Efficient generation of zebrafish maternal-zygotic mutants through transplantation of ectopically induced and Cas9/gRNA targeted primordial germ cells

Optimization of genome editing by CRISPR ribonucleoprotein for high efficiency of germline transmission of Sox9 in zebrafish

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the first germline stem cells to emerge during early embryonic development and are essential for the propagation and survival of species. Genome editing creates mutagenesis possibilities in vivo, but the generation of precise mutations in PGCs is still challenging. Here, we report an optimized approach for highly efficient genome editing via introducing biallelic variations in early embryos in zebrafish. We adopted an extended, GC-rich, and chemically modified sgRNA along with microinjection of the CRISPR ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex into the yolk sac at the 1-cell stage. We found that genome editing of Sox9a generated a high proportion of heterozygotes with edited alleles in the F1 generation, indicating biallelic editing. Deep sequencing and mapping the edited cells from early embryos to future tissues revealed that the edited founder has a dominantly edited allele, sox9a M1, accounting for over 99 % of alleles in the testis. Specifically, all offspring of the founder inherited the edited allele, suggesting nearly complete editing of the alleles in early germline cells. Overall, the optimization delineates biallelic editing of sox9a in early embryos and transmission of edited alleles to offspring, thus presenting a method to create a desired genetic mutation line of Sox9a avoiding lengthy traditional crossbreeding.

foxl2l is a germ cell-intrinsic gatekeeper of oogenesis in zebrafish

Zebrafish serve as a valuable model organism for studying germ cell biology and reproductive processes. The AB strain of zebrafish is proposed to exhibit a polygenic sex determination system, where most males initially develop juvenile ovaries before committing to male fate. In species with chromosomal sex determination, gonadal somatic cells are recognized as key determinants of germ cell fate. Notably, the loss of germ cells in zebrafish leads to masculinization, implying that germ cells harbor an intrinsic feminization signal. However, the specific signal triggering oogenesis in zebrafish remains unclear. In the present study, we identified foxl2l as an oocyte progenitor-specific gene essential for initiating oogenesis in germ cells. Results showed that foxl2l-knockout zebrafish bypassed the juvenile ovary stage and exclusively developed into fertile males. Further analysis revealed that loss of foxl2l hindered the initiation of oocyte-specific meiosis and prevented entry into oogenesis, leading to premature spermatogenesis during early gonadal development. Furthermore, while mutation of the pro-male gene dmrt1 led to fertile female differentiation, simultaneous disruption of foxl2l in dmrt1 mutants completely blocked oogenesis, with a large proportion of germ cells arrested as germline stem cells, highlighting the crucial role of foxl2l in oogenesis. Overall, this study highlights the unique function of foxl2l as a germ cell-intrinsic gatekeeper of oogenesis in zebrafish.

Knockout, Knockdown, and the Schrödinger Paradox: Genetic Immunity to Phenotypic Recapitulation in Zebrafish

Previous research has highlighted significant phenotypic discrepancies between knockout and knockdown approaches in zebrafish, raising concerns about the reliability of these methods. However, our study suggests that these differences are not as pronounced as was once believed. By carefully examining the roles of maternal and zygotic gene contributions, we demonstrate that these factors significantly influence phenotypic outcomes, often accounting for the observed discrepancies. Our findings emphasize that morpholinos, despite their potential off-target effects, can be effective tools when used with rigorous controls. We introduce the concept of graded maternal contribution, which explains how the uneven distribution of maternal mRNA and proteins during gametogenesis impacts phenotypic variability. Our research categorizes genes into three types-susceptible, immune, and "Schrödinger" (conditional)-based on their phenotypic expression and interaction with genetic compensation mechanisms. This distinction provides new insights into the paradoxical outcomes observed in genetic studies. Ultimately, our work underscores the importance of considering both maternal and zygotic contributions, alongside rigorous experimental controls, to accurately interpret gene function and the mechanisms underlying disease. This study advocates for the continued use of morpholinos in conjunction with advanced genetic tools like CRISPR/Cas9, stressing the need for a meticulous experimental design to optimize the utility of zebrafish in genetic research and therapeutic development.

