is critical to understand the timeframe and applicability of the experiment during early development of starfish. RESULTS We herein reported that gene functions can be analyzed by the genome editing method TALEN in early embryos, such as the blastula of the starfish Patiria pectinifera. We injected the mRNA of TALEN targeting rar, which was previously constructed, into eggs of P. pectinifera and examined the efficiency of genome cleavage through developmental stages from 6 to 48 hours post fertilization. CONCLUSION The results will be key knowledge not only when designing TALEN-based experiments but also when assessing the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumpei Yamakawa
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Morino
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Wada
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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2
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Oulhen N, Pieplow C, Perillo M, Gregory P, Wessel GM. Optimizing CRISPR/Cas9-based gene manipulation in echinoderms. Dev Biol 2022; 490:117-124. [PMID: 35917936 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The impact of new technology can be appreciated by how broadly it is used. Investigators that previously relied only on pharmacological approaches or the use of morpholino antisense oligonucleotide (MASO) technologies are now able to apply CRISPR-Cas9 to study biological problems in their model organism of choice much more effectively. The transitions to new CRISPR-based approaches could be enhanced, first, by standardized protocols and education in their applications. Here we summarize our results for optimizing the CRISPR-Cas9 technology in a sea urchin and a sea star, and provide advice on how to set up CRISPR-Cas9 experiments and interpret the results in echinoderms. Our goal through these protocols and sharing examples of success by other labs is to lower the activation barrier so that more laboratories can apply CRISPR-Cas9 technologies in these important animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Oulhen
- MCB Department, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02906, USA
| | - Cosmo Pieplow
- MCB Department, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02906, USA
| | | | - Pauline Gregory
- MCB Department, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02906, USA
| | - Gary M Wessel
- MCB Department, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02906, USA.
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3
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Wessel GM, Kiyomoto M, Reitzel AM, Carrier TJ. Pigmentation biosynthesis influences the microbiome in sea urchins. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221088. [PMID: 35975446 PMCID: PMC9382222 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms living on the seafloor are subject to encrustations by a wide variety of animals, plants and microbes. Sea urchins, however, thwart this covering. Despite having a sophisticated immune system, there is no clear molecular mechanism that allows sea urchins to remain free of epibiotic microorganisms. Here, we test the hypothesis that pigmentation biosynthesis in sea urchin spines influences their interactions with microbes in vivo using CRISPR/Cas9. We report three primary findings. First, the microbiome of sea urchin spines is species-specific and much of this community is lost in captivity. Second, different colour morphs associate with bacterial communities that are similar in taxonomic composition, diversity and evenness. Lastly, loss of the pigmentation biosynthesis genes polyketide synthase and flavin-dependent monooxygenase induces a shift in which bacterial taxa colonize sea urchin spines. Therefore, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that host pigmentation biosynthesis can, but may not always, influence the microbiome in sea urchin spines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary M. Wessel
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Masato Kiyomoto
- Tateyama Marine Laboratory, Marine and Coastal Research Center, Ochanomizu University, Tateyama, Japan
| | - Adam M. Reitzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Tyler J. Carrier
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
- Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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4
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Velasquez-Vasconez PA. Reflections about the Molecular Tool That Could Change the Course of Human History: Genome Editing. PERSONA Y BIOÉTICA 2022. [DOI: 10.5294/pebi.2022.26.1.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic editing has many applications in almost all areas of society, but may also lead to unpredictable consequences. Genome editing to modify the human germline is at the center of global discussion. Owing to the increasing number of unanswered scientific, ethical, and policy questions, the scientific community agrees that it would be inappropriate to genetically modify embryos. A serious and open debate is necessary to decide whether such research should be suspended or encouraged. Here we show some bold arguments in favor of deleting deleterious genes from the human genome and the risks liberal eugenism poses.
