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Popsuj S, Cohen L, Ward S, Lewis A, Yoshida S, Herrera RA, Cota CD, Stolfi A. CRISPR/Cas9 protocols for disrupting gene function in the non-vertebrate chordate Ciona. Integr Comp Biol 2024:icae108. [PMID: 38982335 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icae108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary origins of chordates and their diversification into the three major subphyla of tunicates, vertebrates, and cephalochordates pose myriad questions about the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying this radiation. Studies in non-vertebrate chordates have refined our model of what the ancestral chordate may have looked like, and have revealed the pre-vertebrate origins of key cellular and developmental traits. Work in the major tunicate laboratory model Ciona has benefitted greatly from the emergence of CRISPR/Cas9 techniques for targeted gene disruption. Here we review some of the important findings made possible by CRISPR in Ciona, and present our latest protocols and recommended practices for plasmid-based, tissue-specific CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Popsuj
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Lindsey Cohen
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Sydney Ward
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, 30030, USA
| | - Arabella Lewis
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, 30030, USA
| | | | | | | | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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Pennati A, Jakobi M, Zeng F, Ciampa L, Rothbächer U. Optimizing CRISPR/Cas9 approaches in the polymorphic tunicate Ciona intestinalis. Dev Biol 2024; 510:31-39. [PMID: 38490564 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 became a powerful tool for genetic engineering and in vivo knockout also in the invertebrate chordate Ciona intestinalis. Ciona (ascidians, tunicates) is an important model organism because it shares developmental features with the vertebrates, considered the sister group of tunicates, and offers outstanding experimental advantages: a compact genome and an invariant developmental cell lineage that, combined with electroporation mediated transgenesis allows for precise and cell type specific targeting in vivo. A high polymorphism and the mosaic expression of electroporated constructs, however, often hamper the efficient CRISPR knockout, and an optimization in Ciona is desirable. Furthermore, seasonality and artificial maintenance settings can profit from in vitro approaches that would save on animals. Here we present improvements for the CRISPR/Cas9 protocol in silico, in vitro and in vivo. Firstly, in designing sgRNAs, prior sequencing of target genomic regions from experimental animals and alignment with reference genomes of C. robusta and C. intestinalis render a correction possible of subspecies polymorphisms. Ideally, the screening for efficient and non-polymorphic sgRNAs will generate a database compatible for worldwide Ciona populations. Secondly, we challenged in vitro assays for sgRNA validation towards reduced in vivo experimentation and report their suitability but also overefficiency concerning mismatch tolerance. Thirdly, when comparing Cas9 with Cas9:Geminin, thought to synchronize editing and homology-direct repair, we could indeed increase the in vivo efficiency and notably the access to an early expressed gene. Finally, for in vivo CRISPR, genotyping by next generation sequencing (NGS) ex vivo streamlined the definition of efficient single guides. Double CRISPR then generates large deletions and reliable phenotypic excision effects. Overall, while these improvements render CRISPR more efficient in Ciona, they are useful when newly establishing the technique and very transferable to CRISPR in other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Pennati
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Miloš Jakobi
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Fan Zeng
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Luca Ciampa
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ute Rothbächer
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Satake H, Sasakura Y. The neuroendocrine system of Ciona intestinalis Type A, a deuterostome invertebrate and the closest relative of vertebrates. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 582:112122. [PMID: 38109989 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Deuterostome invertebrates, including echinoderms, hemichordates, cephalochordates, and urochordates, exhibit common and species-specific morphological, developmental, physiological, and behavioral characteristics that are regulated by neuroendocrine and nervous systems. Over the past 15 years, omics, genetic, and/or physiological studies on deuterostome invertebrates have identified low-molecular-weight transmitters, neuropeptides and their cognate receptors, and have clarified their various biological functions. In particular, there has been increasing interest on the neuroendocrine and nervous systems of Ciona intestinalis Type A, which belongs to the subphylum Urochordata and occupies the critical phylogenetic position as the closest relative of vertebrates. During the developmental stage, gamma-aminobutylic acid, D-serine, and gonadotropin-releasing hormones regulate metamorphosis of Ciona. In adults, the neuropeptidergic mechanisms underlying ovarian follicle growth, oocyte maturation, and ovulation have been elucidated. This review article provides the most recent and fundamental knowledge of the neuroendocrine and nervous systems of Ciona, and their evolutionary aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honoo Satake
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, Japan
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Nor A'azizam NM, Chopra S, Guleria P, Kumar V, Abd Rahim MH, Yaacob JS. Harnessing the potential of mutation breeding, CRISPR genome editing, and beyond for sustainable agriculture. Funct Integr Genomics 2024; 24:44. [PMID: 38421529 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01325-y] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
By 2050, the global population is projected to exceed 9.5 billion, posing a formidable challenge to ensure food security worldwide. To address this pressing issue, mutation breeding in horticultural crops, utilizing physical or chemical methods, has emerged as a promising biotechnological strategy. However, the efficacy of these mutagens can be influenced by various factors, including biological and environmental variables, as well as targeted plant materials. This review highlights the global challenges related to food security and explores the potential of mutation breeding as an indispensable biotechnological tool in overcoming food insecurity. This review also covers the emergence of CRISPR-Cas9, a breakthrough technology offering precise genome editing for the development of high-yield, stress-tolerant crops. Together, mutation breeding and CRISPR can potentially address future food demands. This review focuses into these biotechnological advancements, emphasizing their combined potential to fortify global food security in the face of a booming population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sakshi Chopra
- Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Lab, Department of Biotechnology, DAV University, Jalandhar, Punjab, 144012, India
| | - Praveen Guleria
- Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Lab, Department of Biotechnology, DAV University, Jalandhar, Punjab, 144012, India
| | - Vineet Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144111, India
| | - Muhamad Hafiz Abd Rahim
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jamilah Syafawati Yaacob
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Li J, Wu S, Zhang K, Sun X, Lin W, Wang C, Lin S. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat/CRISPR-Associated Protein and Its Utility All at Sea: Status, Challenges, and Prospects. Microorganisms 2024; 12:118. [PMID: 38257946 PMCID: PMC10820777 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Initially discovered over 35 years ago in the bacterium Escherichia coli as a defense system against invasion of viral (or other exogenous) DNA into the genome, CRISPR/Cas has ushered in a new era of functional genetics and served as a versatile genetic tool in all branches of life science. CRISPR/Cas has revolutionized the methodology of gene knockout with simplicity and rapidity, but it is also powerful for gene knock-in and gene modification. In the field of marine biology and ecology, this tool has been instrumental in the functional characterization of 'dark' genes and the documentation of the functional differentiation of gene paralogs. Powerful as it is, challenges exist that have hindered the advances in functional genetics in some important lineages. This review examines the status of applications of CRISPR/Cas in marine research and assesses the prospect of quickly expanding the deployment of this powerful tool to address the myriad fundamental marine biology and biological oceanography questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Shuaishuai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Kaidian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570203, China
| | - Xueqiong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Wenwen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Cong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Senjie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT 06340, USA
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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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Kijima T, Kurokawa D, Sasakura Y, Ogasawara M, Aratake S, Yoshida K, Yoshida M. CatSper mediates not only chemotactic behavior but also the motility of ascidian sperm. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1136537. [PMID: 38020915 PMCID: PMC10652287 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1136537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Sperm motility, including chemotactic behavior, is regulated by changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and the sperm-specific Ca2+ channel CatSper has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+. In particular, in mammals, CatSper is the only functional Ca2+ channel in the sperm, and mice deficient in the genes comprising the pore region of the Ca2+ channel are infertile due to the inhibition of sperm hyperactivation. CatSper is also thought to be involved in sea urchin chemotaxis. In contrast, in ascidian Ciona intestinalis, SAAF, a sperm attractant, interacts with Ca2+/ATPase, a Ca2+ pump. Although the existence of CatSper genes has been reported, it is not clear whether CatSper is a functional Ca2+ channel in sperm. Results: We showed that CatSper is present in the sperm flagella of C. intestinalis as in mammalian species, although a small level of gene expression was found in other tissues. The spermatozoa of CatSper3 KO animals were significantly less motile, and some motile sperms did not show any chemotactic behavior. These results suggest that CatSper plays an important role in ascidians and mammals, and is involved in spermatogenesis and basic motility mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiga Kijima