Smad4 is essential for epiblast scaling and morphogenesis after implantation, but nonessential before implantation

Bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling plays an essential and highly conserved role in embryo axial patterning in animal species. However, in mammalian embryos, which develop inside the mother, early development includes a preimplantation stage, which does not occur in externally developing embryos. During preimplantation, the epiblast is segregated from extra-embryonic lineages that enable implantation and development in utero. Yet, the requirement for BMP signaling is imprecisely defined in mouse early embryos. Here, we show that, in contrast to previous reports, BMP signaling (SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation) is not detectable until implantation when it is detected in the primitive endoderm - an extra-embryonic lineage. Moreover, preimplantation development appears to be normal following deletion of maternal and zygotic Smad4, an essential effector of canonical BMP signaling. In fact, mice lacking maternal Smad4 are viable. Finally, we uncover a new requirement for zygotic Smad4 in epiblast scaling and cavitation immediately after implantation, via a mechanism involving FGFR/ERK attenuation. Altogether, our results demonstrate no role for BMP4/SMAD4 in the first lineage decisions during mouse development. Rather, multi-pathway signaling among embryonic and extra-embryonic cell types drives epiblast morphogenesis postimplantation.

Genome-wide comparative methylation analysis reveals the fate of germ stem cells after surrogate production in teleost

BACKGROUND

Surrogate production by germline stem cell transplantation is a powerful method to produce donor-derived gametes via a host, a practice known as surrogacy. The gametes produced by surrogates are often analysed on the basis of their morphology and species-specific genotyping, which enables conclusion to be drawn about the donor's characteristics. However, in-depth information, such as data on epigenetic changes, is rarely acquired. Germ cells develop in close contact with supporting somatic cells during gametogenesis in vertebrates, and we hypothesize that the recipient's gonadal environment may cause epigenetic changes in produced gametes and progeny. Here, we extensively characterize the DNA methylome of donor-derived sperm and their intergenerational effects in both inter- and intraspecific surrogates.

RESULTS

We found more than 3000 differentially methylated regions in both the sperm and progeny derived from inter- and intraspecific surrogates. Hypermethylation in the promoter regions of the protocadherin gamma gene in the intraspecific surrogates was found to be associated with germline transmission. On the contrary, gene expression level and the embryonic development of the offspring remained unaffected. We also discovered MAPK/p53 pathway disruption in interspecific surrogates due to promoter hypermethylation and identified that the inefficient removal of meiotic-arrested endogenous germ cells in hybrid gonads led to the production of infertile spermatozoa.

CONCLUSIONS

Donor-derived sperm and progeny from inter- and intraspecific surrogates were more globally hypermethylated than those of the donors. The observed changes in DNA methylation marks in the surrogates had no significant phenotypic effects in the offspring.

Smad4 is essential for epiblast scaling and morphogenesis after implantation, but nonessential prior to implantation in the mouse

Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) signaling plays an essential and highly conserved role in axial patterning in embryos of many externally developing animal species. However, in mammalian embryos, which develop inside the mother, early development includes an additional stage known as preimplantation. During preimplantation, the epiblast lineage is segregated from the extraembryonic lineages that enable implantation and development in utero. Yet, the requirement for BMP signaling in mouse preimplantation is imprecisely defined. We show that, in contrast to prior reports, BMP signaling (as reported by SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation) is not detectable until implantation, when it is detected in the primitive endoderm - an extraembryonic lineage. Moreover, preimplantation development appears normal following deletion of maternal and zygotic Smad4, an essential effector of BMP signaling. In fact, mice lacking maternal Smad4 are viable. Finally, we uncover a new requirement for zygotic Smad4 in epiblast scaling and cavitation immediately after implantation, via a mechanism involving FGFR/ERK attenuation. Altogether, our results demonstrate no role for BMP4/SMAD4 in the first lineage decisions during mouse development. Rather, multi-pathway signaling among embryonic and extraembryonic cell types drives epiblast morphogenesis post-implantation.

Induced formation of primordial germ cells from zebrafish blastomeres by germplasm factors

The combination of genome editing and primordial germ cell (PGC) transplantation has enormous significance in the study of developmental biology and genetic breeding, despite its low efficiency due to limited number of donor PGCs. Here, we employ a combination of germplasm factors to convert blastoderm cells into induced PGCs (iPGCs) in zebrafish and obtain functional gametes either through iPGC transplantation or via the single blastomere overexpression of germplasm factors. Zebrafish-derived germplasm factors convert blastula cells of Gobiocypris rarus into iPGCs, and Gobiocypris rarus spermatozoa can be produced by iPGC-transplanted zebrafish. Moreover, the combination of genome knock-in and iPGC transplantation perfectly resolves the contradiction between high knock-in efficiency and early lethality during embryonic stages and greatly improves the efficiency of genome knock-in. Together, we present an efficient method for generating PGCs in a teleost, a technique that will have a strong impact in basic research and aquaculture.

Identification of fish spermatogenic cells through high-throughput immunofluorescence against testis with an antibody set

Image-based identification and quantification of different types of spermatogenic cells is of great importance, not only for reproductive studies but also for genetic breeding. Here, we have developed antibodies against spermatogenesis-related proteins in zebrafish (Danio rerio), including Ddx4, Piwil1, Sycp3, and Pcna, and a high-throughput method for immunofluorescence analysis of zebrafish testicular sections. By immunofluorescence analysis of zebrafish testes, our results demonstrate that the expression of Ddx4 decreases progressively during spermatogenesis, Piwil1 is strongly expressed in type A spermatogonia and moderately expressed in type B spermatogonia, and Sycp3 has distinct expression patterns in different subtypes of spermatocytes. Additionally, we observed polar expression of Sycp3 and Pcna in primary spermatocytes at the leptotene stage. By a triple staining of Ddx4, Sycp3, and Pcna, different types/subtypes of spermatogenic cells were easily characterized. We further demonstrated the practicality of our antibodies in other fish species, including Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala), rice field eel (Monopterus albus) and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Finally, we proposed an integrated criterion for identifying different types/subtypes of spermatogenic cells in zebrafish and other fishes using this high-throughput immunofluorescence approach based on these antibodies. Therefore, our study provides a simple, practical, and efficient tool for the study of spermatogenesis in fish species.

A Germline-Specific Regulator of Mitochondrial Fusion is Required for Maintenance and Differentiation of Germline Stem and Progenitor Cells

Maintenance and differentiation of germline stem and progenitor cells (GSPCs) is important for sexual reproduction. Here, the authors identify zebrafish pld6 as a novel germline-specific gene by cross-analyzing different RNA sequencing results, and find that pld6 knockout mutants develop exclusively into infertile males. In pld6 mutants, GSPCs fail to differentiate and undergo apoptosis, leading to masculinization and infertility. Mitochondrial fusion in pld6-depleted GSPCs is severely impaired, and the mutants exhibit defects in piRNA biogenesis and transposon suppression. Overall, this work uncovers zebrafish Pld6 as a novel germline-specific regulator of mitochondrial fusion, and highlights its essential role in the maintenance and differentiation of GSPCs as well as gonadal development and gametogenesis.

Cilia regulate meiotic recombination in zebrafish

Meiosis is essential for evolution and genetic diversity in almost all sexual eukaryotic organisms. The mechanisms of meiotic recombination, such as synapsis, have been extensively investigated. However, it is still unclear whether signals from the cytoplasm or even from outside of the cell can regulate the meiosis process. Cilia are microtubule-based structures that protrude from the cell surface and function as signaling hubs to sense extracellular signals. Here, we reported an unexpected and critical role of cilia during meiotic recombination. During gametogenesis of zebrafish, cilia were specifically present in the prophase stages of both primary spermatocytes and primary oocytes. By developing a germ cell-specific CRISPR/Cas9 system, we demonstrated that germ cell-specific depletion of ciliary genes resulted in compromised double-strand break repair, reduced crossover formation, and increased germ cell apoptosis. Our study reveals a previously undiscovered role for cilia during meiosis and suggests that extracellular signals may regulate meiotic recombination via this particular organelle.

Cyp11a2 Is Essential for Oocyte Development and Spermatogonial Stem Cell Differentiation in Zebrafish

Cytochrome P45011A1, encoded by Cyp11a1, converts cholesterol to pregnenolone (P5), the first and rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis. In zebrafish, cyp11a1 is maternally expressed and cyp11a2 is considered the ortholog of Cyp11a1 in mammals. A recent study has shown that depletion of cyp11a2 resulted in steroidogenic deficiencies and the mutants developed into males with feminized secondary sexual characteristics. Here, we independently generated cyp11a2 mutants in zebrafish and showed that the mutants can develop into males and females in the juvenile stage, but finally into infertile males with defective mating behavior in the adult stage. In the developing ovaries, the cyp11a2 mutation led to stage I oocyte apoptosis and final sex reversal, which could be partially rescued by treatment with P5 but not estradiol. In the developing testes, depletion of cyp11a2 resulted in dysfunction of Sertoli cells and lack of functional Leydig cells. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the mutant testes underwent active self-renewal but no differentiation, resulting in a high abundance of SSCs in the testis, as revealed by immunofluorescence staining with Nanos2 antibody. The high abundance and differentiation competence of SSCs in the mutant testes were verified by a novel testicular cell transplantation method developed in this study, by transplanting mutant testicular cells into germline-depleted wild-type (WT) fish. The transplanted mutant SSCs efficiently differentiated into functional spermatids in WT hosts. Overall, our study demonstrates the functional importance of cyp11a2 in early oogenesis and differentiation of SSCs.

BMP Signaling: Lighting up the Way for Embryonic Dorsoventral Patterning

One of the most significant events during early embryonic development is the establishment of a basic embryonic body plan, which is defined by anteroposterior, dorsoventral (DV), and left-right axes. It is well-known that the morphogen gradient created by BMP signaling activity is crucial for DV axis patterning across a diverse set of vertebrates. The regulation of BMP signaling during DV patterning has been strongly conserved across evolution. This is a remarkable regulatory and evolutionary feat, as the BMP gradient has been maintained despite the tremendous variation in embryonic size and shape across species. Interestingly, the embryonic DV axis exhibits robust stability, even in face of variations in BMP signaling. Multiple lines of genetic, molecular, and embryological evidence have suggested that numerous BMP signaling components and their attendant regulators act in concert to shape the developing DV axis. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the function and regulation of BMP signaling in DV patterning. Throughout, we focus specifically on popular model animals, such as Xenopus and zebrafish, highlighting the similarities and differences of the regulatory networks between species. We also review recent advances regarding the molecular nature of DV patterning, including the initiation of the DV axis, the formation of the BMP gradient, and the regulatory molecular mechanisms behind BMP signaling during the establishment of the DV axis. Collectively, this review will help clarify our current understanding of the molecular nature of DV axis formation.

Circumventing Zygotic Lethality to Generate Maternal Mutants in Zebrafish

Maternal gene products accumulated during oogenesis are essential for supporting early developmental processes in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Therefore, understanding their regulatory functions should provide insights into the maternal control of embryogenesis. The CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology has provided a powerful tool for creating genetic mutations to study gene functions and developing disease models to identify new therapeutics. However, many maternal genes are also essential after zygotic genome activation; as a result, loss of their zygotic functions often leads to lethality or sterility, thus preventing the generation of maternal mutants by classical crossing between zygotic homozygous mutant adult animals. Although several approaches, such as the rescue of mutant phenotypes through an injection of the wild-type mRNA, germ-line replacement, and the generation of genetically mosaic females, have been developed to overcome this difficulty, they are often technically challenging and time-consuming or inappropriate for many genes that are essential for late developmental events or for germ-line formation. Recently, a method based on the oocyte transgenic expression of CRISPR/Cas9 and guide RNAs has been designed to eliminate maternal gene products in zebrafish. This approach introduces several tandem guide RNA expression cassettes and a GFP reporter into transgenic embryos expressing Cas9 to create biallelic mutations and inactivate genes of interest specifically in the developing oocytes. It is particularly accessible and allows for the elimination of maternal gene products in one fish generation. By further improving its efficiency, this method can be used for the systematic characterization of maternal-effect genes.

Isolation and Characterization of Highly Pure Type A Spermatogonia From Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) Using Flow-Cytometric Cell Sorting

Sturgeons are among the most ancient linages of actinopterygians. At present, many sturgeon species are critically endangered. Surrogate production could be used as an affordable and a time-efficient method for endangered sturgeons. Our study established a method for identifying and isolating type A spermatogonia from different developmental stages of testes using flow cytometric cell sorting (FCM). Flow cytometric analysis of a whole testicular cell suspension showed several well-distinguished cell populations formed according to different values of light scatter parameters. FCM of these different cell populations was performed directly on glass slides for further immunocytochemistry to identify germ cells. Results showed that the cell population in gate P1 on a flow cytometry plot (with high forward scatter and high side scatter parameter values) contains the highest amount of type A spermatogonia. The sorted cell populations were characterized by expression profiles of 10 germ cell specific genes. The result confirmed that setting up for the P1 gate could precisely sort type A spermatogonia in all tested testicular developmental stages. The P2 gate, which was with lower forward scatter and side scatter values mostly, contained type B spermatogonia at a later maturing stage. Moreover, expressions of plzf, dnd, boule, and kitr were significantly higher in type A spermatogonia than in later developed germ cells. In addition, plzf was firstly found as a reliable marker to identify type A spermatogonia, which filled the gap of identification of spermatogonial stem cells in sterlet. It is expected to increase the efficiency of germ stem cell culture and transplantation with plzf identification. Our study thus first addressed a phenotypic characterization of a pure type A spermatogonia population in sterlet. FCM strategy can improve the production of sturgeons with surrogate broodstock and further the analysis of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of sturgeon germ cell development.

Surrogate production of genome-edited sperm from a different subfamily by spermatogonial stem cell transplantation

The surrogate reproduction technique, such as inter-specific spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) transplantation (SSCT), provides a powerful tool for production of gametes derived from endangered species or those with desirable traits. However, generation of genome-edited gametes from a different species or production of gametes from a phylogenetically distant species such as from a different subfamily, by SSCT, has not succeeded. Here, using two small cyprinid fishes from different subfamilies, Chinese rare minnow (gobiocypris rarus, for brief: Gr) and zebrafish (danio rerio), we successfully obtained Gr-derived genome-edited sperm in zebrafish by an optimized SSCT procedure. The transplanted Gr SSCs supported the host gonadal development and underwent normal spermatogenesis, resulting in a reconstructed fertile testis containing Gr spermatids and zebrafish testicular somatic cells. Interestingly, the surrogate spermatozoa resembled those of host zebrafish but not donor Gr in morphology and swimming behavior. When pou5f3 and chd knockout Gr SSCs were transplanted, Gr-derived genome-edited sperm was successfully produced in zebrafish. This is the first report demonstrating surrogate production of gametes from a different subfamily by SSCT, and surrogate production of genome-edited gametes from another species as well. This method is feasible to be applied to future breeding of commercial fish and livestock.

A Time-Saving Strategy to Generate Double Maternal Mutants by an Oocyte-Specific Conditional Knockout System in Zebrafish

Simple Summary

Maternally supplied mRNAs and proteins, termed maternal factors, are produced by over 14,000 coding genes in zebrafish. They play exclusive roles in controlling the formation of oocytes and the development of early embryos. These maternal factors can also compensate for the loss of function of its corresponding zygotic gene products. Thus, eliminating both maternal and zygotic gene products is essential to elucidate the functions of more than half of zebrafish genes. However, it is always challenging to inactivate maternal factors, because traditional genetic methods are either technically demanding or time-consuming. Our recent work established a rapid conditional knockout method to generate maternal or maternal and zygotic mutants in one fish generation. Here, we further test the feasibility of this approach to knock out two maternal genes with functional redundancy simultaneously. As a proof of principle, we successfully generated double maternal mutant embryos for dvl2 and dvl3a genes in three months for the first time. The cell movement defects in mutant embryos obtained by this approach mimic the genuine mutant embryos generated after fifteen months of time-consuming screening following the previously reported mosaic strategy. Therefore, this method has the potential to speed up the functional study of paralogous maternal genes.