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5
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Wessel GM, Wada Y, Yajima M, Kiyomoto M. Sperm lacking Bindin are infertile but are otherwise indistinguishable from wildtype sperm. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21583. [PMID: 34732750 PMCID: PMC8566474 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00570-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-cell fusion is limited to only a few cell types in the body of most organisms and sperm and eggs are paradigmatic in this process. The specialized cellular mechanism of fertilization includes the timely exposure of gamete-specific interaction proteins by the sperm as it approaches the egg. Bindin in sea urchin sperm is one such gamete interaction protein and it enables species-specific interaction with a homotypic egg. We recently showed that Bindin is essential for fertilization by use of Cas9 targeted gene inactivation in the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. Here we show phenotypic details of Bindin-minus sperm. Sperm lacking Bindin do not bind to nor fertilize eggs at even high concentrations, yet they otherwise have wildtype morphology and function. These features include head shape, tail length and beating frequency, an acrosomal vesicle, a nuclear fossa, and they undergo an acrosomal reaction. The only phenotypic differences between wildtype and Bindin-minus sperm identified is that Bindin-minus sperm have a slightly shorter head, likely as a result of an acrosome lacking Bindin. These data, and the observation that Bindin-minus embryos develop normally and metamorphose into normal functioning adults, support the contention that Bindin functions are limited to species-specific sperm-egg interactions. We conclude that the evolutionary divergence of Bindin is not constrained by any other biological roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary M Wessel
- Division of BioMed, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
| | - Yuuko Wada
- Tateyama Marine Laboratory, Marine and Coastal Research Center, Ochanomizu University, Kou-yatsu 11, Tateyama, Chiba, 294-0301, Japan
| | - Mamiko Yajima
- Division of BioMed, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Masato Kiyomoto
- Tateyama Marine Laboratory, Marine and Coastal Research Center, Ochanomizu University, Kou-yatsu 11, Tateyama, Chiba, 294-0301, Japan
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6
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Wavreil FDM, Poon J, Wessel GM, Yajima M. Light-induced, spatiotemporal control of protein in the developing embryo of the sea urchin. Dev Biol 2021; 478:13-24. [PMID: 34147471 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Differential protein regulation is a critical biological process that regulates cellular activity and controls cell fate determination. It is especially important during early embryogenesis when post-transcriptional events predominate differential fate specification in many organisms. Light-induced approaches have been a powerful technology to interrogate protein functions with temporal and spatial precision, even at subcellular levels within a cell by controlling laser irradiation on the confocal microscope. However, application and efficacy of these tools need to be tested for each model system or for the cell type of interest because of the complex nature of each system. Here, we introduce two types of light-induced approaches to track and control proteins at a subcellular level in the developing embryo of the sea urchin. We found that the photoconvertible fluorescent protein Kaede is highly efficient to distinguish pre-existing and newly synthesized proteins with no apparent phototoxicity, even when interrogating proteins associated with the mitotic spindle. Further, chromophore-assisted light inactivation (CALI) using miniSOG successfully inactivated target proteins of interest in the vegetal cortex and selectively delayed or inhibited asymmetric cell division. Overall, these light-induced manipulations serve as important molecular tools to identify protein function for for subcellular interrogations in developing embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence D M Wavreil
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL277, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Jessica Poon
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL277, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Gary M Wessel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL277, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Mamiko Yajima
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL277, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
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7
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Fleming TJ, Schrankel CS, Vyas H, Rosenblatt HD, Hamdoun A. CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis reveals a role for ABCB1 in gut immune responses to Vibrio diazotrophicus in sea urchin larvae. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb232272. [PMID: 33653719 PMCID: PMC8077557 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.232272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The ABC transporter ABCB1 plays an important role in the disposition of xenobiotics. Embryos of most species express high levels of this transporter in early development as a protective mechanism, but its native substrates are not known. Here, we used larvae of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus to characterize the early life expression and role of Sp-ABCB1a, a homolog of ABCB1. The results indicate that while Sp-ABCB1a is initially expressed ubiquitously, it becomes enriched in the developing gut. Using optimized CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing methods to achieve high editing efficiency in the F0 generation, we generated ABCB1a crispant embryos with significantly reduced transporter efflux activity. When infected with the opportunistic pathogen Vibrio diazotrophicus, Sp-ABCB1a crispant larvae demonstrated significantly stronger gut inflammation, immunocyte migration and cytokine Sp-IL-17 induction, as compared with infected control larvae. The results suggest an ancestral function of ABCB1 in host-microbial interactions, with implications for the survival of invertebrate larvae in the marine microbial environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis J. Fleming
