斑马鱼心脏发育候选基因Titin-Cap的CRISPR/Cas9打靶有效性分析

CRISPR/Cas9基因打靶技术是近几年发展起来的一种高效率的定向打靶技术,被认为是遗传领域的革命性技术。Titin-Cap基因是本实验室已初步鉴定的斑马鱼心脏发育候选基因,且国内外目前尚无斑马鱼Titin-Cap基因的敲除品系。为了研究Titin-Cap基因在心脏发育过程中的作用机制,我们利用CRISPR/Cas9基因打靶技术建立斑马鱼Titin-Cap基因的敲除品系。测序结果显示,注射了CRISPR/Cas9 gRNA的胚胎出现双峰,说明在打靶位点附近出现了碱基缺失或插入,证明我们设计的gRNA是有效的。对F0代突变体成鱼的筛选中,测序结果同样显示有阳性结果。这些结果说明用CRISPR/Cas9基因打靶技术成功敲除了斑马鱼Titin-Cap基因,获得了Titin-Cap基因敲除的嵌合体斑马鱼。     

基于新的CRISPR/Cas9技术实现斑马鱼LHX9基因的快速编辑及对F0突变体性腺发育的初筛

目的:CRISPR/Cas9系统在斑马鱼的反向遗传学中的到了广泛应用,但突变基因的表型观察往往需要在突变鱼系的F1中进行,费时较长。LHX9作为LIM家族的一种转录因子,在胚胎早期的泌尿生殖嵴中有广泛分布;且LHX9基因敲除的小鼠存在性腺发育不良。本研究拟通过一种新的CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术,采用四条sgRNA对LHX9基因进行VASA转基因斑马鱼的基因敲除,以观察该基因缺陷对斑马鱼性腺发育的影响。方法:利用新的CRISPR/Cas9技术,设计四条针对斑马鱼LHX9基因3号外显子的20bp的sgRNA,通过非克隆体外转录得到靶位点的四条sgRNA。将以上靶位点的四条sgRNA与Cas9核酸酶蛋白同时注射入单细胞期的斑马鱼胚胎内,利用PCR鉴定突变型类型和突变比例。通过对LHX9基因突变体的VASA转基因斑马鱼进行荧光观察,发现LHX9基因缺陷的斑马鱼性腺发育的情况。结果:靶向Exon 3的四条sgRNA可成功编辑斑马鱼LHX9基因,敲除效率高达82%,Sanger测序发现产生10种不同的移码突变类型。通过该方法对VASA转基因斑马鱼的LHX9基因进行编辑,发现LHX9基因突变导致dph6的的斑马鱼原始生殖细胞增殖和迁移受到影响。结论:基于4条sgRNA注射的CRISPR/Cas9技术,可以快速地产生具有突变表型的G0斑马鱼,具有应用潜力。LHX9基因敲除导致原始生殖细胞的发育和迁移受到影响,提示该基因参与了斑马鱼早期性腺的发育。     

斑马鱼gpr98基因敲除试验模型的构建

gpr98基因突变与多种疾病相关,该基因在人类和斑马鱼中高度保守。建立斑马鱼gpr98基因突变体稳定系,可为阐释gpr98基因功能提供良好的动物模型和研究基础。本文利用CRISPR/Cas9基因敲除技术在斑马鱼gpr98基因2号外显子上选取两个相距42bp的靶位点,分别体外合成sgRNA,并与Cas9 mRNA一起共注射至斑马鱼胚胎单细胞期的胚胎内。随机挑选发育72h胚胎提取基因组DNA进行PCR分析,结果表明:除了有野生型DNA带外,部分胚胎有一条比野生型DNA小的带;进一步将F0代阳性个体与野生型的斑马鱼杂交,对杂交后代进行基因型分析,并成功筛选到缺失48bp(Δ48bp)的稳定遗传突变的gpr98基因敲除斑马鱼模型。该试验模型的构建为研究gpr98基因在心血管以及骨骼等组织器官的发育及相关疾病发生中的作用奠定了重要基础。     