Abstract

Maternal products are those mRNAs and proteins deposited during oogenesis, which play critical roles in controlling oocyte formation, fertilization, and early embryonic development. However, loss-of-function studies for these maternal factors are still lacking, mainly because of the prolonged period of transgenerational screening and technical barriers that prevent the generation of maternal (M) and maternal and zygotic (MZ) mutant embryos. By the transgenic expression of multiple sgRNAs targeting a single gene of interest in the background of a transgenic line Tg(zpc:zcas9) with oocyte-specific cas9 expression, we have successfully obtained maternal or maternal–zygotic mutant for single genes in F1 embryos. In this work, we tandemly connected a maternal GFP marker and eight sgRNA expression units to target dvl2 and dvl3a simultaneously and introduced this construct to the genome of Tg(zpc:zcas9) by meganuclease I-Sce I. As expected, we confirmed the existence of Mdvl2;Mdvl3a embryos with strong defective convergence and extension movement during gastrulation among outcrossed GFP positive F1 offspring. The MZdvl2;MZdvl3a embryos were also obtained by crossing the mutant carrying mosaic F0 female with dvl2^+/−;dvl3a^−/− male fish. This proof-of-principle thus highlights the potential of this conditional knockout strategy to circumvent the current difficulty in the study of genes with multiple functionally redundant paralogs.

Rapid generation of maternal mutants via oocyte transgenic expression of CRISPR-Cas9 and sgRNAs in zebrafish

Maternal products are exclusive factors to drive oogenesis and early embryonic development. As disrupting maternal gene functions is either time-consuming or technically challenging, early developmental programs regulated by maternal factors remain mostly elusive. We provide a transgenic approach to inactivate maternal genes in zebrafish primary oocytes. By introducing three tandem single guide RNA (sgRNA) expression cassettes and a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter into Tg(zpc:zcas9) embryos, we efficiently obtained maternal nanog and ctnnb2 mutants among GFP-positive F1 offspring. Notably, most of these maternal mutants displayed either sgRNA site-spanning genomic deletions or unintended large deletions extending distantly from the sgRNA targets, suggesting a prominent deletion-prone tendency of genome editing in the oocyte. Thus, our method allows maternal gene knockout in the absence of viable and fertile homozygous mutant adults. This approach is particularly time-saving and can be applied for functional screening of maternal factors and generating genomic deletions in zebrafish.

Elovl2 But Not Elovl5 Is Essential for the Biosynthesis of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) in Zebrafish: Insight from a Comparative Gene Knockout Study

Teleost fish can synthesize one of the major omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), from dietary α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n-3), via elongase of very long-chain fatty acid (Elovl) and fatty acid desaturase (Fads). However, it remains unclear which elongase is primarily responsible for the endogenous synthesis of DHA. Here, in this study, the knockout models of the two major elongases, Elovl2 and Elovl5, were generated by CRISPR/Cas9 approach in zebrafish and comparatively analyzed. The homozygous mutants were validated by Sanger sequencing, mutation-mediated PCR, and whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis of the endogenous target genes. Compared with wild-type (WT) counterparts, the content of DHA was significantly reduced by 67.1% (P < 0.05) in the adult liver and by 91.7% (P < 0.01) in the embryo at 3-day post-fertilization (dpf) of the elovl2 mutant, but not of the elovl5 mutant. Further study revealed that elovl2 and fads2 was upregulated by 9.9-fold (P < 0.01) and 9.7-fold (P < 0.01) in the elovl5 mutant, and elovl5 and fads2 were upregulated by 15.1-fold (P < 0.01) and 21.5-fold (P < 0.01) in the elovl2 mutant. Our study indicates that although both Elovl2 and Elovl5 have the elongase activity toward C20, the upregulation of elovl2 could completely replace the genetic depletion of elovl5, but upregulation of elovl5 could not compensate the endogenous deficiency of elovl2 in mediating DHA synthesis. In conclusion, the endogenous synthesis of DHA in is mediated by Elovl2 but not Elovl5 in zebrafish and a DHA-deficient genetic model of zebrafish has been generated.