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Catherine S. Schrankel
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Himanshu Vyas
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Hannah D. Rosenblatt
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Amro Hamdoun
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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8
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Kuang J, Lyu Q, Wang J, Cui Y, Zhao J. Advances in base editing with an emphasis on an AAV-based strategy. Methods 2021; 194:56-64. [PMID: 33774157 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2021.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-based base editors have been developed for precisely installing point mutations in genomes with high efficiency. Two editing systems of cytosine base editors (CBEs) and adenine base editors (ABEs) have been developed for conversion of C.G-to-T.A and A.T-to-G.C, respectively, showing the prominence in genomic DNA correction and mutation. Here, we summarize recent optimized approaches in improving base editors, including the evolution of Cas proteins, the choice of deamination enzymes, modification on linker length, base-editor expression, and addition of functional domains. Specifically, in this paper we highlight a strategy of split-intein mediated base-editor reconstitution for its adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery. The purpose of this article is to offer readers with a better understanding of AAV-mediated base editors, and facilitate them to use this tool in in vivo experiments and potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Kuang
- Shenzhen Eye Institute, Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518000, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Qinghua Lyu
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China; Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Yubo Cui
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Shenzhen Eye Institute, Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518000, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China.
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9
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Xu D, Wavreil FDM, Waldron A, Yajima M. Functional contribution of DCLKs in sea urchin development. Dev Dyn 2021; 250:1160-1172. [PMID: 33587303 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Doublecortin-like kinase1 and 2 (DCLKs) are protein Ser/Thr kinases important for neuronal development. More recently, they are also reported to regulate plasticity such as cell proliferation and differentiation of stem cells and cancer cells, but the details of their functions in this biological context are still unclear. With an attempt to reveal the functions of DCLKs in plasticity regulation, we here used the sea urchin embryo that undergoes highly regulative development as an experimental model. RESULTS We found that both the transcripts and the proteins of DCLKs are uniformly present during early embryogenesis and with some enrichment in mesenchymal cells after gastrula stage. Knockdown of DCLKs induced general developmental delay and defects at day 2. Further, the damage on the embryo/larva induced ectopic expression of DCLKs in the ectoderm where the damage was most severe. Under a tumor-prone or -suppressive condition, DCLKs expression was upregulated or downregulated, respectively, after damage. In both cases, the embryos showed severe developmental defects. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, a transient upregulation of DCLKs appears to be involved in a damage response both during normal and abnormal development, and which could result in different phenotypes in a context dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Xu
- MCB Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Ashley Waldron
- MCB Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Mamiko Yajima
- MCB Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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10
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Huang TP, Newby GA, Liu DR. Precision genome editing using cytosine and adenine base editors in mammalian cells. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:1089-1128. [PMID: 33462442 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-00450-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Genome editing has transformed the life sciences and has exciting prospects for use in treating genetic diseases. Our laboratory developed base editing to enable precise and efficient genome editing while minimizing undesired byproducts and toxicity associated with double-stranded DNA breaks. Adenine and cytosine base editors mediate targeted A•T-to-G•C or C•G-to-T•A base pair changes, respectively, which can theoretically address most human disease-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Current base editors can achieve high editing efficiencies-for example, approaching 100% in cultured mammalian cells or 70% in adult mouse neurons in vivo. Since their initial description, a large set of base editor variants have been developed with different on-target and off-target editing characteristics. Here, we describe a protocol for using base editing in cultured mammalian cells. We provide guidelines for choosing target sites, appropriate base editor variants and delivery strategies to best suit a desired application. We further describe standard base-editing experiments in HEK293T cells, along with computational analysis of base-editing outcomes using CRISPResso2. Beginning with target DNA site selection, base-editing experiments in mammalian cells can typically be completed within 1-3 weeks and require only standard molecular biology techniques and readily available plasmid constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony P Huang