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kurokawa
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Japan
| | - Michio Ogasawara
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoe Aratake
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kaoru Yoshida
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Toin University of Yokohama, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Manabu Yoshida
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, Japan
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Lin B, Shi W, Lu Q, Shito TT, Yu H, Dong B. Establishment of a developmental atlas and transgenetic tools in the ascidian Styela clava. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 5:435-454. [PMID: 38045543 PMCID: PMC10689645 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-023-00200-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The ascidian Styela clava is an ecologically important species that is distributed along coastal regions worldwide. It has a long history as a model animal for evolutionary and developmental biology research owing to its phylogenetic position between vertebrates and invertebrates, and its classical mosaic expression patterns. However, the standard developmental atlas and protocols and tools for molecular manipulation of this organism are inadequate. In this study, we established a standard developmental table and provided a web-based digital image resource for S. clava embryogenesis at each developmental stage from fertilized eggs to hatching larvae by utilizing confocal laser microscopy and 3D reconstruction images. It takes around 10 h for fertilized eggs to develop into swimming larvae and 20-30 min to complete the tail regression processes at the metamorphic stage. We observed that the notochord cells in S. clava embryos did not produce an extracellular lumen like Ciona robusta, but showed polarized elongation behaviors, providing us an ideal comparative model to study tissue morphogenesis. In addition, we established a chemical-washing procedure to remove the chorion easily from the fertilized eggs. Based on the dechorionation technique, we further realized transgenic manipulation by electroporation and successfully applied tissue-specific fluorescent labeling in S. clava embryos. Our work provides a standard imaging atlas and powerful genetic tools for investigating embryogenesis and evolution using S. clava as a model organism. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-023-00200-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyan Lin
- Fang Zongxi Center, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Wenjie Shi
- Fang Zongxi Center, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Qiongxuan Lu
- Fang Zongxi Center, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Takumi T. Shito
- Department of Bioscience and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522 Japan
| | - Haiyan Yu
- Fang Zongxi Center, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Bo Dong
- Fang Zongxi Center, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237 China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
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Improved Genome Editing in the Ascidian Ciona with CRISPR/Cas9 and TALEN. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2637:375-388. [PMID: 36773161 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3016-7_28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
The ascidian Ciona intestinalis type A (or Ciona robusta) is an important organism for elucidating the mechanisms that make the chordate body plan. CRISPR/Cas9 and TAL effector nuclease (TALEN) are widely used to quickly address genetic functions in Ciona. Our previously reported method of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in this animal has inferior mutation rates compared to those of TALENs. We here describe an updated way to effectively mutate genes with CRISPR/Cas9 in Ciona. Although the construction of TALENs is much more laborious than that of CRISPR/Cas9, this technique is useful for tissue-specific knockouts that are not easy even by the optimized CRISPR/Cas9 method.
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Stracke K, Hejnol A. Marine animal evolutionary developmental biology-Advances through technology development. Evol Appl 2023; 16:580-588. [PMID: 36793684 PMCID: PMC9923486 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary developmental biology, the interdisciplinary effort of illuminating the conserved similarities and differences during animal development across all phylogenetic clades, has gained renewed interest in the past decades. As technology (immunohistochemistry, next-generation sequencing, advanced imaging, and computational resources) has advanced, so has our ability of resolving fundamental hypotheses and overcoming the genotype-phenotype gap. This rapid progress, however, has also exposed gaps in the collective knowledge around the choice and representation of model organisms. It has become clear that evo-devo requires a comparative, large-scale approach including marine invertebrates to resolve some of the most urgent questions about the phylogenetic positioning and character traits of the last common ancestors. Many invertebrates at the base of the tree of life inhabit marine environments and have been used for some years due to their accessibility, husbandry, and morphology. Here, we briefly review the major concepts of evolutionary developmental biology and discuss the suitability of established model organisms to address current research questions, before focussing on the importance, application, and state-of-the-art of marine evo-devo. We highlight novel technical advances that progress evo-devo as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Stracke
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Andreas Hejnol
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Institute of Systematic Zoology and Evolutionary BiologyFriedrich‐Schiller‐University JenaJenaGermany
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Kim K, Orvis J, Stolfi A. Pax3/7 regulates neural tube closure and patterning in a non-vertebrate chordate. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:999511. [PMID: 36172287 PMCID: PMC9511217 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.999511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pax3/7 factors play numerous roles in the development of the dorsal nervous system of vertebrates. From specifying neural crest at the neural plate borders, to regulating neural tube closure and patterning of the resulting neural tube. However, it is unclear which of these roles are conserved in non-vertebrate chordates. Here we investigate the expression and function of Pax3/7 in the model tunicate Ciona. Pax3/7 is expressed in neural plate border cells during neurulation, and in central nervous system progenitors shortly after neural tube closure. We find that separate cis-regulatory elements control the expression in these two distinct lineages. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis, we knocked out Pax3/7 in F0 embryos specifically in these two separate territories. Pax3/7 knockout in the neural plate borders resulted in neural tube closure defects, suggesting an ancient role for Pax3/7 in this chordate-specific process. Furthermore, knocking out Pax3/7 in the neural impaired Motor Ganglion neuron specification, confirming a conserved role for this gene in patterning the neural tube as well. Taken together, these results suggests that key functions of Pax3/7 in neural tube development are evolutionarily ancient, dating back at least to the last common ancestor of vertebrates and tunicates.
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12
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Shimai K, Veeman M. Quantitative Dissection of the Proximal Ciona brachyury Enhancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:804032. [PMID: 35127721 PMCID: PMC8814421 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.804032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A major goal in biology is to understand the rules by which cis-regulatory sequences control spatially and temporally precise expression patterns. Here we present a systematic dissection of the proximal enhancer for the notochord-specific transcription factor brachyury in the ascidian chordate Ciona. The study uses a quantitative image-based reporter assay that incorporates a dual-reporter strategy to control for variable electroporation efficiency. We identified and mutated multiple predicted transcription factor binding sites of interest based on statistical matches to the JASPAR binding motif database. Most sites (Zic, Ets, FoxA, RBPJ) were selected based on prior knowledge of cell fate specification in both the primary and secondary notochord. We also mutated predicted Brachyury sites to investigate potential autoregulation as well as Fos/Jun (AP1) sites that had very strong matches to JASPAR. Our goal was to quantitatively define the relative importance of these different sites, to explore the importance of predicted high-affinity versus low-affinity motifs, and to attempt to design mutant enhancers that were specifically expressed in only the primary or secondary notochord lineages. We found that the mutation of all predicted high-affinity sites for Zic, FoxA or Ets led to quantifiably distinct effects. The FoxA construct caused a severe loss of reporter expression whereas the Ets construct had little effect. A strong Ets phenotype was only seen when much lower-scoring binding sites were also mutated. This supports the enhancer suboptimization hypothesis proposed by Farley and Levine but suggests that it may only apply to some but not all transcription factor families. We quantified reporter expression separately in the two notochord lineages with the expectation that Ets mutations and RBPJ mutations would have distinct effects given that primary notochord is induced by Ets-mediated FGF signaling whereas secondary notochord is induced by RBPJ/Su(H)-mediated Notch/Delta signaling. We found, however, that ETS mutations affected primary and secondary notochord expression relatively equally and that RBPJ mutations were only moderately more severe in their effect on secondary versus primary notochord. Our results point to the promise of quantitative reporter assays for understanding cis-regulatory logic but also highlight the challenge of arbitrary statistical thresholds for predicting potentially important sites.
