Oca2 targeting using CRISPR/Cas9 in the Malawi cichlid Astatotilapia calliptera

Autor: Bethan Clark, Joel Elkin, Aleksandra Marconi, George F. Turner, Alan M. Smith, Domino Joyce, Eric A. Miska, Scott A. Juntti, M. Emília Santos
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Royal Society Open Science, Vol 9, Iss 4 (2022)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2054-5703
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220077
Popis: Identifying genetic loci underlying trait variation provides insights into the mechanisms of diversification, but demonstrating causality and characterizing the role of genetic loci requires testing candidate gene function, often in non-model species. Here we establish CRISPR/Cas9 editing in Astatotilapia calliptera, a generalist cichlid of the remarkably diverse Lake Malawi radiation. By targeting the gene oca2 required for melanin synthesis in other vertebrate species, we show efficient editing and germline transmission. Gene edits include indels in the coding region, probably a result of non-homologous end joining, and a large deletion in the 3′ untranslated region due to homology-directed repair. We find that oca2 knock-out A. calliptera lack melanin, which may be useful for developmental imaging in embryos and studying colour pattern formation in adults. As A. calliptera resembles the presumed generalist ancestor of the Lake Malawi cichlid radiation, establishing genome editing in this species will facilitate investigating speciation, adaptation and trait diversification in this textbook radiation.
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