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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11
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Nesbit KT, Hamdoun A. Embryo, larval, and juvenile staging of Lytechinus pictus from fertilization through sexual maturation. Dev Dyn 2020; 249:1334-1346. [PMID: 32644271 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sea urchin embryos have been used for more than a century in the study of fertilization and early development. However, several of the species used, such as Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, have long generation times making them suboptimal for transgenerational studies. RESULTS Here, we present an overview of the development of a rapidly developing echinoderm species, Lytechinus pictus, from fertilization through sexual maturation. When grown at room temperature (20°C) embryos complete the first cell cycle in 90 minutes, followed by subsequent cleavages every 45 minutes, leading to hatching at 9 hours postfertilization (hpf). The swimming embryos gastrulate from 12 to 36 hpf and produce the cells which subsequently give rise to the larval skeleton and immunocytes. Larvae begin to feed at 2 days and metamorphose by 3 weeks. Juveniles reach sexual maturity at 4 to 6 months of age, depending on individual growth rate. CONCLUSIONS This staging scheme lays a foundation for future studies in L. pictus, which share many of the attractive features of other urchins but have the key advantage of rapid development to sexual maturation. This is significant for multigenerational and genetic studies newly enabled by CRISPR-CAS mediated gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine T Nesbit
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Amro Hamdoun
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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12
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Anzalone AV, Koblan LW, Liu DR. Genome editing with CRISPR-Cas nucleases, base editors, transposases and prime editors. Nat Biotechnol 2020; 38:824-844. [PMID: 32572269 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-020-0561-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1230] [Impact Index Per Article: 307.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The development of new CRISPR-Cas genome editing tools continues to drive major advances in the life sciences. Four classes of CRISPR-Cas-derived genome editing agents-nucleases, base editors, transposases/recombinases and prime editors-are currently available for modifying genomes in experimental systems. Some of these agents have also moved rapidly into the clinic. Each tool comes with its own capabilities and limitations, and major efforts have broadened their editing capabilities, expanded their targeting scope and improved editing specificity. We analyze key considerations when choosing genome editing agents and identify opportunities for future improvements and applications in basic research and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew V Anzalone
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Luke W Koblan
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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13
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Wessel GM, Kiyomoto M, Shen TL, Yajima M. Genetic manipulation of the pigment pathway in a sea urchin reveals distinct lineage commitment prior to metamorphosis in the bilateral to radial body plan transition. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1973. [PMID: 32029769 PMCID: PMC7005274 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58584-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Echinoderms display a vast array of pigmentation and patterning in larval and adult life stages. This coloration is thought to be important for immune defense and camouflage. However, neither the cellular nor molecular mechanism that regulates this complex coloration in the adult is known. Here we knocked out three different genes thought to be involved in the pigmentation pathway(s) of larvae and grew the embryos to adulthood. The genes tested were polyketide synthase (PKS), Flavin-dependent monooxygenase family 3 (FMO3) and glial cells missing (GCM). We found that disabling of the PKS gene at fertilization resulted in albinism throughout all life stages and throughout all cells and tissues of this animal, including the immune cells of the coelomocytes. We also learned that FMO3 is an essential modifier of the polyketide. FMO3 activity is essential for larval pigmentation, but in juveniles and adults, loss of FMO3 activity resulted in the animal becoming pastel purple. Linking the LC-MS analysis of this modified pigment to a naturally purple animal suggested a conserved echinochrome profile yielding a pastel purple. We interpret this result as FMO3 modifies the parent polyketide to contribute to the normal brown/green color of the animal, and that in its absence, other biochemical modifications are revealed, perhaps by other members of the large FMO family in this animal. The FMO modularity revealed here may be important in the evolutionary changes between species and for different immune challenges. We also learned that glial cells missing (GCM), a key