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Saito T, Sawada H. Fertilization of Ascidians: Gamete Interaction, Self/Nonself Recognition and Sperm Penetration of Egg Coat. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:827214. [PMID: 35186958 PMCID: PMC8849226 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.827214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertilization is one of the most important events in living organisms to generate a new life with a mixed genetic background. To achieve successful fertilization, sperm and eggs must undergo complex processes in a sequential order. Fertilization of marine invertebrate Ciona intestinalis type A (Ciona robusta) has been studied for more than a hundred years. Ascidian sperm are attracted by chemoattractants from eggs and bind to the vitelline coat. Subsequently, sperm penetrate through the vitelline coat proteolytically and finally fuse with the egg plasma membrane. Here, we summarize the fertilization mechanisms of ascidians, particularly from sperm-egg interactions to sperm penetration of the egg coat. Since ascidians are hermaphrodites, inbreeding depression is a serious problem. To avoid self-fertilization, ascidians possess a self-incompatibility system. In this review, we also describe the molecular mechanisms of the self-incompatibility system in C. intestinalis type A governed by three allelic gene pairs of s-Themis and v-Themis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takako Saito
- Faculty of Agriculture Department of Applied Life Sciences, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Sawada
- Depatment of Food and Nutritional Environment, College of Human Life and Environment, Kinjo Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan
- Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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14
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Miao J, Gao P, Li Q, He K, Zhang L, Wang J, Huang L. Advances in Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems for Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Therapy: A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222011227. [PMID: 34681886 PMCID: PMC8538950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is an infectious viral disease that is prevalent worldwide. Traditional nucleoside analogues, as well as the novel drug targets against hepatitis B virus (HBV), are associated with certain critical factors that influence the curative effect, such as biological stability and safety, effective drug delivery, and controlled release. Nanoparticle drug delivery systems have significant advantages and have provided a basis for the development of anti-HBV strategies. In this review, we aim to review the advances in nanoparticle drug delivery systems for anti-hepatitis B virus therapy by summarizing the relevant literature. First, we focus on the characteristics of nanoparticle drug delivery systems for anti-HBV therapy. Second, we discuss the nanoparticle delivery systems for anti-HBV nucleoside drugs, gene-based drugs, and vaccines. Lastly, we provide an overview of the prospects for nanoparticle-based anti-HBV agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Miao
- Department of Pharmacy, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou 310052, China; (J.M.); (P.G.); (K.H.); (L.Z.)
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Drug Evaluation and Clinical Research, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou 310052, China; (J.M.); (P.G.); (K.H.); (L.Z.)
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China;
| | - Kaifeng He
- Department of Pharmacy, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou 310052, China; (J.M.); (P.G.); (K.H.); (L.Z.)
| | - Liwen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou 310052, China; (J.M.); (P.G.); (K.H.); (L.Z.)
| | - Junyan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou 310052, China; (J.M.); (P.G.); (K.H.); (L.Z.)
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Lingfei Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou 310052, China; (J.M.); (P.G.); (K.H.); (L.Z.)
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (L.H.)
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15
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Smith HM, Khairallah SM, Nguyen AH, Newman-Smith E, Smith WC. Misregulation of cell adhesion molecules in the Ciona neural tube closure mutant bugeye. Dev Biol 2021; 480:14-24. [PMID: 34407458 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Neural tube closure (NTC) is a complex multi-step morphogenetic process that transforms the flat neural plate found on the surface of the post-gastrulation embryo into the hollow and subsurface central nervous system (CNS). Errors in this process underlie some of the most prevalent human birth defects, and occur in about 1 out of every 1000 births. Previously, we discovered a mutant in the basal chordate Ciona savignyi (named bugeye) that revealed a novel role for a T-Type Calcium Channel (Cav3) in this process. Moreover, the requirement for CAV3s in Xenopus NTC suggests a conserved function among the chordates. Loss of CAV3 leads to defects restricted to anterior NTC, with the brain apparently fully developed, but protruding from the head. Here we report first on a new Cav3 mutant in the related species C. robusta. RNAseq analysis of both C. robusta and C. savignyi bugeye mutants reveals misregulation of a number of transcripts including ones that are involved in cell-cell recognition and adhesion. Two in particular, Selectin and Fibronectin leucine-rich repeat transmembrane, which are aberrantly upregulated in the mutant, are expressed in the closing neural tube, and when disrupted by CRISPR gene editing lead to the open brain phenotype displayed in bugeye mutants. We speculate that these molecules play a transient role in tissue separation and adhesion during NTC and failure to downregulate them leads to an open neural tube.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley M Smith
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, USA
| | | | - Ann Hong Nguyen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, USA
| | | | - William C Smith
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, USA; Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA.
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16
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Huan P, Cui M, Wang Q, Liu B. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis reveals the roles of calaxin in gastropod larval cilia. Gene 2021; 787:145640. [PMID: 33845135 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Obtaining detectable knockout phenotypes in the G0 generation is essential for gene function studies. Although CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing has been employed to knock out molluscan genes, detectable phenotypes in the G0 generation have not been reported in these animals. In this study, we determined the knockout phenotype of a cilium-related gene, calaxin, using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the gastropod mollusk Lottia goshimai. Injections with the Cas9-sgRNA complex caused approximately 30-80% of the injected larvae to exhibit a short-cilia phenotype characteristic of shortened cilia and decreased motility in the larvae. This phenotype was detectable in the G0 generation and was consistent for two independent sgRNAs. Genotyping of the injected larvae revealed various types of deletions and insertions in the target gene, which occurred in all sequences from the short-cilia larvae. This result indicated that the short-cilia phenotype was indeed caused by calaxin knockout. This possibility was supported by an RNAi assay targeting calaxin, which produced a highly similar short-cilia phenotype. We observed that a single SNP in the target sequences of the sgRNAs could show varied effects on the efficiency of mutagenesis. These results help to establish a foundation for future studies on molluscan gene editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique and contribute to the body of knowledge on molluscan ciliary functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pin Huan
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071 Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, 266000 Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039 Beijing, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, 266071 Qingdao, China
| | - Menglu Cui
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071 Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039 Beijing, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, 266071 Qingdao, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071 Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039 Beijing, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, 266071 Qingdao, China
| | - Baozhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071 Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, 266000 Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039 Beijing, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, 266071 Qingdao, China.
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17
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Gene insertion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. 3 Biotech 2021; 11:90. [PMID: 33520576 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-021-02648-4] [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: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work was to rapidly and efficiently insert target DNA sequences into predetermined genomic sites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, we designed two technical routes for gene insertion in the S. cerevisiae genome based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and a CRISPR array was inserted into the Amp site and the crRNA site of the pCRCT plasmid, respectively. The CRISPR array consists of a 100 bp donor sequence, the target gene and guide sequence. A 100 bp donor sequence was designed to have two 50 bp homology arms flanking the Cas9 cutting site and incorporate 8 bp or 1000 bp deletions including the PAM sequence, where the target gene was also inserted. The results showed that using only one pCRCTG plasmid and a 100 bp dsDNA mutagenizing homologous recombination donor, we can successfully insert a 2.9 kb gene fragment at the target site of the S. cerevisiae genome. However, inserting the CRISPR array into the crRNA site has a higher recombination efficiency than inserting into the Amp site. This recombination strategy represents a powerful tool for creating yeast strains with target gene inserts.
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18
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Phylogenetic Analyses of Glycosyl Hydrolase Family 6 Genes in Tunicates: Possible Horizontal Transfer. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11080937. [PMID: 32823766 PMCID: PMC7464555 DOI: 10.3390/genes11080937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the movement of genetic material between different species. Although HGT is less frequent in eukaryotes than in bacteria, several instances of HGT have apparently shaped animal evolution. One well-known example is the tunicate cellulose synthase gene, CesA, in which a gene, probably transferred from bacteria, greatly impacted tunicate evolution. A Glycosyl Hydrolase Family 6 (GH6) hydrolase-like domain exists at the C-terminus of tunicate CesA, but not in cellulose synthases of other organisms. The recent discovery of another GH6 hydrolase-like gene (GH6-1) in tunicate genomes further raises the question of how tunicates acquired GH6. To examine the probable origin of these genes, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationship of GH6 proteins in tunicates and other organisms. Our analyses show that tunicate GH6s, the GH6-1 gene, and the GH6 part of the CesA gene, form two independent, monophyletic gene groups. We also compared their sequence signatures and exon splice sites. All tunicate species examined have shared splice sites in GH6-containing genes, implying ancient intron acquisitions. It is likely that the tunicate CesA and GH6-1 genes existed in the common ancestor of all extant tunicates.
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19
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Di Gregorio A. The notochord gene regulatory network in chordate evolution: Conservation and divergence from Ciona to vertebrates. Curr Top Dev Biol 2020; 139:325-374. [PMID: 32450965 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The notochord is a structure required for support and patterning of all chordate embryos, from sea squirts to humans. An increasing amount of information on notochord development and on the molecular strategies that ensure its proper morphogenesis has been gleaned through studies in the sea squirt Ciona. This invertebrate chordate offers a fortunate combination of experimental advantages, ranging from translucent, fast-developing embryos to a compact genome and impressive biomolecular resources. These assets have enabled the rapid identification of numerous notochord genes and cis-regulatory regions, and provide a rather unique opportunity to reconstruct the gene regulatory network that controls the formation of this developmental and evolutionary chordate landmark. This chapter summarizes the morphogenetic milestones that punctuate notochord formation in Ciona, their molecular effectors, and the current knowledge of the gene regulatory network that ensures the accurate spatial and temporal orchestration of these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Di Gregorio
- Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, United States.
