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Sharma A, Pham MN, Reyes JB, Chana R, Yim WC, Heu CC, Kim D, Chaverra-Rodriguez D, Rasgon JL, Harrell RA, Nuss AB, Gulia-Nuss M. Cas9-mediated gene editing in the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, by embryo injection and ReMOT Control. iScience 2022; 25:103781. [PMID: 35535206 PMCID: PMC9076890 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their capacity to acquire and pass on an array of debilitating pathogens, research on ticks has lagged behind other arthropod vectors, such as mosquitoes, largely because of challenges in applying available genetic and molecular tools. CRISPR-Cas9 is transforming non-model organism research; however, successful gene editing has not yet been reported in ticks. Technical challenges for injecting tick embryos to attempt gene editing have further slowed research progress. Currently, no embryo injection protocol exists for any chelicerate species, including ticks. Herein, we report a successful embryo injection protocol for the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, and the use of this protocol for genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9. We also demonstrate that the ReMOT Control technique could be successfully used to generate genome mutations outside Insecta. Our results provide innovative tools to the tick research community that are essential for advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing pathogen transmission by tick vectors and the underlying biology of host-vector-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Michael N. Pham
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Jeremiah B. Reyes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Randeep Chana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Won C. Yim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Chan C. Heu
- Department of Entomology, The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Donghun Kim
- Department of Entomology, The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Duverney Chaverra-Rodriguez
- Department of Entomology, The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jason L. Rasgon
- Department of Entomology, The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Robert A. Harrell
- Insect Transformation Facility, University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Andrew B. Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Monika Gulia-Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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Auradkar A, Bulger EA, Devkota S, McGinnis W, Bier E. Dissecting the evolutionary role of the Hox gene proboscipedia in Drosophila mouthpart diversification by full locus replacement. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabk1003. [PMID: 34757777 PMCID: PMC8580299 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk1003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Hox genes determine positional codes along the head-to-tail axis. Here, we replaced the entire Drosophila melanogaster proboscipedia (pb) Hox locus, which controls the development of the proboscis and maxillary palps, with that from Drosophila mimica, a related species with highly modified mouthparts. The D. mimica replacement rescues most aspects of adult proboscis morphology; however, the shape and orientation of maxillary palps were modified, resembling D. mimica and closely related species. Expressing the D. mimica Pb protein in the D. melanogaster pattern fully rescued D. melanogaster morphology. However, the expression pattern directed by D. mimica pb cis-regulatory sequences differed from that of D. melanogaster pb in cells that produce altered maxillary structures, indicating that pb regulatory sequences can evolve in related species to alter morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankush Auradkar
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society-UCSD, La Jolla, CA 92093-0335, USA
| | - Emily A. Bulger
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, and Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sushil Devkota
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - William McGinnis
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ethan Bier
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society-UCSD, La Jolla, CA 92093-0335, USA
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Sivanantharajah L, Percival-Smith A. Differential pleiotropy and HOX functional organization. Dev Biol 2014; 398:1-10. [PMID: 25448696 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Key studies led to the idea that transcription factors are composed of defined modular protein motifs or domains, each with separable, unique function. During evolution, the recombination of these modular domains could give rise to transcription factors with new properties, as has been shown using recombinant molecules. This archetypic, modular view of transcription factor organization is based on the analyses of a few transcription factors such as GAL4, which may represent extreme exemplars rather than an archetype or the norm. Recent work with a set of Homeotic selector (HOX) proteins has revealed differential pleiotropy: the observation that highly-conserved HOX protein motifs and domains make small, additive, tissue specific contributions to HOX activity. Many of these differentially pleiotropic HOX motifs may represent plastic sequence elements called short linear motifs (SLiMs). The coupling of differential pleiotropy with SLiMs, suggests that protein sequence changes in HOX transcription factors may have had a greater impact on morphological diversity during evolution than previously believed. Furthermore, differential pleiotropy may be the genetic consequence of an ensemble nature of HOX transcription factor allostery, where HOX proteins exist as an ensemble of states with the capacity to integrate an extensive array of developmental information. Given a new structural model for HOX functional domain organization, the properties of the archetypic TF may require reassessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lovesha Sivanantharajah
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, BGS231, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7.