Nanog safeguards early embryogenesis against global activation of maternal β-catenin activity by interfering with TCF factors

Maternal β-catenin activity is essential and critical for dorsal induction and its dorsal activation has been thoroughly studied. However, how the maternal β-catenin activity is suppressed in the nondorsal cells remains poorly understood. Nanog is known to play a central role for maintenance of the pluripotency and maternal -zygotic transition (MZT). Here, we reveal a novel role of Nanog as a strong repressor of maternal β-catenin signaling to safeguard the embryo against hyperactivation of maternal β-catenin activity and hyperdorsalization. In zebrafish, knockdown of nanog at different levels led to either posteriorization or dorsalization, mimicking zygotic or maternal activation of Wnt/β-catenin activities, and the maternal zygotic mutant of nanog (MZnanog) showed strong activation of maternal β-catenin activity and hyperdorsalization. Although a constitutive activator-type Nanog (Vp16-Nanog, lacking the N terminal) perfectly rescued the MZT defects of MZnanog, it did not rescue the phenotypes resulting from β-catenin signaling activation. Mechanistically, the N terminal of Nanog directly interacts with T-cell factor (TCF) and interferes with the binding of β-catenin to TCF, thereby attenuating the transcriptional activity of β-catenin. Therefore, our study establishes a novel role for Nanog in repressing maternal β-catenin activity and demonstrates a transcriptional switch between β-catenin/TCF and Nanog/TCF complexes, which safeguards the embryo from global activation of maternal β-catenin activity.

Maternal β-catenin activity induces the primary dorsal axis during early development, but how the activity is suppressed in the non-dorsal cells remains poorly understood. This study reveals Nanog as a strong repressor of nuclear β-catenin to safeguard embryogenesis against global activation of maternal β-catenin activity and hyper-dorsalization in zebrafish.

Zebrafish cyp11c1 Knockout Reveals the Roles of 11-ketotestosterone and Cortisol in Sexual Development and Reproduction

Androgen is essential for male development and cortisol is involved in reproduction in fishes. However, the in vivo roles of cortisol and specific androgens such as 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in reproductive development need to be described with genetic models. Zebrafish cyp11c1 encodes 11β-hydroxylase, which is essential for the biosynthesis of 11-KT and cortisol. In this study, we generated a zebrafish mutant of cyp11c1 (cyp11c1-/-) and utilized it to clarify the roles of 11-KT and cortisol in sexual development and reproduction. The cyp11c1-/- fish had smaller genital papilla and exhibited defective natural mating but possessed mature gametes and were found at a sex ratio comparable to the wildtype control. The cyp11c1-/- males showed delayed and prolonged juvenile ovary-to-testis transition and displayed defective spermatogenesis at adult stage, which could be rescued by treatment with 11-ketoandrostenedione (11-KA) at certain stages. Specifically, during testis development of cyp11c1-/- males, the expression of insl3, cyp17a1, and amh was significantly decreased, suggesting that 11-KT is essential for the development and function of Leydig cells and Sertoli cells. Further, spermatogenesis-related dmrt1 was subsequently downregulated, leading to insufficient spermatogenesis. The cyp11c1-/- females showed a reduction in egg spawning and a failure of in vitro germinal vesicle breakdown, which could be partially rescued by cortisol treatment. Taken together, our study reveals that zebrafish Cyp11c1 is not required for definite sex differentiation but is essential for juvenile ovary-to-testis transition, Leydig cell development, and spermatogenesis in males through 11-KT, and it is also involved in oocyte maturation and ovulation in females through cortisol.

Chromatin dynamics at the maternal to zygotic transition: recent advances from the zebrafish model

Early animal development is characterized by intense reorganization of the embryonic genome, including large-scale changes in chromatin structure and in the DNA and histone modifications that help shape this structure. Particularly profound shifts in the chromatin landscape are associated with the maternal-to-zygotic transition, when the zygotic genome is first transcribed and maternally loaded transcripts are degraded. The accessibility of the early zebrafish embryo facilitates the interrogation of chromatin during this critical window of development, making it an important model for early chromatin regulation. Here, we review our current understanding of chromatin dynamics during early zebrafish development, highlighting new advances as well as similarities and differences between early chromatin regulation in zebrafish and other species.