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20
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Xu S, Pham T, Neupane S. Delivery methods for CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in crustaceans. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 2:1-5. [PMID: 33313574 PMCID: PMC7731668 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-019-00011-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this mini-review we provide an up-to-date overview of the delivery methods that have been used for CRISPR/Cas9 genomic editing in crustacean species. With embryonic microinjection as the main workforce for delivering CRISPR/Cas9 reagents, biologists working with crustacean species have to tackle the technical challenges involved in microinjection. We use examples of three crustacean species (the branchiopod Daphnia, amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis, and decapod Exopalaemon carinicauda) to provide a technical guide for embryonic microinjection. Moreover, we outline two potentially useful new techniques for delivering CRISPR/Cas9 components into crustaceans, i.e., Receptor-Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo (ReMOT Control) and electroporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Xu
- Corresponding author: Sen Xu, 501 S. Nedderman Dr, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA. Phone: 812-272-3986.
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21
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Tajima Y, Hozumi A, Yoshida K, Treen N, Sakuma T, Yamamoto T, Sasakura Y. Hox13 is essential for formation of a sensory organ at the terminal end of the sperm duct in Ciona. Dev Biol 2019; 458:120-131. [PMID: 31682808 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Species-specific traits are thought to have been acquired by natural selection. Transcription factors play central roles in the evolution of species-specific traits. Hox genes encode a set of conserved transcription factors essential for establishing the anterior-posterior body axis of animals. Changes in the expression or function of Hox genes can lead to the diversification of animal-body plans. The tunicate ascidian Ciona intestinalis Type A has an orange-colored structure at the sperm duct terminus. This orange-pigmented organ (OPO) is the characteristic that can distinguish this ascidian from other closely related species. The OPO is formed by the accumulation of orange-pigmented cells (OPCs) that are present throughout the adult body. We show that Hox13 is essential for formation of the OPO. Hox13 is expressed in the epithelium of the sperm duct and neurons surrounding the terminal openings for sperm ejection, while OPCs themselves do not express this gene. OPCs are mobile cells that can move through the body vasculature by pseudopodia, suggesting that the OPO is formed by the accumulation of OPCs guided by Hox13-positive cells. Another ascidian species, Ciona savignyi, does not have an OPO. Like Hox13 of C. intestinalis, Hox13 of C. savignyi is expressed at the terminus of its sperm duct; however, its expression domain is limited to the circular area around the openings. The genetic changes responsible for the acquisition or loss of OPO are likely to occur in the expression pattern of Hox13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukako Tajima
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan
| | - Akiko Hozumi
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan
| | - Keita Yoshida
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan
| | - Nicholas Treen
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan
| | - 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
| | - Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan.
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22
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Juntti S. The Future of Gene-Guided Neuroscience Research in Non-Traditional Model Organisms. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2019; 93:108-121. [PMID: 31416064 DOI: 10.1159/000500072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Natural variations across animals in form, function, and behavior have long been sources of inspiration to scientists. Despite this, experimentalists focusing on the neural bases of behavior have increasingly focused on a select few model species. This consolidation is motivated primarily by the availability of resources and technologies for manipulation in these species. Recent years have witnessed a proliferation of experimental approaches that were developed primarily in traditional model species, but that may in principle be readily applied to any species. High-throughput sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, transgenesis, and other technologies have enabled new insights through their deployment in non-traditional model species. The availability of such approaches changes the calculation of which species to study, particularly when a trait of interest is most readily observed in a non-traditional model organism. If these technologies are widely adopted in many new species, it promises to revolutionize the field of neuroethology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Juntti
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA,
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23
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Igarashi K, Funakoshi M, Kato S, Moriwaki T, Kato Y, Zhang-Akiyama QM. CiApex1 has AP endonuclease activity and abrogated AP site repair disrupts early embryonic development in Ciona intestinalis. Genes Genet Syst 2019; 94:81-93. [PMID: 30930342 DOI: 10.1266/ggs.18-00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites are the most common form of cytotoxic DNA damage. Since AP sites inhibit DNA replication and transcription, repairing them is critical for cell growth. However, the significance of repairing AP sites during early embryonic development has not yet been clearly determined. Here, we focused on APEX1 from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis (CiApex1), a homolog of human AP endonuclease 1 (APEX1), and examined its role in early embryonic development. Recombinant CiApex1 protein complemented the drug sensitivities of an AP endonuclease-deficient Escherichia coli mutant, and exhibited Mg2+-dependent AP endonuclease activity, like human APEX1, in vitro. Next, the effects of abnormal AP site repair on embryonic development were investigated. Treatment with methyl methanesulfonate, which alkylates DNA bases and generates AP sites, induced abnormal embryonic development. This abnormal phenotype was also caused by treatment with methoxyamine, which inhibits AP endonuclease activity. Furthermore, we constructed dominant-negative CiApex1, which inhibits CiApex1 action, and found that its expression impaired embryonic growth. These results suggested that AP site repair is essential for embryonic development and CiApex1 plays an important role in AP site repair during early embryonic development in C. intestinalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kento Igarashi
- Laboratory of Stress Response Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University.,Department of Applied Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University
| | - Masafumi Funakoshi
- Laboratory of Stress Response Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
| | - Seiji Kato
- Laboratory of Stress Response Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
| | - Takahito Moriwaki
- Laboratory of Stress Response Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University.,Department of Stem Cell Biology, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University
| | - Yuichi Kato
- Laboratory of Stress Response Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University.,Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University
| | - Qiu-Mei Zhang-Akiyama
- Laboratory of Stress Response Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
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24
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Sharma S, Wang W, Stolfi A. Single-cell transcriptome profiling of the Ciona larval brain. Dev Biol 2019; 448:226-236. [PMID: 30392840 PMCID: PMC6487232 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The tadpole-type larva of Ciona has emerged as an intriguing model system for the study of neurodevelopment. The Ciona intestinalis connectome has been recently mapped, revealing the smallest central nervous system (CNS) known in any chordate, with only 177 neurons. This minimal CNS is highly reminiscent of larger CNS of vertebrates, sharing many conserved developmental processes, anatomical compartments, neuron subtypes, and even specific neural circuits. Thus, the Ciona tadpole offers a unique opportunity to understand the development and wiring of a chordate CNS at single-cell resolution. Here we report the use of single-cell RNAseq to profile the transcriptomes of single cells isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) from the whole brain of Ciona robusta (formerly intestinalis Type A) larvae. We have also compared these profiles to bulk RNAseq data from specific subsets of brain cells isolated by FACS using cell type-specific reporter plasmid expression. Taken together, these datasets have begun to reveal the compartment- and cell-specific gene expression patterns that define the organization of the Ciona larval brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarthak Sharma
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Wei Wang
- New York University, Department of Biology, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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25
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Antero-posterior ectoderm patterning by canonical Wnt signaling during ascidian development. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008054. [PMID: 30925162 PMCID: PMC6457572 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling is an ancient pathway in metazoans and controls various developmental processes, in particular the establishment and patterning of the embryonic primary axis. In vertebrates, a graded Wnt activity from posterior to anterior endows cells with positional information in the central nervous system. Recent studies in hemichordates support a conserved role for Wnt/β-catenin in ectoderm antero-posterior patterning at the base of the deuterostomes. Ascidians are marine invertebrates and the closest relatives of vertebrates. By combining gain- and loss-of-function approaches, we have determined the role of Wnt/β-catenin in patterning the three ectoderm derivatives of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system and epidermis. Activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling from gastrulation led to a dramatic transformation of the ectoderm with a loss of anterior identities and a reciprocal anterior extension of posterior identities, consistent with studies in other metazoans. Surprisingly, inhibiting Wnt signaling did not produce a reciprocal anteriorization of the embryo with a loss of more posterior identities like in vertebrates and hemichordate. Epidermis patterning was overall unchanged. Only the identity of two discrete regions of the central nervous system, the anteriormost and the posteriormost regions, were under the control of Wnt. Finally, the caudal peripheral nervous system, while being initially Wnt dependent, formed normally. Our results show that the Ciona embryonic ectoderm responds to Wnt activation in a manner that is compatible with the proposed function for this pathway at the base of the deuterostomes. However, possibly because of its fast and divergent mode of development that includes extensive use of maternal determinants, the overall antero-posterior patterning of the Ciona ectoderm is Wnt independent, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling controls the formation of some sub-domains. Our results thus indicate that there has likely been a drift in the developmental systems controlling ectoderm patterning in the lineage leading to ascidians. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a system of cell-cell communication. It has an ancient origin in animals and plays multiple roles during embryogenesis and adult life. In particular, it is involved in determining, in the vertebrate embryo, the identity of the different parts of the body and their relative positions along the antero-posterior axis. We have investigated in an ascidian (or sea squirt) species, a marine invertebrate that is closely related to vertebrates, whether this pathway had a similar role. Like in vertebrates, activating Wnt/β-catenin led to a posteriorization of the embryo with a loss of anterior structures. By contrast, unlike vertebrates, ascidian embryos formed rather normally following Wnt/β-catenin inactivation. Since hemichordates (or acorn worms), earlier divergent invertebrates, use Wnt/β-catenin in a manner comparable to vertebrates, it is in the ascidian lineage that changes have occurred. Consequently, ascidians build an antero-posterior axis, very similarly organized to that of vertebrates, but in a different way.