针对Fbxl5基因关键结构域F-box的Crispr/Cas9打靶有效性分析

为了在动物体内研究Fbxl5基因是通过什么机制导致斑马鱼心脏出现突变表型,本文利用近几年兴起的CRISPR/Cas9打靶技术建立斑马鱼Fbxl5基因敲除品系。本文将打靶位点定位于Fbxl5的F-box结构域,也就是Fbxl5的第五号外显子上。首先经过基因打靶网站分析筛选出针对Fbxl5基因F-box结构域最适合的打靶位点,扩增出Fbxl5基因CRISPR/Cas9打靶双链DNA,并转录为RNA,与Hcas9共注射至斑马鱼胚胎。最后,在注射48 h后对Fbxl5基因CRISPR/Cas9打靶的有效性进行检测。首先在注射48 h之后收集胚胎提取基因组DNA,用特异性引物进行PCR扩增;将纯化后的Fbxl5基因PCR产物连接到p MD18-T载体,再经质粒提取,测序分析,通过与WT斑马鱼基因组序列进行比对发现Fbxl5-9号在PAM序列AGG下游缺失了4个碱基。证明该CRISPR/Cas9系统在敲除心脏发育候选基因Fbxl5是有效的,该研究为最终获得Fbxl5基因敲除斑马鱼奠定了良好的基础。     

Fus在斑马鱼生长发育及两性生长异形中的功能（英文）

为研究肉瘤融合基因(fus)在鱼类中的功能,在斑马鱼中利用CRISPR/Cas9基因突变技术使fus基因产生移码突变。fus~(-/-)纯合突变体斑马鱼发育正常并且完全可育,但体长和体重在幼鱼和成年阶段都小于野生型斑马鱼。此外,相较于野生型斑马鱼, fus~(-/-)纯合突变体斑马鱼不存在雌鱼身体比例大于雄鱼的性别异形现象。在fus~(-/-)纯合突变体斑马鱼早期幼鱼发育阶段,一些生长相关基因包括gh1、ghra、igf1、igf2a、stat5.1和socs6的表达水平显著低于野生型斑马鱼但其运动能力并未受到影响。因此,不同于fus基因在哺乳动物中的功能,它在斑马鱼中不参与运动神经元的发育,但在调节鱼类躯体生长发育与两性生长异形方面有着重要的功能。     

stat3通过促进轴突生长间接抑制间神经丘早熟

鱼类侧线系统由感受水流的机械感受器和传导信息的侧线神经组成.stat3在斑马鱼侧线神经丘和侧线神经节中特异性表达,但stat3在斑马鱼后侧线系统发育过程中的功能仍然不清楚.本研究利用CRISPR/Cas9在斑马鱼中成功敲除stat3基因.然后,利用Tg(SqET20:GFP)转基因鱼追踪后侧线神经丘的发育.从4 dpf...     

斑马鱼miR-196a-1基因敲除品系的构建

microRNA(miRNA)是一类内生的、长度约为19～23个核苷酸的非编码RNA,通过影响mRNA的稳定性和翻译,来参与基因表达的转录后调控。生物信息学分析表明该基因在各个物种中高度保守。为了阐明该基因在肠道发育中的作用,本文利用Cloning free CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术构建miR-196a-1基因敲除的斑马鱼品系。首先通过分析软件筛选出斑马鱼miR-196a-1基因的两个敲除位点,两个敲除位点相隔132 bp,利用PCR技术扩增miR-196a-1的向导DNA,再以向导DNA为模板转录得到miR-196a-1的sgRNA,将miR-196a-1基因的sgRNA和Cas9蛋白共同注射到斑马鱼胚胎1细胞期胚胎中。斑马鱼胚胎发育到36 hpf后进行基因编辑的有效性检测,研究结果显示,miR-196a-1基因出现102 bp碱基的缺失,表明CRISPR/Cas9系统对miR-196a-1基因的敲除有效。对其F0代、F1代、F2代进行筛选,成功获得斑马鱼miR-196a-1基因敲除品系,为研究miR-196a-1在肠道发育中的作用奠定了基础。     

利用CRISPR/Cas9技术建立斑马鱼Asb11基因敲除品系

Asb11基因被报道与斑马鱼Notch信号的激活有关,本研究室过去的研究显示该基因在心肌和骨骼肌中特异性表达。因此推测Asb11基因可能是心脏发育相关候选基因。为了阐明Asb11基因在斑马鱼心脏发育过程中的作用,本文利用CRISPR/Cas9打靶技术构建敲除Asb11基因的斑马鱼品系。首先在线分析筛选出Asb11基因最适合的打靶位点,然后PCR扩增出Asb11基因gRNA的双链c DNA,再将Asb11基因的gRNA和Hcas9的mRNA共同注射到斑马鱼胚胎Ⅰ细胞期胚胎中。进行打靶的有效性检测,发现Asb11基因的一号外显子出现了碱基的缺失,表明CRISPR/Cas9系统对Asb11基因的敲除是有效的。对其F0代、F1代、F2代进行筛选,成功获得了Asb11基因敲除的斑马鱼品系,为探究Asb11在心脏发育中的作用奠定了基础。     

