Xiaoe Zhao

Generation of gene-modified goats targeting MSTN and FGF5 via zygote injection of CRISPR/Cas9 system

Recent advances in the study of the CRISPR/Cas9 system have provided a precise and versatile approach for genome editing in various species. However, the applicability and efficiency of this method in large animal models, such as the goat, have not been extensively studied. Here, by co-injection of one-cell stage embryos with Cas9 mRNA and sgRNAs targeting two functional genes (MSTN and FGF5), we successfully produced gene-modified goats with either one or both genes disrupted. The targeting efficiency of MSTN and FGF5 in cultured primary fibroblasts was as high as 60%, while the efficiency of disrupting MSTN and FGF5 in 98 tested animals was 15% and 21% respectively, and 10% for double gene modifications. The on- and off-target mutations of the target genes in fibroblasts, as well as in somatic tissues and testis of founder and dead animals, were carefully analyzed. The results showed that simultaneous editing of several sites was achieved in large animals, demonstrating that the CRISPR/Cas9 system has the potential to become a robust and efficient gene engineering tool in farm animals, and therefore will be critically important and applicable for breeding.

Multiplex gene editing via CRISPR/Cas9 exhibits desirable muscle hypertrophy without detectable off-target effects in sheep

The CRISPR/Cas9 system provides a flexible approach for genome engineering of genetic loci. Here, we successfully achieved precise gene targeting in sheep by co-injecting one-cell-stage embryos with Cas9 mRNA and RNA guides targeting three genes (MSTN, ASIP, and BCO2). We carefully examined the sgRNAs:Cas9-mediated targeting effects in injected embryos, somatic tissues, as well as gonads via cloning and sequencing. The targeting efficiencies in these three genes were within the range of 27–33% in generated lambs, and that of simultaneously targeting the three genes was 5.6%, which demonstrated that micro-injection of zygotes is an efficient approach for generating gene-modified sheep. Interestingly, we observed that disruption of the MSTN gene resulted in the desired muscle hypertrophy that is characterized by enlarged myofibers, thereby providing the first detailed evidence supporting that gene modifications had occurred at both the genetic and morphological levels. In addition, prescreening for the off-target effect of sgRNAs was performed on fibroblasts before microinjection, to ensure that no detectable off-target mutations from founder animals existed. Our findings suggested that the CRISPR/Cas9 method can be exploited as a powerful tool for livestock improvement by simultaneously targeting multiple genes that are responsible for economically significant traits.

Effect of C-Type Natriuretic Peptide on Maturation and Developmental Competence of Goat Oocytes Matured In Vitro

The developmental competence of oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM) is compromised due to asynchronous nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. To improve IVM efficiency, a pre-maturation culture or two-step maturation strategy has been established, involving meiosis arrest induced by pharmacological agents to provide oocytes with sufficient time to synchronize the maturation of the nucleus and cytoplasm. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), which has been demonstrated to function as an oocyte maturation inhibitor (OMI) in many species, provides a new alternative to improve the developmental capacity of oocytes matured in vitro. However, the effect of CNP on meiosis arrest and the maturation of goat oocytes remains unclear. In the present study, CNP was shown to function as an OMI in goat oocytes. CNP could temporarily maintain the meiotic arrest of goat oocytes cultured in vitro for 4 hours. This transient effect was partly due to the reduction of natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (Npr2). Estradiol could delay the decrease in Npr2 expression and prolong the duration of meiosis arrest up to 6 hours. Based on the above results, a two-step method was established for goat oocyte maturation, in which the oocyte maturation rate was significantly increased. After parthenogenetic activation, the cleavage rate, blastocyst rate and total cell number of blastocysts were significantly improved. Our results suggested that CNP can be used to delay meiotic resumption and enhance the developmental competence of goat oocytes matured in vitro.

Effect of C-type natriuretic peptide on maturation and developmental competence of immature mouse oocytes in vitro

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is an important assisted reproductive technology for infertility treatment and livestock breeding programs. Because of asynchronous nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, the developmental competence of oocytes matured in vitro is compromised. C-Type natriuretic peptide (CNP), which has been proved to be an inhibitor of oocyte maturation, provides a new alternative to optimise synchronisation of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation and improve developmental capacity of immature oocytes in vitro. To investigate the effect of temporary meiotic arrest mediated by CNP on maturation and subsequent development of immature oocytes, immature mouse oocytes from small antral follicles were temporarily arrested in meiosis by CNP (0, 5, 10 and 50nM) for 24h and then matured for 16h. CNP treatment significantly increased the oocyte maturation rate from less than half to above 80%. After IVF, temporary meiotic arrest mediated by 10 and 50nM CNP significantly improved fertilisation and blastocyst rate of oocytes matured in vitro up to approximately 55% and 30% respectively. Moreover, this positive effect of CNP was attributed, in part, to an increase in the number of mature oocytes with aligned chromosomes and a normal spindle. The present findings indicate the potential to use CNP to improve the efficiency of oocyte IVM.