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26
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Pickett CJ, Zeller RW. Efficient genome editing using CRISPR-Cas-mediated homology directed repair in the ascidian Ciona robusta. Genesis 2018; 56:e23260. [PMID: 30375719 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Eliminating or silencing a gene's level of activity is one of the classic approaches developmental biologists employ to determine a gene's function. A recently developed method of gene perturbation called CRISPR-Cas, which was derived from a prokaryotic adaptive immune system, has been adapted for use in eukaryotic cells. This technology has been established in several model organisms as a powerful and efficient tool for knocking out or knocking down the function of a gene of interest. It has been recently shown that CRISPR-Cas functions with fidelity and efficiency in Ciona robusta. Here, we show that in C. robusta CRISPR-Cas mediated genomic knock-ins can be efficiently generated. Electroporating a tissue-specific transgene driving Cas9 and a U6-driven gRNA transgene together with a fluorescent protein-containing homology directed repair (FP-HDR) template results in gene-specific patterns of fluorescence consistent with a targeted genomic insertion. Using the Tyrosinase locus to optimize reagents, we first characterize a new Pol III promoter for expressing gRNAs from the Ciona savignyi H1 gene, and then adapt technology that flanks gRNAs by ribozymes allowing cell-specific expression from Pol II promoters. Next, we examine homology arm-length efficiencies of FP-HDR templates. Reagents were then developed for targeting Brachyury and Pou4 that resulted in expected patterns of fluorescence, and sequenced PCR amplicons derived from single embryos validated predicted genomic insertions. Finally, using two differentially colored FP-HDR templates, we show that biallelic FP-HDR template insertion can be detected in live embryos of the F0 generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Pickett
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Robert W Zeller
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.,Coastal and Marine Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.,Center for Applied and Experimental Genomics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
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27
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Momose T, De Cian A, Shiba K, Inaba K, Giovannangeli C, Concordet JP. High doses of CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein efficiently induce gene knockout with low mosaicism in the hydrozoan Clytia hemisphaerica through microhomology-mediated deletion. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11734. [PMID: 30082705 PMCID: PMC6078951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30188-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted mutagenesis using CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been shown to be a powerful approach to examine gene function in diverse metazoan species. One common drawback is that mixed genotypes, and thus variable phenotypes, arise in the F0 generation because incorrect DNA repair produces different mutations amongst cells of the developing embryo. We report here an effective method for gene knockout (KO) in the hydrozoan Clytia hemisphaerica, by injection into the egg of Cas9/sgRNA ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP). Expected phenotypes were observed in the F0 generation when targeting endogenous GFP genes, which abolished fluorescence in embryos, or CheRfx123 (that codes for a conserved master transcriptional regulator for ciliogenesis) which caused sperm motility defects. When high concentrations of Cas9 RNP were used, the mutations in target genes at F0 polyp or jellyfish stages were not random but consisted predominantly of one or two specific deletions between pairs of short microhomologies flanking the cleavage site. Such microhomology-mediated (MM) deletion is most likely caused by microhomology-mediated end-joining (MMEJ), which may be favoured in early stage embryos. This finding makes it very easy to isolate uniform, largely non-mosaic mutants with predictable genotypes in the F0 generation in Clytia, allowing rapid and reliable phenotype assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Momose
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-Mer (LBDV) 181 Chemin du Lazaret, 06230, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
| | - Anne De Cian
- Laboratoire Structure et Instabilité des Génomes, INSERM U1154, CNRS UMR7196, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle 43 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Kogiku Shiba
- Shimoda Marine Research Centre, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan
| | - Kazuo Inaba
- Shimoda Marine Research Centre, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan
| | - Carine Giovannangeli
- Laboratoire Structure et Instabilité des Génomes, INSERM U1154, CNRS UMR7196, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle 43 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Paul Concordet
- Laboratoire Structure et Instabilité des Génomes, INSERM U1154, CNRS UMR7196, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle 43 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
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Arimoto A, Tagawa K. Regeneration in the enteropneust hemichordate, Ptychodera flava, and its evolutionary implications. Dev Growth Differ 2018; 60:400-408. [PMID: 30009383 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Hemichordates are marine invertebrates that are closely related to chordates, but while their body plans are comparable to those of chordates, they possess a remarkable capacity for regeneration, even as adults. A small fragment is sufficient to form a complete individual. Unlike echinoderms, their larvae transform directly into adults; therefore, hemichordate systems offer clear morphological and molecular parallels between regeneration and development. Morphological events in regeneration are generally similar to organogenesis in juveniles. Nonetheless, comparative analysis of gene expression in these two morphological phenomena suggests that hemichordate regeneration is regulated by regeneration-specific mechanisms, as well as by developmental mechanisms. Dependency upon resident pluripotent/multipotent stem cells is a significant difference in metazoan regeneration, and such stem cells are essential for regeneration in many lineages. Based on the present gene expression study, regeneration in acorn worms is more closely related to that in vertebrates, because it employs endogenous stem cell-independent transdifferentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asuka Arimoto
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Kuni Tagawa
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan
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Lai AG, Aboobaker AA. EvoRegen in animals: Time to uncover deep conservation or convergence of adult stem cell evolution and regenerative processes. Dev Biol 2018; 433:118-131. [PMID: 29198565 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
How do animals regenerate specialised tissues or their entire body after a traumatic injury, how has this ability evolved and what are the genetic and cellular components underpinning this remarkable feat? While some progress has been made in understanding mechanisms, relatively little is known about the evolution of regenerative ability. Which elements of regeneration are due to lineage specific evolutionary novelties or have deeply conserved roots within the Metazoa remains an open question. The renaissance in regeneration research, fuelled by the development of modern functional and comparative genomics, now enable us to gain a detailed understanding of both the mechanisms and evolutionary forces underpinning regeneration in diverse animal phyla. Here we review existing and emerging model systems, with the focus on invertebrates, for studying regeneration. We summarize findings across these taxa that tell us something about the evolution of adult stem cell types that fuel regeneration and the growing evidence that many highly regenerative animals harbor adult stem cells with a gene expression profile that overlaps with germline stem cells. We propose a framework in which regenerative ability broadly evolves through changes in the extent to which stem cells generated through embryogenesis are maintained into the adult life history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvina G Lai
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - A Aziz Aboobaker
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom.
