Xenopus models of human disease by targeted genome editing

 描述（由申请人提供）： 项目概要本提案支持在与人类疾病相关的关键基因中构建超过100种不同的爪蟾突变体的项目。拟议的研究将使用CRISPR/Cas和TALEN基因编辑在两栖动物非洲爪蟾中创建人类疾病的精确模型。在对非洲爪蟾群落进行调查后，有超过150种不同的突变体被要求支持非洲爪蟾的生物医学研究。目前的研究重点是为整个非洲爪蟾群落开发许多不同疾病的非洲爪蟾模型，每个突变体将与个别研究人员密切合作开发。这项建议有三个主要目的。首先，将使用CRISPR/Cas或TALEN基因编辑方法在热带爪蟾或非洲爪蟾中产生关键基因的突变。其次，我们建议开发使用CRISPR/Cas和TALEN方法的卵母细胞宿主转移用于产生突变体的用途;这将提高在第一次胚胎细胞分裂之前诱导突变的效率，并允许通过仅在卵母细胞中限制Cas9活性来产生均匀的杂合突变。第三，我们将优化CRISPR/Cas和/或TALEN的敲入策略。所有这些目标将有助于提高CRISPR/Cas和TALEN基因编辑方法在非洲爪蟾模型系统中的利用率。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Summary This proposal supports a project to construct over 100 different Xenopus mutants in key genes related to human disease. The proposed studies will use CRISPR/Cas and TALEN gene editing to create precise models of human disease in the amphibian Xenopus. After a survey of the Xenopus community, there are over 150 different mutants requested to support biomedical research in Xenopus. The current studies are focused on developing Xenopus models of many different diseases for the entire Xenopus community, and each mutant will be developed in close coordination with individual researchers. There are three main aims to this proposal. First, mutations in key genes will be produced in either Xenopus tropicalis or Xenopus laevis using CRISPR/Cas or TALEN gene editing methods. Second, we propose to develop the use of oocyte host transfer for the generation of mutants using CRISPR/Cas and TALEN methods; this will increase the efficiency with which mutations are induced prior to first embryonic cell division and to allow for the creation of uniform heterozygous mutations by limiting Cas9 activity only in the oocyte. Third, we will optimize knock-in strategies with CRISPR/Cas and/or TALEN. All of these aims will help enhance the utilization of CRISPR/Cas and TALEN gene editing methods in the Xenopus model system.