Inherently confinable split-drive systems in Drosophila

CRISPR-based gene-drive systems, which copy themselves via gene conversion mediated by the homology-directed repair (HDR) pathway, have the potential to revolutionize vector control. However, mutant alleles generated by the competing non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway, resistant to Cas9 cleavage, can interrupt the spread of gene-drive elements. We hypothesized that drives targeting genes essential for viability or reproduction also carrying recoded sequences that restore endogenous gene functionality should benefit from dominantly-acting maternal clearance of NHEJ alleles combined with recessive Mendelian culling processes. Here, we test split gene-drive (sGD) systems in Drosophila melanogaster that are inserted into essential genes required for viability (rab5, rab11, prosalpha2) or fertility (spo11). In single generation crosses, sGDs copy with variable efficiencies and display sex-biased transmission. In multigenerational cage trials, sGDs follow distinct drive trajectories reflecting their differential tendencies to induce target chromosome damage and/or lethal/sterile mosaic Cas9-dependent phenotypes, leading to inherently confinable drive outcomes.

Targeted Knock-in of Transgenes into the CHO Cell Genome Using CRISPR-mediated Integration Systems

Biopharmaceutical proteins are usually produced by culturing recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. High producer cell lines are screened from transfected cells with random integration of target genes. Since transgene expression is susceptible to the surrounding environment of the integrated genomic locus, producer cell lines should be selected from a large number of recombinant cells with heterogeneous transgene insertion. In contrast, targeted integration into a characterized genomic locus allows for predictable transgene expression and less clonal variability, and thus stable production of target proteins can be expected. Genome editing technology based on programmable nucleases has recently emerged as a versatile tool for precise editing of target locus in the cell genome. Here, we demonstrated targeted knock-in of transgenes into the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) locus of CHO cells using CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR-mediated precise integration into target chromosome (PITCh) systems. We also generated knock-in CHO cells based on the homology-independent targeted integration (HITI) system. We evaluated the knock-in efficiency of transgenes into the hprt locus using these systems.

Inherently confinable split-drive systems in Drosophila

CRISPR-based gene drive systems, which copy themselves based on gene conversion mediated by the homology directed repair (HDR) pathway, have potential to revolutionize vector control. However, mutant alleles generated by the competing non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway that are rendered resistant to Cas9 cleavage can interrupt the spread of genedrive elements. We hypothesized that drives targeting genes essential for viability or reproduction also carrying recoded sequences to restore endogenous gene functionality should benefit from dominantly-acting maternal clearance of NHEJ alleles, combined with recessive Mendelian processes. Here, we test split gene-drive (sGD) systems in Drosophila melanogaster that were inserted into essential genes required for viability (rab5, rab11, prosalpha2) or fertility (spo11). In single generation crosses, sGDs copy with variable efficiencies and display sex-biased transmission. In multi-generational cage trials, sGD follow distinct drive trajectories reflecting their differential tendencies to induce target chromosome damage or lethal/sterile mosaic phenotypes, leading to inherently confineable drive outcomes.

Microhomology-mediated end-joining-dependent integration of donor DNA in cells and animals using TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9

Genome engineering using programmable nucleases enables homologous recombination (HR)-mediated gene knock-in. However, the labour used to construct targeting vectors containing homology arms and difficulties in inducing HR in some cell type and organisms represent technical hurdles for the application of HR-mediated knock-in technology. Here, we introduce an alternative strategy for gene knock-in using transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9) mediated by microhomology-mediated end-joining, termed the PITCh (Precise Integration into Target Chromosome) system. TALEN-mediated PITCh, termed TAL-PITCh, enables efficient integration of exogenous donor DNA in human cells and animals, including silkworms and frogs. We further demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated PITCh, termed CRIS-PITCh, can be applied in human cells without carrying the plasmid backbone sequence. Thus, our PITCh-ing strategies will be useful for a variety of applications, not only in cultured cells, but also in various organisms, including invertebrates and vertebrates.

A better way to construct recombinant chromosome lines and their controls

Previous procedures to construct chromosome monosomic, substitution, recombinant chromosome lines and their controls underestimated cultivar heterogeneity, which can increase background effects. Modifications are proposed to increase background homogeneity and to eliminate interference of genetic or structural heterogeneity of the target chromosomes in parental populations. To achieve this goal, a single plant or plants of single-seed descendants of disomic, monosomic, and substitution lines should be used as the parents to construct recombinant chromosome lines and the controls (i.e., the recreated disomic recurrent parent and the recreated disomic substitution line). Intracultivar variations can thus be avoided. The mating plan is carefully designed so that the resultant recombinant chromosome lines and their controls will have a similar genetic background. All the resultant lines will share the same cytoplasm and the same target chromosomes or chromosome segments that came from the parent plant(s). Therefore, we are able to largely reduce the heterogeneity in the genetic background, eliminate the potential intracultivar cytoplasm variations, and be free from the structural or genetic heterogeneity of the target chromosome. In addition, the background heterogeneity, if it exists, could be measured by comparing individual control lines.Key words: quantitative trait, cytogenetics, background heterogeneity, aneuploidy, substitution.

Gene mapping in experimental hypertension.

In the rat, the results of genetic linkage studies by "candidate" gene or "positional mapping" approaches have suggested that DNA sequences that regulate blood pressure may be located in the vicinity of the kallikrein gene family on chromosome 1, the gene for angiotensin-converting enzyme on chromosome 10, the renin gene on chromosome 13, and the major histocompatibility complex on chromosome 20. Some studies have also suggested that blood pressure regulatory genes may be located on the sex chromosomes. Pending the results of confirmatory studies, these experiments should be interpreted with caution. However, with confirmation of these studies, it should be possible to create a variety of new animal models that will provide excellent opportunities for investigating the molecular, biochemical, and physiologic determinants of high blood pressure. In addition, in genetic studies in humans with essential hypertension, it may be worthwhile to target chromosome regions that are homologous to those implicated in linkage studies of hypertension in rodents. By narrowing the focus on selected areas of the genome, experimental linkage studies in the rat may also be used to guide the detailed molecular approaches ultimately required to identify the specific DNA sequence alterations that give rise to increased blood pressure.

Rex and a suppressor of Rex are repeated neomorphic loci in the Drosophila melanogaster ribosomal DNA.

The Rex locus of Drosophila melanogaster induces a high frequency of mitotic exchange between two separated ribosomal DNA arrays on a single chromosome. The exchanges take place in the progeny of Rex mothers and occur very early, before the third mitotic division. A number of common laboratory stocks have also been found to carry dominant suppressors of Rex (Su(Rex)). Rex was mapped to the X centric heterochromatin, proximal to su(f), by genetic and molecular analysis of two spontaneous recombinants. Using deficiencies and duplications of the heterochromatin, both Rex and one Su(Rex) were shown to behave as neomorphs. Rex-induced exchange in a target chromosome bearing both Rex and Su(Rex) was then used to map these functions to the bb locus itself. Molecular analysis of the recombinants, using length variants of the ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer as genetic markers, mapped Su(Rex) and Rex within the bb locus and demonstrated that both are repeated elements.