Precise base editing for the in vivo study of developmental signaling and human pathologies in zebrafish
Abstract
While zebrafish is emerging as a new model system to study human diseases, an efficient methodology to generate precise point mutations at high efficiency is still lacking. Here we show that base editors can generate C-toT point mutations with high efficiencies without other unwanted on-target mutations. In addition, we established a new editor variant recognizing an NAA protospacer adjacent motif, expanding the base editing possibilities in zebrafish. Using these approaches, we first generated a base change in the ctnnb1 gene, mimicking oncogenic an mutation of the human gene known to result in constitutive activation of endogenous Wnt signaling. Additionally, we precisely targeted several cancer-associated genes including cbl. With this last target, we created a new zebrafish dwarfism model. Together our findings expand the potential of zebrafish as a model system allowing new approaches for the endogenous modulation of cell signaling pathways and the generation of precise models of human genetic diseaseassociated mutations.
Domains
Life Sciences [q-bio]Origin | Publication funded by an institution |
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