CRISPR/Cas9技术在斑马鱼基因修饰中的应用

CRISPR/Cas9系统的应用促进了基因编辑技术的快速发展,现已成功地在不同模式生物中实现了高效的基因修饰,包括DNA序列的点突变、大片段删除以及外源基因的定向插入等。现就CRISPR/Cas9系统在斑马鱼模式动物中建立基因敲除和敲入品系的最新研究进展作一综述。     

Fus在斑马鱼生长发育及两性生长异形中的功能

为研究肉瘤融合基因(fus)在鱼类中的功能, 在斑马鱼中利用CRISPR/Cas9基因突变技术使fus基因产生移码突变。fus-/-纯合突变体斑马鱼发育正常并且完全可育, 但体长和体重在幼鱼和成年阶段都小于野生型斑马鱼。此外, 相较于野生型斑马鱼, fus-/-纯合突变体斑马鱼不存在雌鱼身体比例大于雄鱼的性别异形现象。在fus-/-纯合突变体斑马鱼早期幼鱼发育阶段, 一些生长相关基因包括gh1、ghra、igf1、igf2a、stat5.1和socs6的表达水平显著低于野生型斑马鱼但其运动能力并未受到影响。因此, 不同于fus基因在哺乳动物中的功能, 它在斑马鱼中不参与运动神经元的发育, 但在调节鱼类躯体生长发育与两性生长异形方面有着重要的功能。     

Effects of hypoxia exposure on hepatic cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) expression in Atlantic croaker: molecular mechanisms of CYP1A down-regulation

Hypoxia-inducible factor-α (HIF-α) and cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) are biomarkers of environmental exposure to hypoxia and organic xenobiotic chemicals that act through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, respectively. Many aquatic environments heavily contaminated with organic chemicals, such as harbors, are also hypoxic. Recently, we and other scientists reported HIF-α genes are upregulated by hypoxia exposure in aquatic organisms, but the molecular mechanisms of hypoxia regulation of CYP1A expression have not been investigated in teleost fishes. As a first step in understanding the molecular mechanisms of hypoxia modulation of CYP1A expression in fish, we characterized CYP1A cDNA from croaker liver. Hypoxia exposure (dissolved oxygen, DO: 1.7 mg/L for 2 to 4 weeks) caused significant decreases in hepatic CYP1A mRNA and protein levels compared to CYP1A levels in fish held in normoxic conditions. In vivo studies showed that the nitric oxide (NO)-donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine, significantly decreased CYP1A expression in croaker livers, whereas the competitive inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS), N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, restored CYP1A mRNA and protein levels in hypoxia-exposed (1.7 mg DO/L for 4 weeks) fish. In vivo hypoxia exposure also markedly increased interleukin-1β (IL-1β, a cytokine), HIF-2α mRNA and endothelial NOS (eNOS) protein levels in croaker livers. Pharmacological treatment with vitamin E, an antioxidant, lowered the IL-1β, HIF-2α mRNA and eNOS protein levels in hypoxia-exposed fish and completely reversed the down-regulation of hepatic CYP1A mRNA and protein levels in response to hypoxia exposure. These results suggest that hypoxia-induced down-regulation of CYP1A is due to alterations of NO and oxidant status, and cellular IL-1β and HIF-α levels. Moreover, the present study provides the first evidence of a role for antioxidants in hepatic eNOS and IL-1β regulation in aquatic vertebrates during hypoxic stress.     

PHD2基因在鲸类低氧信号通路中的功能

为研究鲸类低氧适应的分子机制,文章克隆了不同低氧耐受能力的3个鲸类物种,抹香鲸(Physeter macrocephalus)、白鲸(Delphinapterus leucas)和长江江豚(Neophocaena phocaenoids asiaeorientalis)的脯氨酸羟化酶2(PHD2)。通过对其序列进行分析,发现3个物种PHD2的氨基酸序列非常保守。通过对这3个物种的PHD2的功能进行探究发现:3个物种的PHD2在常氧情况下均可以降解3个物种的HIF-α(包括HIF-1α和HIF-2α)蛋白,而在低氧(O₂浓度小于2%)情况下,PHD2则无法明显降解HIF-α蛋白。在常氧下,鲸类的PHD2降解HIF-α是依赖于识别鲸类的HIF-1α上LTLLAP和LEMLAP,HIF-2α的LAQLAP和LETLAP氨基酸片段,推测PHD2是通过对HIF-α序列中的脯氨酸位点进行羟基化修饰后,被VHL-E3泛素连接酶复合体所识别,发生泛素化降解。而在低氧条件下,PHD2的活性受到抑制HIF-α不能被VHL-E3泛素连接酶复合体识别,发生降解。研究对3种不同低氧耐受能力...     

