PUBLICATION

CRISPR/Cas9 in zebrafish: An attractive model for FBN1 genetic defects in humans

Authors
Yin, X., Hao, J., Yao, Y.
ID
ZDB-PUB-210730-18
Date
2021
Source
Molecular genetics & genomic medicine   9(10): e1775 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
CRISPR/Cas9, Marfan syndrome, animal model, fibrillin-1, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Alleles
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Animals
  • Mutation
  • Fibrillin-1/genetics
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Genotype
  • Gene Editing*
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems*
  • Humans
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Loss of Function Mutation
  • Animals, Genetically Modified*
PubMed
34324266 Full text @ Mol Genet Genomic Med
Abstract
Mutations in the fibrillin-1 gene (FBN1) are associated with various heritable connective tissue disorders (HCTD). The most studied HCTD is Marfan syndrome. Ninety percent of Marfan syndrome is caused by mutations in the FBN1 gene. The zebrafish share high genetic similarity to humans, representing an ideal model for genetic research of human diseases. This study aimed to generate and characterize fbn1+/- mutant zebrafish using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology.
CRISPR/Cas9 was applied to generate an fbn1 frameshift mutation (fbn1+/- ) in zebrafish. F1 fbn1+/- heterozygotes were crossed with transgenic fluorescent zebrafish to obtain F2 fbn1+/- zebrafish. Morphological abnormalities were assessed in F2 fbn1+/- zebrafish by comparing with the Tuebingen (TU) wild-type controls at different development stages.
We successfully generated a transgenic line of fbn1+/- zebrafish. Compared with TU wild-type zebrafish, F2 fbn1+/- zebrafish exhibited noticeably decreased pigmentation, increased lengths, slender body shape, and abnormal cardiac blood flow from atrium to ventricle.
We generated the first fbn1+/- zebrafish model using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing approach to mimic FBN1 genetic defects in humans, providing an attractive model of Marfan syndrome and a method to determine the pathogenicity of gene mutation sites.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping