Development of approaches to apply CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene conversion to model complex genetic traits in mice

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

PROJECT SUMMARY Decades of research using laboratory mice and rats have revealed mechanisms of human development and disease. It is highly likely that rodents have provided critical supporting data for clinical trials of every pharmaceutical or therapeutic approach currently used to improve human health. There are, however, limitations to the utility of mice and rats to understand and model complex genetic problems (e.g. Alzheimer's, heart disease, and diabetes) due to the rare probability of inheriting desired alleles at four or more loci and the small litter size compared to offspring of other traditional model species. The cost, time, and number of animals needed to model complex genetic traits would be reduced by an approach to increase the probability one of the two alleles at multiple loci will be transmitted to the next generation. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene conversion, which is feasible in mice, can perhaps accomplish exactly this goal by copying genetic information from a donor to a recipient allele in the germline. Briefly, this occurs by germline-restricted expression of genetically encoded Cas9 and a guide RNA (gRNA) that targets only the recipient and not the donor allele. If the double strand break in the recipient allele is repaired by interchromosomal homology directed repair, the recipient allele is replaced by the donor allele. CRISPR/Cas9- mediated gene conversion therefore changes the genotype of the cell from heterozygous to homozygous and ensures any resulting sperm or egg will transmit only the donor allele. The proposed objectives will build on proof-of-feasibility to improve the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene conversion in the female and male mouse germline and to test the efficiency of gene conversion at two loci in the same cell. Previous work suggests a high level of Cas9 expression timed to initiate during early meiosis I is necessary for efficient gene conversion in both sexes. Aim1 of this proposal seeks to apply this knowledge to develop and test three BAC transgenic drivers of Cas9 expression using regulatory sequences of the meiotic genes Tex12, Prdm9, and Rad51ap2. To date, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene conversion has been assessed at one locus – Tyrosinase. Aim 2 seeks to quantify the efficiency of gene conversion at two additional loci individually and of two loci together in the same cell. Mathematical models predict the efficiency of multi-locus gene conversion, but empirical evidence is required to determine whether the actual efficiency follows a `multiplicative' or `coordinated' probability. The outcomes of this research are critical to maximize the utility and future biological impact of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene conversion approaches to model and solve a variety of genetically complex challenges to human health.