PUBLICATION

Cell Lineage Tracing in Zebrafish Embryos with an Expanded Genetic Code

Authors

Brown, W., Liu, J., Tsang, M., Deiters, A.

ID

ZDB-PUB-180428-5

Date

2018

Source

Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology 19(12): 1244-1249 (Other)

Registered Authors

Tsang, Michael

Keywords

DNA recombination, lineage tracing, optogenetics, unnatural amino acid, zebrafish

MeSH Terms

Recombination, Genetic*
Genetic Code*
Zebrafish/embryology*
Zebrafish/genetics*
Models, Molecular
Cell Lineage*
Cell Tracking/methods*
Optogenetics/methods*
Animals
Integrases/chemistry
Integrases/genetics

PubMed

29701891 Full text @ Chembiochem

Abstract

Cell lineage tracing is used to study embryo development, stem cell differentiation, and to document tumor cell heterogeneity. Cre recombinase-mediated cell labelling is the preferred approach; however, its utility is restricted by when and where DNA recombination takes place. We generated a photoactivatable Cre recombinase by replacing a critical residue in its active site with a photocaged lysine derivative through genetic code expansion in zebrafish embryos. This allows for high spatiotemporal control of DNA recombination using 405 nm light. Importantly, no background activity is seen before irradiation, and after light-triggered removal of the caging group, Cre recombinase activity is restored. We demonstrate the utility of this tool as a cell lineage tracer through activation in different regions and at different time-points in the early embryo. Direct control of Cre recombinase with light will allow for more precise DNA recombination for more nuanced studies of metazoan development and disease.

Genes / Markers

Figures

Expression

Phenotype

Mutations / Transgenics

Human Disease / Model

Sequence Targeting Reagents

Fish

Antibodies

Orthology

Engineered Foreign Genes

Mapping

Brown et al., 2018 ZDB-PUB-180428-5 PMID:29701891

Cell Lineage Tracing in Zebrafish Embryos with an Expanded Genetic Code

Brown et al., 2018

ZDB-PUB-180428-5
PMID:29701891