Derivation and characterization of goat fetal fibroblast cells induced with human telomerase reverse transcriptase

Fetal fibroblast cells (FFCs) are often used as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) because they are easy to culture and suitable for genetic manipulation. However, through genetic modification process, which required FFCs to be cultured in vitro for several passages, cells tended to age very rapidly and became inappropriate for SCNT. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) possessed the activity of human telomerase and maintains telomere in dividing cells; therefore, hTERT can be transfected into somatic cells to extend their lifespan. In this study, we transfected a Xinong Saanen Dairy Goat FFC line with hTERT. Then, we tested several characteristics of transfected cells, including growth curve, expression and activity of hTERT, tumorigenicity, and expression of oct4 and nanog. The result showed that hTERT could significantly extend the lifespan of transfected cells in vitro. hTERT mRNA was expressed in hTERT-transfected cells. Moreover, hTERT-transfected cells presented enhanced telomerase activity and longer telomere than untransfected cells at the same passage. On the other hand, hTERT-transfected cells can maintain normal karyotype even after several times of subculture in vitro. After inoculation of hTERT-transfected cells in nude mouse, none of them developed tumors on the vaccination site. Interestingly, transfection of hTERT can improve expression of nanog and oct4 in Xinong Saanen Dairy Goat FFCs, especially in low generation after transfection, but with increasing subculture, this effect gradually weakened.

Efficient generation of goats with defined point mutation (I397V) in GDF9 through CRISPR/Cas9

The recent emergence of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9 system has attracted significant attention for its potential to improve traits of agricultural importance. However, most applications in livestock species to date have depended on aberrant DNA repair to generate frameshifting indels. Whether this genomic engineering technique involving homology-dependent repair (HDR) can be used to introduce defined point mutations has been less explored. Previously, we reported a G→A point mutation (g.231A>G, p.Val397Ile) in the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) gene that has a large effect on the litter size of cashmere goats. In the present study we report that by co-injecting synthesised RNAs and single-stranded oligo deoxynucleotide (ssODN) donor sequences into goat zygotes, we successfully introduced defined point mutations resulting in single amino acid substitutions in the proteins as expected. The efficiency of this precise single-nucleotide substitution in newborn kids was as high as 24% (4/17), indicating that ssODN-directed HDR via zygote injection is efficient at introducing point mutations in the goat genome. The findings of the present study further highlight the complex genome modifications facilitated by the CRISPR/Cas9 system, which is able to introduce defined point mutations. This represents a significant development for the improvement of reproduction traits in goats, as well as for validating the roles of specific nucleotides in functional genetic elements in large animals.

Generation of gene-edited sheep with a defined Booroola fecundity gene (FecBB) mutation in bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1B (BMPR1B) via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9

Since its emergence, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9 system has been increasingly used to generate animals for economically important traits. However, most CRISPR/Cas9 applications have been focused on non-homologous end joining, which results in base deletions and insertions, leading to a functional knockout of the targeted gene. The Booroola fecundity gene (FecBB) mutation (p.Q249R) in bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1B (BMPR1B) has been demonstrated to exert a profound effect on fecundity in many breeds of sheep. In the present study, we successfully obtained lambs with defined point mutations resulting in a p.249Q>R substitution through the coinjection of Cas9 mRNA, a single guide RNA and single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides into Tan sheep zygotes. In the newborn lambs, the observed efficiency of the single nucleotide exchange was as high as 23.8%. We believe that our findings will contribute to improved reproduction traits in sheep, as well as to the generation of defined point mutations in other large animals.

C-type natriuretic peptide improved vitrified-warmed mouse cumulus oocyte complexes developmental competence

Cryopreservation of cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) is important for reproductive medicine. However, the vitrified-warmed COCs have lower maturation rate and subsequent developmental competence compared with fresh COCs. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation of the maturation medium with C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on the developmental competence of vitrified-warmed mouse COCs. Addition of CNP to the maturation medium improved the maturation rate and enhanced the developmental competence of vitrified-warmed mouse COCs. The reason may be that vitrified COCs led to a decline in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels. Furthermore, addition of CNP to the maturation medium elevated cGMP levels of the vitrified-warmed COCs. In conclusion, cryopreservation-associated lower maturation rate and developmental competence of COCs may be ameliorated by CNP during maturation culture after warming.