PKCε promotes cardiac mitochondrial and metabolic adaptation to chronic hypobaric hypoxia by GSK3β inhibition

PKCε is central to cardioprotection. Sub-proteome analysis demonstrated co-localization of activated cardiac PKCε (aPKCε) with metabolic, mitochondrial, and cardioprotective modulators like hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). aPKCε relocates to the mitochondrion, inactivating glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) to modulate glycogen metabolism, hypertrophy and HIF-1α. However, there is no established mechanistic link between PKCε, p-GSK3β and HIF1-α. Here we hypothesized that cardiac-restricted aPKCε improves mitochondrial response to hypobaric hypoxia by altered substrate fuel selection via a GSK3β/HIF-1α-dependent mechanism. aPKCε and wild-type (WT) mice were exposed to 14 days of hypobaric hypoxia (45 kPa, 11% O(2)) and cardiac metabolism, functional parameters, p-GSK3β/HIF-1α expression, mitochondrial function and ultrastructure analyzed versus normoxic controls. Mitochondrial ADP-dependent respiration, ATP production and membrane potential were attenuated in hypoxic WT but maintained in hypoxic aPKCε mitochondria (P < 0.005, n = 8). Electron microscopy revealed a hypoxia-associated increase in mitochondrial number with ultrastructural disarray in WT versus aPKCε hearts. Concordantly, left ventricular work was diminished in hypoxic WT but not aPKCε mice (glucose only perfusions). However, addition of palmitate abrogated this (P < 0.05 vs. WT). aPKCε hearts displayed increased glucose utilization at baseline and with hypoxia. In parallel, p-GSK3β and HIF1-α peptide levels were increased in hypoxic aPKCε hearts versus WT. Our study demonstrates that modest, sustained PKCε activation blunts cardiac pathophysiologic responses usually observed in response to chronic hypoxia. Moreover, we propose that preferential glucose utilization by PKCε hearts is orchestrated by a p-GSK3β/HIF-1α-mediated mechanism, playing a crucial role to sustain contractile function in response to chronic hypobaric hypoxia.     

Micro RNAs: tiny sequences with enormous potential

The liver plays a central role in glucose homeostasis in the whole-body by responding to environmental factors including nutrients, hormones, and oxygen. In conditions of metabolic overload such as diabetes mellitus and obesity, coordinated regulation between oxygen supply and consumption has been reported to be disrupted and subsequently cause tissue hypoxia, although pathological significance of the disease-related hypoxia remains elusive. To investigate the role of tissue hypoxia in the liver on systemic glucose homeostasis, mice lacking HIF-1α gene, a critical component of a master regulator of hypoxic response, in hepatocytes were exposed to high fat/sucrose diet (HFSD). Exposure to HFSD for 5 weeks elicited liver hypoxia with a transient increase in HIF-1α protein expression in the liver of control mice. Glucose disposal was marginally impaired in control mice when challenged oral glucose tolerance test, but such impairment was enhanced in the mutant mice. This alteration was accompanied by a complete inhibition of glucokinase induction with a significant reduction of hepatic glucose uptake. Mice fed HFSD for 20 weeks exhibited fasting hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance, whereas these metabolic phenotypes deteriorated considerably with severe insulin resistance in skeletal muscles and adipose tissues in the mutant mice. These findings suggest that HIF-1 in hepatocytes plays protective roles against the progression of diabetes mellitus.     

Acclimation to hypoxia increases survival time of zebrafish, Danio rerio, during lethal hypoxia

Survivorship of zebrafish, Danio rerio, was measured during lethal hypoxic stress after pretreatment in water at either ambient oxygen or at a lowered, but nonlethal, level of oxygen. Acclimation to nonlethal hypoxia (pO(2) congruent with 15 Torr; ca. 10% air-saturation) for 48 hr significantly extended survival time during more severe hypoxia (pO(2) congruent with 8 Torr; ca. 5% air-saturation) compared to survival of individuals with no prior hypoxic exposure. The magnitude of the acclimation effect depended upon the sex of the fish: hypoxia pretreatment increased the survival times of males by a factor of approximately 9 and that of females by a factor of 3 relative to controls. In addition, survival time of control and hypoxia acclimated fish depended upon when in the year experiments were conducted. Survival times were 2-3 times longer when measured in the late fall or winter compared to survival times measured during the spring or summer. These results demonstrate a direct survival benefit of short-term acclimation to hypoxia in this genetically tractable fish. The fact that the acclimation effect depended upon the sex of the fish and the season during which experiments were conducted demonstrates that other genetic and/or environmental factors affect hypoxia tolerance in this species. J. Exp. Zool. 289:266-272, 2001.