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30
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Brozovic M, Dantec C, Dardaillon J, Dauga D, Faure E, Gineste M, Louis A, Naville M, Nitta KR, Piette J, Reeves W, Scornavacca C, Simion P, Vincentelli R, Bellec M, Aicha SB, Fagotto M, Guéroult-Bellone M, Haeussler M, Jacox E, Lowe EK, Mendez M, Roberge A, Stolfi A, Yokomori R, Brown C, Cambillau C, Christiaen L, Delsuc F, Douzery E, Dumollard R, Kusakabe T, Nakai K, Nishida H, Satou Y, Swalla B, Veeman M, Volff JN, Lemaire P. ANISEED 2017: extending the integrated ascidian database to the exploration and evolutionary comparison of genome-scale datasets. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:D718-D725. [PMID: 29149270 PMCID: PMC5753386 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
ANISEED (www.aniseed.cnrs.fr) is the main model organism database for tunicates, the sister-group of vertebrates. This release gives access to annotated genomes, gene expression patterns, and anatomical descriptions for nine ascidian species. It provides increased integration with external molecular and taxonomy databases, better support for epigenomics datasets, in particular RNA-seq, ChIP-seq and SELEX-seq, and features novel interactive interfaces for existing and novel datatypes. In particular, the cross-species navigation and comparison is enhanced through a novel taxonomy section describing each represented species and through the implementation of interactive phylogenetic gene trees for 60% of tunicate genes. The gene expression section displays the results of RNA-seq experiments for the three major model species of solitary ascidians. Gene expression is controlled by the binding of transcription factors to cis-regulatory sequences. A high-resolution description of the DNA-binding specificity for 131 Ciona robusta (formerly C. intestinalis type A) transcription factors by SELEX-seq is provided and used to map candidate binding sites across the Ciona robusta and Phallusia mammillata genomes. Finally, use of a WashU Epigenome browser enhances genome navigation, while a Genomicus server was set up to explore microsynteny relationships within tunicates and with vertebrates, Amphioxus, echinoderms and hemichordates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Delphine Dauga
- Bioself Communication; 28 rue de la Bibliothèque, F-13001 Marseille, France
| | - Emmanuel Faure
- Institut de Biologie Computationnelle, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Team VORTEX, Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Toulouse, Universities Toulouse I and III, CNRS, INPT, ENSEEIHT; 2 rue Camichel, BP 7122, F-31071 Toulouse Cedex 7, France
| | | | - Alexandra Louis
- DYOGEN, IBENS, Département de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, PSL Research University, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Magali Naville
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS; 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Kazuhiro R Nitta
- IBDM, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Campus de Luminy, Case 907; 163 Avenue de Luminy, F-13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France
| | - Jacques Piette
- CRBM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Wendy Reeves
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | | | - Paul Simion
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Renaud Vincentelli
- AFMB, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Campus de Luminy, Case 932, 163 Avenue de Luminy, F-13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France
| | | | - Sameh Ben Aicha
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, CNRS; Quai de la Darse, F-06234 Villefranche-sur-Mer Cedex, France
| | | | | | - Maximilian Haeussler
- Santa Cruz Genomics Institute, MS CBSE, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Edwin Jacox
- CRBM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Elijah K Lowe
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy
- BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI48824, USA
| | - Mickael Mendez
- IBDM, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Campus de Luminy, Case 907; 163 Avenue de Luminy, F-13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France
| | | | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Rui Yokomori
- Human Genome Center, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - C Titus Brown
- BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI48824, USA
- Population Health and Reproduction, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Christian Cambillau
- AFMB, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Campus de Luminy, Case 932, 163 Avenue de Luminy, F-13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France
| | - Lionel Christiaen
- New York University, Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, 1009 Silver Center, 100 Washington Square East, New York City, NY10003, USA
| | - Frédéric Delsuc
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Emmanuel Douzery
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Rémi Dumollard
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, CNRS; Quai de la Darse, F-06234 Villefranche-sur-Mer Cedex, France
| | - Takehiro Kusakabe
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, Japan
| | - Kenta Nakai
- Human Genome Center, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Hiroki Nishida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Yutaka Satou
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Billie Swalla
- BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI48824, USA
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, 620 University Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250-9299, USA
| | - Michael Veeman
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Jean-Nicolas Volff
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS; 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Patrick Lemaire
- CRBM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
- Institut de Biologie Computationnelle, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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31
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Maguire JE, Pandey A, Wu Y, Di Gregorio A. Investigating Evolutionarily Conserved Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Gene Expression in the Notochord. TRANSGENIC ASCIDIANS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-7545-2_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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32
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Gandhi S, Razy-Krajka F, Christiaen L, Stolfi A. CRISPR Knockouts in Ciona Embryos. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1029:141-152. [PMID: 29542087 PMCID: PMC6061950 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-7545-2_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 has emerged as a revolutionary tool for fast and efficient targeted gene knockouts and genome editing in almost any organism. The laboratory model tunicate Ciona is no exception. Here, we describe our latest protocol for the design, implementation, and evaluation of successful CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockouts in somatic cells of electroporated Ciona embryos. Using commercially available reagents, publicly accessible plasmids, and free web-based software applications, any Ciona researcher can easily knock out any gene of interest in their favorite embryonic cell lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashank Gandhi
- Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Florian Razy-Krajka
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Lionel Christiaen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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33
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Shimai K, Kusakabe TG. The Use of cis-Regulatory DNAs as Molecular Tools. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-7545-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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34
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Nishino A. Morphology and Physiology of the Ascidian Nervous Systems and the Effectors. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018. [PMID: 29542090 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-7545-2_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neurobiology in ascidians has made many advances. Ascidians have offered natural advantages to researchers, including fecundity, structural simplicity, invariant morphology, and fast and stereotyped developmental processes. The researchers have also accumulated on this animal a great deal of knowledge, genomic resources, and modern genetic techniques. A recent connectomic analysis has shown an ultimately resolved image of the larval nervous system, whereas recent applications of live imaging and optogenetics have clarified the functional organization of the juvenile nervous system. Progress in resources and techniques have provided convincing ways to deepen what we have wanted to know about the nervous systems of ascidians. Here, the research history and the current views regarding ascidian nervous systems are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuo Nishino
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
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35
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Transgenic Techniques for Investigating Cell Biology During Development. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018. [PMID: 29542088 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-7545-2_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Ascidians are increasingly being used as a system for investigating cell biology during development. The extreme genetic and cellular simplicity of ascidian embryos in combination with superior experimental tractability make this an ideal system for in vivo analysis of dynamic cellular processes. Transgenic approaches to cellular and sub-cellular analysis of ascidian development have begun to yield new insights into the mechanisms regulating developmental signaling and morphogenesis. This chapter focuses on the targeted expression of fusion proteins in ascidian embryos and how this technique is being deployed to garner new insights into the cell biology of development.
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36
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Rodriguez D, Kassmer SH, De Tomaso AW. Gonad development and hermaphroditism in the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Mol Reprod Dev 2017; 84:158-170. [PMID: 27228546 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri is an ideal model organism for studying gonad development and hermaphroditism. B. schlosseri has been reared in laboratories for over half a century, and its unique biology allows investigators to probe the processes of germ cell migration and gonad formation, resorption, and regeneration. Following metamorphosis, colonies of B. schlosseri show a synchronized and sequential fertility program that, under standard laboratory conditions, begins with a juvenile stage with no visible gonads and subsequently develops testes at 9 weeks followed later by the production of oocytes-thus resulting in hermaphroditic individuals. The timing of oocyte production varies according to the season, and adult B. schlosseri colonies can cycle among infertile and both male and hermaphrodite fertile states in response to changing environmental conditions. Thus, these acidians are amenable to studying the molecular mechanisms controlling fertility, and recent genomic and transcriptomic databases are providing insight to the key genes involved. Here, we review the techniques and approaches developed to study germ cell migration and gonad formation in B. schlosseri, and include novel videos showing processes related to oocyte ovulation and sperm discharge. In the future, this valuable invertebrate model system may help understand the mechanisms of gonad development and regeneration in a chordate. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 84: 158-170, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delany Rodriguez
- Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Susannah H Kassmer
- Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Anthony W De Tomaso
- Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
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37
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Sasakura Y, Hozumi A. Formation of adult organs through metamorphosis in ascidians. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2017; 7. [PMID: 29105358 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The representative characteristic of ascidians is their vertebrate-like, tadpole shape at the larval stage. Ascidians lose the tadpole shape through metamorphosis to become adults with a nonmotile, sessile body and a shape generally considered distinct from that of vertebrates. Solitary ascidians including Ciona species are extensively studied to understand the developmental mechanisms of ascidians, and to compare these mechanisms with their counterparts in vertebrates. In these ascidian species, the digestive and circulatory systems are not well developed in the larval trunk and the larvae do not take food. This is in contrast with the inner conditions of vertebrate tadpoles, which have functional organs comparable to those of adults. The adult organs and tissues of these ascidians become functional during metamorphosis that is completed quickly, suggesting that the ascidian larvae of solitary species are a transient stage of development. We here discuss how the cells and tissues in the ascidian larval body are converted into those of adults. The hearts of ascidians and vertebrates use closely related cellular and molecular mechanisms that suggest their shared origin. Hox genes of ascidians are essential for forming adult endodermal structures. To fully understand the development and evolution of chordates, a complete elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the adult tissue/organ formation of ascidians will be needed. WIREs Dev Biol 2018, 7:e304. doi: 10.1002/wdev.304 This article is categorized under: Comparative Development and Evolution > Body Plan Evolution Early Embryonic Development > Development to the Basic Body Plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Akiko Hozumi
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
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38
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Liu C, Zhang L, Liu H, Cheng K. Delivery strategies of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system for therapeutic applications. J Control Release 2017; 266:17-26. [PMID: 28911805 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 333] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing system is a part of the adaptive immune system in archaea and bacteria to defend against invasive nucleic acids from phages and plasmids. The single guide RNA (sgRNA) of the system recognizes its target sequence in the genome, and the Cas9 nuclease of the system acts as a pair of scissors to cleave the double strands of DNA. Since its discovery, CRISPR-Cas9 has become the most robust platform for genome engineering in eukaryotic cells. Recently, the CRISPR-Cas9 system has triggered enormous interest in therapeutic applications. CRISPR-Cas9 can be applied to correct disease-causing gene mutations or engineer T cells for cancer immunotherapy. The first clinical trial using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology was conducted in 2016. Despite the great promise of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology, several challenges remain to be tackled before its successful applications for human patients. The greatest challenge is the safe and efficient delivery of the CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing system to target cells in human body. In this review, we will introduce the molecular mechanism and different strategies to edit genes using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. We will then highlight the current systems that have been developed to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 in vitro and in vivo for various therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
| | - Li Zhang
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
| | - Hao Liu
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
| | - Kun Cheng
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States.