transcription factor of the endomesoderm gene regulatory network of embryos in the sea urchin, is required for pigmentation throughout the life stages of this sea urchin, but surprisingly, is not essential for larval development, metamorphosis, or maintenance of adulthood. Mosaic knockout of either PKS or GCM revealed spatial lineage commitment in the transition from bilaterality of the larva to a pentaradial body plan of the adult. The cellular lineages identified by pigment presence or absence (wild-type or knock-out lineages, respectively) followed a strict oral/aboral profile. No circumferential segments were seen and instead we observed 10-fold symmetry in the segments of pigment expression. This suggests that the adult lineage commitments in the five outgrowths of the hydropore in the larva are early, complete, fixed, and each bilaterally symmetric. Overall, these results suggest that pigmentation of this animal is genetically determined and dependent on a population of pigment stem cells that are set-aside in a sub-region of each outgrowth of the pentaradial adult rudiment prior to metamorphosis. This study reveals the complex chemistry of pigment applicable to many organisms, and further, provides an insight into the key transitions from bilateral to pentaradial body plans unique to echinoderms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary M Wessel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
| | - Masato Kiyomoto
- Tateyama Marine Laboratory, Marine and Coastal Research Center, Ochanomizu University, Kou-yatsu 11, Tateyama, Chiba, 294-0301, Japan
| | - Tun-Li Shen
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Mamiko Yajima
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
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14
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Fernandez-Nicolas A, Xu D, Yajima M. A tumor suppressor Retinoblastoma1 is essential for embryonic development in the sea urchin. Dev Dyn 2019; 248:1273-1285. [PMID: 31515896 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Embryonic cells and cancer cells share various cellular characteristics important for their functions. It has been thus proposed that similar mechanisms of regulation may be present in these otherwise disparate cell types. RESULTS To explore how regulative embryonic cells are fundamentally different from cancerous cells, we report here that a fine balance of a tumor suppressor protein Retinoblastoma1 (Rb1) and a germline factor Vasa are important for proper cell proliferation and differentiation of the somatic cells during embryogenesis of the sea urchin. Rb1 knockdown blocked embryonic development and induced Vasa accumulation in the entire embryo, while its overexpression resulted in a smaller-sized embryo with differentiated body structures. These results suggest that a titrated level of Rb1 protein may be essential for a proper balance of cell proliferation and differentiation during development. Vasa knockdown or overexpression, on the other hand, reduced or increased Rb1 protein expression, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, it appears that Vasa protein positively regulates Rb1 protein while Rb1 protein negatively regulates Vasa protein, balancing the act of these two antagonistic molecules in somatic cells. This mechanism may provide a fine control of cell proliferation and differentiation, which is essential for regulative embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Derek Xu
- MCB Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Mamiko Yajima
- MCB Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
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15
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Liu D, Awazu A, Sakuma T, Yamamoto T, Sakamoto N. Establishment of knockout adult sea urchins by using a CRISPR‐Cas9 system. Dev Growth Differ 2019; 61:378-388. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daming Liu
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences Graduate School of Science Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Akinori Awazu
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences Graduate School of Science Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
- Division of Integrated Sciences for Life Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Tetsushi Sakuma
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences Graduate School of Science Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
- Division of Integrated Sciences for Life Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Takashi Yamamoto
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences Graduate School of Science Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
- Division of Integrated Sciences for Life Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Naoaki Sakamoto
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences Graduate School of Science Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
- Division of Integrated Sciences for Life Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
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16
