Name: egg microinjection and efficient mating for genome editing in the firebrat thermobia domestica
Uploaded: 2020-10-20T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Egg Microinjection and Efficient Mating for Genome Editing in the Firebrat Thermobia domestica at JoVE.com

TO and TD were supported by JSPS KAKENHI grant numbers 19H02970 and 20H02999, respectively.

1. Maintenance of laboratory colonies
<ol>
	<li>For the maintenance of wildtype and mutant populations, use a large plastic container (460 mm x 360 mm x 170 mm) with regular artificial fish food, water in plastic cups with a ventilation hole on the top, a folded paper for hiding the insects, and layered cotton for laying eggs (Figure 2A). Keep all T. domestica cultures inside 37 &#176;C incubators and set the relative humidity (RH) inside each container to 60%&#8211;80%. 
	NO...

<ol>
	<li>Peterson, M. D., Rogers, B. T., Popadi&#263;, A., Kaufman, T. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+embryonic+expression+pattern+of+labial,+posterior+homeotic+complex+genes+and+the+teashirt+homologue+in+an+apterygote+insect.">The embryonic expression pattern of labial, posterior homeotic complex genes and the teashirt homologue in an apterygote insect.</a> Development Genes and Evolution. 209, 77-90 (1999).</li><li>Farris, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Developmental+organization+of+the+mushroom+bodies+of+Thermobia+domestica+(Zygentoma,+Lepismatidae):+Insights+into+mushroom+body+evolution+from+a+basal+insect.">Developmental organization of the mushroom bodies of Thermobia domestica (Zygentoma, Lepismatidae): Insights into mushroom body evolution from a basal insect.</a> Evolution and Development. 7, 150-159 (2005).</li><li>Kamae, Y., Tanaka, F., Tomioka, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+cloning+and+functional+analysis+of+the+clock+genes,+Clock+and+cycle,+in+the+firebrat+Thermobia+domestica.">Molecular cloning and functional analysis of the clock genes, Clock and cycle, in the firebrat Thermobia domestica.</a> Journal of Insect Physiology. 56, 1291-1299 (2010).</li><li>Ohde, T., Masumoto, M., Yaginuma, T., Niimi, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Embryonic+RNAi+analysis+in+the+firebrat,+Thermobia+domestica:+Distal-less+is+required+to+form+caudal+filament.">Embryonic RNAi analysis in the firebrat, Thermobia domestica: Distal-less is required to form caudal filament.</a> Journal of Insect Biotechnology and Sericology. 105, 99-105 (2009).</li><li>Ohde, T., Yaginuma, T., Niimi, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nymphal+RNAi+analysis+reveals+novel+function+of+scalloped+in+antenna,+cercus+and+caudal+filament+formation+in+the+firebrat,+Thermobia+domestica.">Nymphal RNAi analysis reveals novel function of scalloped in antenna, cercus and caudal filament formation in the firebrat, Thermobia domestica.</a> Journal of Insect Biotechnology and Sericology. 108, 101-108 (2012).</li><li>Bell&#233;s, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Beyond+Drosophila:+RNAi+in+vivo+and+functional+genomics+in+insects.">Beyond Drosophila: RNAi in vivo and functional genomics in insects.</a> Annual Review of Entomology. 55, 111-128 (2010).</li><li>Ohde, T., Takehana, Y., Shiotsuki, T., Niimi, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CRISPR/Cas9-based+heritable+targeted+mutagenesis+in+Thermobia+domestica:+A+genetic+tool+in+an+apterygote+development+model+of+wing+evolution.">CRISPR/Cas9-based heritable targeted mutagenesis in Thermobia domestica: A genetic tool in an apterygote development model of wing evolution.</a> Arthropod Structure and Development. 47, 362-369 (2018).</li><li>Nji, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CRISPR/Cas9+in+insects:+Applications,+best+practices+and+biosafety+concerns.">CRISPR/Cas9 in insects: Applications, best practices and biosafety concerns.</a> Journal of Insect Physiology. 98, 245-257 (2017).</li><li>Brand, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+origin+of+the+odorant+receptor+gene+family+in+insects.">The origin of the odorant receptor gene family in insects.</a> eLife. 7, 1-13 (2018).</li><li>Noble-Nesbitt, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Water+balance+in+the+firebrat,+Thermobia+domestica+(Packard).+Exchanges+of+water+with+the+atmosphere.">Water balance in the firebrat, Thermobia domestica (Packard). Exchanges of water with the atmosphere.</a> Journal of Experimental Biology. 50, 745-769 (1969).</li><li>Sweetman, H. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Physical+ecology+of+the+firebrat,+Thermobia+domestica+(Packard).">Physical ecology of the firebrat, Thermobia domestica (Packard).</a> Ecological Monographs. 8, 285-311 (1938).</li><li>Nijhout, H. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Insect Hormones. , (1994).</li><li>Chen, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficient+detection,+quantification+and+enrichment+of+subtle+allelic+alterations.">Efficient detection, quantification and enrichment of subtle allelic alterations.</a> DNA Research. 19, 423-433 (2012).</li><li>Mashal, R. D., Koontz, J., Sklar, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Detection+of+mutations+by+cleavage+of+DNA+heteroduplexes+with+bacteriophage+resolvases.">Detection of mutations by cleavage of DNA heteroduplexes with bacteriophage resolvases.</a> Nature Genetics. 9, 177-183 (1995).</li><li>Adams, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biological+notes+upon+the+firebrat,+Thermobia+domestica+Packard.">Biological notes upon the firebrat, Thermobia domestica Packard.</a> Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 41, 557-562 (1933).</li></ol>

For the successful generation of the desired T. domestica mutant with CRISPR/Cas9, it is first important to collect a sufficient number of staged embryos for injection. For a constant collection of a sufficient number of T. domestica eggs, the key is to select an appropriate size of the container to have a lower population density because it would help the successful completion of a series of complex mating behaviors, which is repeated after every adult molt13. A male T. dome...

Thermobia domestica belongs to one of the most basal insect orders, Zygentoma, which retains an ancestral ametabolous and wingless life cycle. Such basal phylogenetic position and ancestral characteristics set this species as an attractive model for studying the mechanisms underlying the success of insects on Earth, which cover over 70% of the described animal species1. T. domestica has long been used mainly to study ancestral characteristics of insect physiology because of its suitable features as a laboratory model, such as a relatively short lifecycle (2.5&#8211;3.0 months from embryo to reproductive adult; Figure 1A) and an easy breeding. In the past three decades, its use has been expanded to investigate ancestral characteristics of various traits such as body plan, neural differentiation, and circadian rhythms2,3,4.
The application of advanced genetic tools in T. domestica could further accelerate such contributions in a wide research area. Successful RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene knockdown in embryos, nymphs, and adults has been reported in T. domestica4,5,6. The efficiency of systemic RNAi is still highly species-dependent&#8212;for example, it is generally high in coleoptera whereas it is low in the lepidoptera order7. The efficiency and duration of the RNAi knockdown in T. domestica is yet to be assessed. In addition to RNAi, we have previously reported a successful CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout in T. domestica8. The CRISPR/Cas system has been widely applied for genome editing in insects particularly for targeted gene knockout. Its use could be expanded for other applications such as gene reporter assay, cell lineage tracking, and manipulation of transcriptional activity by knocking-in exogenous constructs after the establishment of a protocol for delivering components of the CRISPR/Cas system into nuclei9. Combined with the published genome assembly10, the wide use and further development of the CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing in T. domestica would facilitate studies focusing on the evolutionary mechanisms behind the outstanding adaptive success of insects. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for embryo microinjection and for mating adult T. domestica to generate a mutant strain using CRISPR/Cas9. Considering this novel method, we discuss the importance of considering the unique biology of non-traditional model species for successful applications of these techniques.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>24-well plate</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>83-3738</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alt-R S.p. HiFi Cas9 Nuclease V3, 100 &#181;g</td>
			<td>Integrated DNA Technologies</td>
			<td>1081060</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-static cleaner</td>
			<td>Hozan</td>
			<td>Z-292</td>
			<td>for removing static electricity from a 24-well plate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Barrier Box 20.7L</td>
			<td>AS ONE</td>
			<td>4-5606-01</td>
			<td>Large container</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FemtoJet 4i</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>5252000013</td>
			<td>Electronic microinjector</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Femtotip II, injection capillary</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>5242957000</td>
			<td>Glass injection capillary</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>High Pack 2440mL</td>
			<td>AS ONE</td>
			<td>5-068-25</td>
			<td>Middle-sized container</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Incubator</td>
			<td>Panasonic</td>
			<td>MIR-554-PJ</td>
			<td>for 37 &#176;C incubation. No need to humidify inside the incubator.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KOD Fx Neo</td>
			<td>Toyobo</td>
			<td>KFX-101</td>
			<td>PCR enzyme for genotyping. Optimized for an amplification from crude templates.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnetic stand</td>
			<td>Narishige</td>
			<td>GJ-8</td>
			<td>for holding the micromanipulator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microloader</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>5242956003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micromanipulator</td>
			<td>Narishige</td>
			<td>MM-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>SZX12</td>
			<td>for microinjection. More than 35X magnification is sufficient for the microinjection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MultiNA</td>
			<td>Shimadzu</td>
			<td>MCE-202</td>
			<td>Microchip electrophoresis system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NiceTac</td>
			<td>Nichiban</td>
			<td>NW-5</td>
			<td>Double-sided tape to place eggs on a glass slide</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paint brush (horse hair)</td>
			<td>Pentel</td>
			<td>ZBS1-0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plant culture dish</td>
			<td>SPL Life Sciences</td>
			<td>310100</td>
			<td>Mating dish and water supplies for a large and middle-sized containers</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Proteinase K, recombinant, PCR Grade Lyophilizate from Pichia pastoris</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>3115836001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SZX 12 microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>SZX 12</td>
			<td>More than 35X magnification is sufficient for the microinjection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Talcum powder</td>
			<td>Maruishi</td>
			<td>877113</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tetra Goldfish Gold Growth</td>
			<td>Spectrum Brands</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Artificial regular fish food</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