| | - Anthony Percival-Smith
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, BGS231, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
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Acquisition of a leucine zipper motif as a mechanism of antimorphy for an allele of the Drosophila Hox gene Sex combs reduced. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2014; 4:829-38. [PMID: 24622333 PMCID: PMC4025482 DOI: 10.1534/g3.114.010769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In 1932, Müller first used the term "antimorphic" to describe mutant alleles that have an effect that is antagonistic to that of the wild-type allele from which they were derived. In a previous characterization of mutant alleles of the Drosophila melanogaster Hox gene, Sex combs reduced (Scr), we identified the missense, antimorphic allele Scr14, which is a Ser10-to-Leu change in the N-terminally located, bilateran-specific octapeptide motif. Here we propose that the cause of Scr14 antimorphy is the acquisition of a leucine zipper oligomerization motif spanning the octapeptide motif and adjacently located protostome-specific LASCY motif. Analysis of the primary and predicted secondary structures of the SCR N-terminus suggests that while the SCR+ encodes a short, α-helical region containing one putative heptad repeat, the same region in SCR14 encodes a longer, α-helical region containing two putative heptad repeats. In addition, in vitro cross-linking assays demonstrated strong oligomerization of SCR14 but not SCR+. For in vivo sex comb formation, we observed reciprocal inhibition of endogenous SCR+ and SCR14 activity by ectopic expression of truncated SCR14 and SCR+ peptides, respectively. The acquisition of an oligomerization domain in SCR14 presents a novel mechanism of antimorphy relative to the dominant negative mechanism, which maintains oligomerization between the wild-type and mutant protein subunits.
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Percival-Smith A, Sivanantharajah L, Pelling JJH, Teft WA. Developmental competence and the induction of ectopic proboscises in Drosophila melanogaster. Dev Genes Evol 2013; 223:375-387. [DOI: 10.1007/s00427-013-0454-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 09/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Moazzen H, Rosenfeld R, Percival-Smith A. Non-requirement of a regulatory subunit of Protein Phosphatase 2A, PP2A-B′, for activation of Sex comb reduced activity in Drosophila melanogaster. Mech Dev 2009; 126:605-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2009.06.1084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2009] [Revised: 06/12/2009] [Accepted: 06/19/2009] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Analysis of the sequence and phenotype of Drosophila Sex combs reduced alleles reveals potential functions of conserved protein motifs of the Sex combs reduced protein. Genetics 2009; 182:191-203. [PMID: 19293143 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.109.100438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Drosophila Hox gene, Sex combs reduced (Scr), is required for patterning the larval and adult, labial and prothoracic segments. Fifteen Scr alleles were sequenced and the phenotypes analyzed in detail. Six null alleles were nonsense mutations (Scr(2), Scr(4), Scr(11), Scr(13), Scr(13A), and Scr(16)) and one was an intragenic deletion (Scr(17)). Five hypomorphic alleles were missense mutations (Scr(1), Scr(3), Scr(5), Scr(6), and Scr(8)) and one was a small protein deletion (Scr(15)). Protein sequence changes were found in four of the five highly conserved domains of SCR: the DYTQL motif (Scr(15)), YPWM motif (Scr(3)), Homeodomain (Scr(1)), and C-terminal domain (CTD) (Scr(6)), indicating importance for SCR function. Analysis of the pleiotropy of viable Scr alleles for the formation of pseudotracheae suggests that the DYTQL motif and the CTD mediate a genetic interaction with proboscipedia. One allele Scr(14), a missense allele in the conserved octapeptide, was an antimorphic allele that exhibited three interesting genetic properties. First, Scr(14)/Df had the same phenotype as Scr(+)/Df. Second, the ability of the Scr(14) allele to interact intragenetically with Scr alleles mapped to the first 82 amino acids of SCR, which contains the octapeptide motif. Third, Scr(6), which has two missense changes in the CTD, did not interact genetically with Scr(14).
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Abstract
Arista versus tarsus determination is well investigated in Drosophila, yet it remains unresolved whether Antennapedia (ANTP) cell autonomously or noncell autonomously determines tarsus identity and whether Sex combs reduced (SCR) is the HOX protein required for normal tarsus determination. Three observations rule out a cell autonomous role for ANTP in tarsus determination. (i) Clonal ectopic overexpression of ANTP did not repress the expression of the arista determining protein Homothorax (HTH) in early 3rd stadium antennal imaginal discs. (ii) Clonal ectopic expression of ANTP did not transform the arista to a tarsus. (iii) Ectopic overexpression of ANTP, Labial (LAB), Deformed (DFD), SCR, Ultrabithorax (UBX), Abdominal-A (ABD-A), or Abdominal-B (ABD-B), using the dppGAL4 driver, resulted in arista-to-tarsus transformations, and repressed HTH/Extradenticle (EXD) activity noncell autonomously in early 3rd stadium antennal imaginal discs. SCR may not be the HOX protein required for normal tarsus determination, because co-ectopic expression of Proboscipedia (PB) inhibited the arista-to-tarsus transformations induced by ectopic expression of DFD, SCR, ANTP, UBX, ABD-A, and ABD-B. The proposal that SCR is the HOX protein required for normal tarsus determination is dependent on SCR being the sole target of PB suppression, which is not the case. Therefore, the possibility exists that normal tarsus determination is HOX independent.Key words: appendage development, Antennapedia, proboscipedia, sex combs reduced, homothorax.
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