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Nesbit KT, Fleming T, Batzel G, Pouv A, Rosenblatt HD, Pace DA, Hamdoun A, Lyons DC. The painted sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus, as a genetically-enabled developmental model. Methods Cell Biol 2019; 150:105-123. [PMID: 30777173 PMCID: PMC6487866 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Although sea urchins are one of the oldest and most widely used marine model systems, few species have been routinely kept in culture through multiple generations. The workhorse of the field is the purple urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. However, one disadvantage of S. purpuratus is its long generation time, making it impractical as a model for generating and maintaining transgenic lines. In an effort to develop a sea urchin that is suitable for transgenerational experiments and the generation of transgenic lines, we have focused on development of updated culturing methods and genomic resources for the painted sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus. Compared to S. purpuratus, L. pictus have relatively large eggs, develop into optically clear embryos, and the smaller adults can become gravid in under a year. Fifty years ago, Hinegardner developed culturing methods for raising L. pictus through metamorphosis. Here, we provide an updated protocol for establishing and maintaining L. pictus in the laboratory, and describe a new genome resource for this urchin. In our hands, L. pictus reach the 4-armed pluteus stage at 4 days; become competent to metamorphosis at 24 days; and are gravid by 6 months. Plutei and juveniles are fed on a diet of algae and diatoms, and adults are fed on kelp. We also make available a L. pictus transcriptome generated from developmental stages (eggs to 2-day-old plutei) to support the annotation of our genome sequencing project, and to enhance the utility of this species for molecular studies and transgenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine T. Nesbit
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Travis Fleming
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Grant Batzel
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Amara Pouv
- Biological Science, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States
| | - Hannah D. Rosenblatt
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Douglas A. Pace
- Biological Science, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States
| | - Amro Hamdoun
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Corresponding authors: ;
| | - Deirdre C. Lyons
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Corresponding authors: ;
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17
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Peter IS. Methods for the experimental and computational analysis of gene regulatory networks in sea urchins. Methods Cell Biol 2018; 151:89-113. [PMID: 30948033 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) has opened a gate to access the genomic mechanisms controlling development. GRNs are systems of transcriptional regulatory circuits that control the differential specification of cell fates during development by regulating gene expression. The experimental analysis of GRNs involves a collection of methods, each revealing aspects of the overall control process. This review provides an overview of experimental and computational methods that have been successfully applied for solving developmental GRNs in the sea urchin embryo. The key in this approach is to obtain experimental evidence for functional interactions between transcription factors and regulatory DNA. In the second part of this review, a more generally applicable strategy is discussed that shows a path from experimental evidence to annotation of regulatory linkages to the generation of GRN models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle S Peter
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States.
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18
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Abstract
The CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated nuclease 9) technology enables rapid, targeted, and efficient changes in the genomes of various model organisms. The short guide RNAs (gRNAs) of the CRISPR/Cas9 system can be designed to recognize target DNA within coding regions for functional gene knockouts. Several studies have demonstrated that the CRISPR/Cas9 system efficiently and specifically targets sea urchin genes and results in expected mutant phenotypes. In addition to disrupting gene functions, modifications and additions to the Cas9 protein enable alternative activities targeted to specific sites within the genome. This includes a fusion of cytidine deaminase to Cas9 (Cas9-DA) for single nucleotide conversion in targeted sites. In this chapter, we describe detailed methods for the CRISPR/Cas9 application in sea urchin embryos, including gRNA design, in vitro synthesis of single guide RNA (sgRNA), and the usages of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology for gene knockout and single nucleotide editing. Methods for genotyping the resultant embryos are also provided for assessing efficiencies of gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che-Yi Lin
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nathalie Oulhen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Gary Wessel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Yi-Hsien Su
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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19
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Sakuma T, Yamamoto T. Acceleration of cancer science with genome editing and related technologies. Cancer Sci 2018; 109:3679-3685. [PMID: 30315615 PMCID: PMC6272086 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome editing includes various edits of the genome, such as short insertions and deletions, substitutions, and chromosomal rearrangements including inversions, duplications, and translocations. These variations are based on single or multiple DNA double-strand break (DSB)-triggered in cellulo repair machineries. In addition to these "conventional" genome editing strategies, tools enabling customized, site-specific recognition of particular nucleic acid sequences have been coming into wider use; for example, single base editing without DSB introduction, epigenome editing with recruitment of epigenetic modifiers, transcriptome engineering using RNA editing systems, and in vitro detection of specific DNA and RNA sequences. In this review, we provide a quick overview of the current state of genome editing and related technologies that multilaterally contribute to cancer science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsushi Sakuma