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39
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Lopez CE, Sheehan HC, Vierra DA, Azzinaro PA, Meedel TH, Howlett NG, Irvine SQ. Proteomic responses to elevated ocean temperature in ovaries of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Biol Open 2017; 6:943-955. [PMID: 28500033 PMCID: PMC5550911 DOI: 10.1242/bio.024786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ciona intestinalis, a common sea squirt, exhibits lower reproductive success at the upper extreme of the water temperatures it experiences in coastal New England. In order to understand the changes in protein expression associated with elevated temperatures, and possible response to global temperature change, we reared C. intestinalis from embryos to adults at 18°C (a temperature at which they reproduce normally at our collection site in Rhode Island) and 22°C (the upper end of the local temperature range). We then dissected ovaries from animals at each temperature, extracted protein, and measured proteomic levels using shotgun mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). 1532 proteins were detected at a 1% false discovery rate present in both temperature groups by our LC-MS/MS method. 62 of those proteins are considered up- or down-regulated according to our statistical criteria. Principal component analysis shows a clear distinction in protein expression pattern between the control (18°C) group and high temperature (22°C) group. Similar to previous studies, cytoskeletal and chaperone proteins are upregulated in the high temperature group. Unexpectedly, we find evidence that proteolysis is downregulated at the higher temperature. We propose a working model for the high temperature response in C. intestinalis ovaries whereby increased temperature induces upregulation of signal transduction pathways involving PTPN11 and CrkL, and activating coordinated changes in the proteome especially in large lipid transport proteins, cellular stress responses, cytoskeleton, and downregulation of energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea E Lopez
- Departments of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Hannah C Sheehan
- Departments of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - David A Vierra
- Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Paul A Azzinaro
- Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Thomas H Meedel
- Biology Department, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI 02908, USA
| | - Niall G Howlett
- Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Steven Q Irvine
- Departments of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
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40
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D'Agostino Y, D'Aniello S. Molecular basis, applications and challenges of CRISPR/Cas9: a continuously evolving tool for genome editing. Brief Funct Genomics 2017; 16:211-216. [PMID: 28057617 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elw038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) system is a recently discovered tool for genome editing that has quickly revolutionized the ability to generate site-specific mutations in a wide range of animal models, including nonhuman primates. Indeed, a significant number of scientific reports describing single or multiplex guide RNA microinjection, double-nicking strategies, site-specific knock-in and conditional knock-out have been published in less than three years. However, despite the great potential of this new technology, there are some limitations because of the presence of off-target genomic sites, which must be taken into consideration. To address this issue, various research teams have tried to improve the efficiency of the system through enzymatic modifications of the Cas9 protein or by the introduction of alternative strategies. Although several review articles are available that singly describe the molecular mechanism(s), applications and challenges of each of these strategies, a concise compilation of approaches is lacking. In the current review, we describe and evaluate most CRISPR/Cas9 approaches available at present, describing both mechanism of action, in addition to advantages or disadvantages. The primary goal of this work is to serve as a guide for not skilled researchers, facilitating the selection of the best strategy to target their gene of interest and allowing optimization of particular applications to the specific aims of the study. The present article also offers a unique perspective, focusing on the fact that CRISPR technology is opening a new genomic era, providing the means to manipulate specific genes in a targeted manner in all animal models, an endeavor previously considered to be difficult.
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Knowlton MN, Smith CL. Naming CRISPR alleles: endonuclease-mediated mutation nomenclature across species. Mamm Genome 2017; 28:367-376. [PMID: 28589392 PMCID: PMC5569137 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-017-9698-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The widespread use of CRISPR/Cas and other targeted endonuclease technologies in many species has led to an explosion in the generation of new mutations and alleles. The ability to generate many different mutations from the same target sequence either by homology-directed repair with a donor sequence or non-homologous end joining-induced insertions and deletions necessitates a means for representing these mutations in literature and databases. Standardized nomenclature can be used to generate unambiguous, concise, and specific symbols to represent mutations and alleles. The research communities of a variety of species using CRISPR/Cas and other endonuclease-mediated mutation technologies have developed different approaches to naming and identifying such alleles and mutations. While some organism-specific research communities have developed allele nomenclature that incorporates the method of generation within the official allele or mutant symbol, others use metadata tags that include method of generation or mutagen. Organism-specific research community databases together with organism-specific nomenclature committees are leading the way in providing standardized nomenclature and metadata to facilitate the integration of data from alleles and mutations generated using CRISPR/Cas and other targeted endonucleases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cynthia L Smith
- Mouse Genome Informatics, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, 04609, USA
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Gandhi S, Haeussler M, Razy-Krajka F, Christiaen L, Stolfi A. Evaluation and rational design of guide RNAs for efficient CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in Ciona. Dev Biol 2017; 425:8-20. [PMID: 28341547 PMCID: PMC5502750 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 system has emerged as an important tool for various genome engineering applications. A current obstacle to high throughput applications of CRISPR/Cas9 is the imprecise prediction of highly active single guide RNAs (sgRNAs). We previously implemented the CRISPR/Cas9 system to induce tissue-specific mutations in the tunicate Ciona. In the present study, we designed and tested 83 single guide RNA (sgRNA) vectors targeting 23 genes expressed in the cardiopharyngeal progenitors and surrounding tissues of Ciona embryo. Using high-throughput sequencing of mutagenized alleles, we identified guide sequences that correlate with sgRNA mutagenesis activity and used this information for the rational design of all possible sgRNAs targeting the Ciona transcriptome. We also describe a one-step cloning-free protocol for the assembly of sgRNA expression cassettes. These cassettes can be directly electroporated as unpurified PCR products into Ciona embryos for sgRNA expression in vivo, resulting in high frequency of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in somatic cells of electroporated embryos. We found a strong correlation between the frequency of an Ebf loss-of-function phenotype and the mutagenesis efficacies of individual Ebf-targeting sgRNAs tested using this method. We anticipate that our approach can be scaled up to systematically design and deliver highly efficient sgRNAs for the tissue-specific investigation of gene functions in Ciona.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maximilian Haeussler
- Santa Cruz Genomics Institute, University of California, MS CBSE, Santa Cruz, USA
| | | | | | - Alberto Stolfi
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, USA.
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Germ cell regeneration-mediated, enhanced mutagenesis in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis reveals flexible germ cell formation from different somatic cells. Dev Biol 2017; 423:111-125. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Abstract
The ascidian Ciona intestinalis is an important model animal for studying developmental mechanisms for constructing the chordate body. Although molecular and embryological techniques for manipulating Ciona genes were developed a long time ago, recent achievements of genome editing in this animal have innovated functional analyses of genes in Ciona. Particularly, knockout of genes in the G0 generation coupled with tissue-specific expression of TALENs enables us to rapidly address gene functions that were difficult using previous methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1, Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan.
| | - Keita Yoshida
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1, Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan
| | - Nicholas Treen
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1, Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan
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Sasakura Y, Ogura Y, Treen N, Yokomori R, Park SJ, Nakai K, Saiga H, Sakuma T, Yamamoto T, Fujiwara S, Yoshida K. Transcriptional regulation of a horizontally transferred gene from bacterium to chordate. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 283:20161712. [PMID: 28003446 PMCID: PMC5204163 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The horizontal transfer of genes between distantly related organisms is undoubtedly a major factor in the evolution of novel traits. Because genes are functionless without expression, horizontally transferred genes must acquire appropriate transcriptional regulations in their recipient organisms, although the evolutionary mechanism is not known well. The defining characteristic of tunicates is the presence of a cellulose containing tunic covering the adult and larval body surface. Cellulose synthase was acquired by horizontal gene transfer from Actinobacteria. We found that acquisition of the binding site of AP-2 transcription factor was essential for tunicate cellulose synthase to gain epidermal-specific expression. Actinobacteria have very GC-rich genomes, regions of which are capable of inducing specific expression in the tunicate epidermis as the AP-2 binds to a GC-rich region. Therefore, the actinobacterial cellulose synthase could have been potentiated to evolve its new function in the ancestor of tunicates with a higher probability than the evolution depending solely on a spontaneous event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan
| | - Yosuke Ogura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan
| | - Nicholas Treen
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan
| | - Rui Yokomori
- The Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Sung-Joon Park
- The Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Kenta Nakai
- The Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Saiga
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minamiohsawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Sakuma
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamamoto
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Shigeki Fujiwara
- Department of Applied Science, Kochi University, 2-5-1, Akebono-cho, Kochi-shi, Kochi 780-8520, Japan
| | - Keita Yoshida
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan
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46
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Diving into marine genomics with CRISPR/Cas9 systems. Mar Genomics 2016; 30:55-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2016.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Köferle A, Worf K, Breunig C, Baumann V, Herrero J, Wiesbeck M, Hutter LH, Götz M, Fuchs C, Beck S, Stricker SH. CORALINA: a universal method for the generation of gRNA libraries for CRISPR-based screening. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:917. [PMID: 27842490 PMCID: PMC5109649 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3268-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The bacterial CRISPR system is fast becoming the most popular genetic and epigenetic engineering tool due to its universal applicability and adaptability. The desire to deploy CRISPR-based methods in a large variety of species and contexts has created an urgent need for the development of easy, time- and cost-effective methods enabling large-scale screening approaches. RESULTS Here we describe CORALINA (comprehensive gRNA library generation through controlled nuclease activity), a method for the generation of comprehensive gRNA libraries for CRISPR-based screens. CORALINA gRNA libraries can be derived from any source of DNA without the need of complex oligonucleotide synthesis. We show the utility of CORALINA for human and mouse genomic DNA, its reproducibility in covering the most relevant genomic features including regulatory, coding and non-coding sequences and confirm the functionality of CORALINA generated gRNAs. CONCLUSIONS The simplicity and cost-effectiveness make CORALINA suitable for any experimental system. The unprecedented sequence complexities obtainable with CORALINA libraries are a necessary pre-requisite for less biased large scale genomic and epigenomic screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Köferle
- Medical Genomics, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Karolina Worf
- Biostatistics, Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christopher Breunig
- Epigenetic Engineering, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- BioMedizinisches Centrum, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Großhaderner Str. 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Valentin Baumann
- Epigenetic Engineering, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- BioMedizinisches Centrum, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Großhaderner Str. 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Javier Herrero
- Bill Lyons Informatics Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Maximilian Wiesbeck
- Epigenetic Engineering, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- BioMedizinisches Centrum, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Großhaderner Str. 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Lukas H. Hutter
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU England UK
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Neural Stem Cells, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- BioMedizinisches Centrum, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Großhaderner Str. 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christiane Fuchs
- Biostatistics, Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Beck
- Medical Genomics, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Stefan H. Stricker
- Epigenetic Engineering, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- BioMedizinisches Centrum, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Großhaderner Str. 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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Kari W, Zeng F, Zitzelsberger L, Will J, Rothbächer U. Embryo Microinjection and Electroporation in the Chordate Ciona intestinalis. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27805579 PMCID: PMC5092207 DOI: 10.3791/54313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple model organisms are instrumental for in vivo studies of developmental and cellular differentiation processes. Currently, the evolutionary distance to man of conventional invertebrate model systems and the complexity of genomes in vertebrates are critical challenges to modeling human normal and pathological conditions. The chordate Ciona intestinalis is an invertebrate chordate that emerged from a common ancestor with the vertebrates and may represent features at the interface between invertebrates and vertebrates. A common body plan with much simpler cellular and genomic composition should unveil gene regulatory network (GRN) links and functional genomics readouts explaining phenomena in the vertebrate condition. The compact genome of Ciona, a fixed embryonic lineage with few divisions and large cells, combined with versatile community tools foster efficient gene functional analyses in this organism. Here, we present several crucial methods for this promising model organism, which belongs to the closest sister group to vertebrates. We present protocols for transient transgenesis by electroporation, along with microinjection-mediated gene knockdown, which together provide the means to study gene function and genomic regulatory elements. We extend our protocols to provide information on how community databases are utilized for in silico design of gene regulatory or gene functional experiments. An example study demonstrates how novel information can be gained on the interplay, and its quantification, of selected neural factors conserved between Ciona and man. Furthermore, we show examples of differential subcellular localization in embryonic cells, following DNA electroporation in Ciona zygotes. Finally, we discuss the potential of these protocols to be adapted for tissue specific gene interference with emerging gene editing methods. The in vivo approaches in Ciona overcome major shortcomings of classical model organisms in the quest of unraveling conserved mechanisms in the chordate developmental program, relevant to stem cell research, drug discovery, and subsequent clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willi Kari
- Department of Evolution and Developmental Biology, Zoological Institute, University Innsbruck
| | - Fan Zeng
- Department of Evolution and Developmental Biology, Zoological Institute, University Innsbruck
| | - Lena Zitzelsberger
- Department of Evolution and Developmental Biology, Zoological Institute, University Innsbruck
| | - Johannes Will
- Department of Evolution and Developmental Biology, Zoological Institute, University Innsbruck
| | - Ute Rothbächer
- Department of Evolution and Developmental Biology, Zoological Institute, University Innsbruck;
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Grant SGN. The molecular evolution of the vertebrate behavioural repertoire. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2016; 371:20150051. [PMID: 26598730 PMCID: PMC4685586 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
How the sophisticated vertebrate behavioural repertoire evolved remains a major question in biology. The behavioural repertoire encompasses the set of individual behavioural components that an organism uses when adapting and responding to changes in its external world. Although unicellular organisms, invertebrates and vertebrates share simple reflex responses, the fundamental mechanisms that resulted in the complexity and sophistication that is characteristic of vertebrate behaviours have only recently been examined. A series of behavioural genetic experiments in mice and humans support a theory that posited the importance of synapse proteome expansion in generating complexity in the behavioural repertoire. Genome duplication events, approximately 550 Ma, produced expansion in the synapse proteome that resulted in increased complexity in synapse signalling mechanisms that regulate components of the behavioural repertoire. The experiments demonstrate the importance to behaviour of the gene duplication events, the diversification of paralogues and sequence constraint. They also confirm the significance of comparative proteomic and genomic studies that identified the molecular origins of synapses in unicellular eukaryotes and the vertebrate expansion in proteome complexity. These molecular mechanisms have general importance for understanding the repertoire of behaviours in different species and for human behavioural disorders arising from synapse gene mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth G N Grant
- Centre for Clinical Brain Science, Edinburgh University, Chancellors Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
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50
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Segade F, Cota C, Famiglietti A, Cha A, Davidson B. Fibronectin contributes to notochord intercalation in the invertebrate chordate, Ciona intestinalis. EvoDevo 2016; 7:21. [PMID: 27583126 PMCID: PMC5006582 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-016-0056-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genomic analysis has upended chordate phylogeny, placing the tunicates as the sister group to the vertebrates. This taxonomic rearrangement raises questions about the emergence of a tunicate/vertebrate ancestor. RESULTS Characterization of developmental genes uniquely shared by tunicates and vertebrates is one promising approach for deciphering developmental shifts underlying acquisition of novel, ancestral traits. The matrix glycoprotein Fibronectin (FN) has long been considered a vertebrate-specific gene, playing a major instructive role in vertebrate embryonic development. However, the recent computational prediction of an orthologous "vertebrate-like" Fn gene in the genome of a tunicate, Ciona savignyi, challenges this viewpoint suggesting that Fn may have arisen in the shared tunicate/vertebrate ancestor. Here we verify the presence of a tunicate Fn ortholog. Transgenic reporter analysis was used to characterize a Ciona Fn enhancer driving expression in the notochord. Targeted knockdown in the notochord lineage indicates that FN is required for proper convergent extension. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that acquisition of Fn was associated with altered notochord morphogenesis in the vertebrate/tunicate ancestor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Segade
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Christina Cota
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA 19081 USA
| | - Amber Famiglietti
- Section on Biological Chemistry, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Anna Cha
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Brad Davidson
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA 19081 USA
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