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamamoto
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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20
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Arazoe T, Kondo A, Nishida K. Targeted Nucleotide Editing Technologies for Microbial Metabolic Engineering. Biotechnol J 2018; 13:e1700596. [PMID: 29862665 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201700596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Since the emergence of programmable RNA-guided nucleases based on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) systems, genome editing technologies have become a simplified and versatile tool for genome editing in various organisms and cell types. Although genome editing enables efficient genome manipulations, such as gene disruptions, gene knockins, and chromosomal translocations via DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair in eukaryotes, DSBs induced by the CRISPR/Cas system are lethal or severely toxic to many microorganisms. Therefore, in many prokaryotes, including industrially useful microbes, the CRISPR/Cas system is often used as a negative selection component in combination with recombineering or other related strategies. Novel and revolutionary technologies have been recently developed to re-write targeted nucleotides (C:G to T:A and A:T to G:C) without DSBs and donor DNA templates. These technologies rely on the recruitment of deaminases at specific target loci using the nuclease-deficient CRISPR/Cas system. Here, the authors review and compare CRISPR-based genome editing, current base editing platforms and their spectra. The authors discuss how these technologies can be applied in various aspects of microbial metabolic engineering to overcome barriers to cellular regulation in prokaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Arazoe
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 657-8501, Japan
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Keiji Nishida
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 657-8501, Japan
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21
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Hershlag A, Bristow SL. Editing the human genome: where ART and science intersect. J Assist Reprod Genet 2018; 35:1367-1370. [PMID: 29882090 PMCID: PMC6086805 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-018-1219-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid development of gene-editing technologies has led to an exponential rise in both basic and translational research initiatives studying molecular processes and investigating possible clinical applications. Early experiments using genome editing to study human embryo development have contradicted findings in studies on model organisms. Additionally, a series of four experiments over the past 2 years set out to investigate the possibilities of introducing genetic modifications to human embryos, each with varying levels of success. Here, we discuss the key findings of these studies, including the efficiency, the safety, the potential untoward effects, major flaws of the studies, and emerging alternative genome editing methods that may allow overcoming the hurdles encountered so far. Given these results, we also raise several questions about the clinical utilization of germline gene editing: For which indications is gene editing appropriate? How do gene-editing technologies compare with genetic testing methods currently used for screening embryos? What are the ethical considerations we should be concerned about? While further research is underway, and our understanding of how to implement this technology continues to evolve, it is critical to contemplate if and how it should be translated from the bench to clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avner Hershlag
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, 270-05 76th Ave, New Hyde Park, NY, 11040, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Northwell Health Fertility, 300 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA.
| | - Sara L Bristow
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, 270-05 76th Ave, New Hyde Park, NY, 11040, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Northwell Health Fertility, 300 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
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22
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Wiseman E, Bates L, Dubé A, Carroll DJ. Starfish as a Model System for Analyzing Signal Transduction During Fertilization. Results Probl Cell Differ 2018; 65:49-67. [PMID: 30083915 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-92486-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
The starfish oocyte and egg offer advantages for use as a model system for signal transduction research. Some of these have been recognized for over a century, including the ease of procuring gametes, in vitro fertilization, and culturing the embryos. New advances, particularly in genomics, have also opened up opportunities for the use of these animals. In this chapter, we give a few examples of the historical use of the starfish for research in cell biology and then describe some new areas in which we believe the starfish can contribute to our understanding of signal transduction-particularly in fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Wiseman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - Lauren Bates
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - Altair Dubé
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - David J Carroll
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA.
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