egg microinjection and efficient mating for genome editing in the firebrat thermobia domestica

The firebrat Thermobia domestica is an ametabolous, wingless species that is suitable for studying the developmental mechanisms of insects that led to their successful evolutionary radiation on the earth. The application of genetic tools such as genome editing is the key to understanding genetic changes that are responsible for evolutionary transitions in an Evo-Devo approach. In this article, we describe our current protocol for generating and maintaining mutant strains of T. domestica. We report a dry injection method, as an alternative to the reported wet injection method, that allows us to obtain stably high survival rates in injected embryos. We also report an optimized environment setting to mate adults and obtain subsequent generations with high efficiency. Our method underlines the importance of taking each species&#8217; unique biology into account for the successful application of genome editing methods to non-traditional model organisms. We predict that these genome editing protocols will help in implementing T. domestica as a laboratory model and to further accelerate the development and application of useful genetic tools in this species.

In our hands, about 100 eggs can be well injected with a single injection capillary when it has the adequate tip (Figure 3C). Injection of gRNA/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complex in embryos within the first 8 h after egg laying results in indels at the gRNA targeted site. This causes biallelic mutations in some cells of the injected generation (G0) and thus mutant mosaic phenotypes are usually obtained in G0. For example, when this protocol was used to inject a gRNA that is designed to target th...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Egg Microinjection and Efficient Mating for Genome Editing in the Firebrat Thermobia domestica at JoVE.com

Egg Microinjection and Efficient Mating for Genome Editing in the Firebrat Thermobia domestica

We provide a detailed protocol for rearing, microinjection of eggs and for efficient mating of the firebrat Thermobia domestica to generate and maintain mutant strains after genome editing.

Egg Microinjection and Efficient Mating for Genome Editing in the Firebrat Thermobia domestica

The firebrat Thermobia domestica is an ametabolous, wingless species that is suitable for studying the developmental mechanisms of insects that led to ...

Because Thermobia domestica is a basal insect, genetic studies on this species will illuminate mechanisms underlying the evolution of key innovations in insects, such as powered flight and metamorphoses. This protocol covers basic techniques from culture maintenance, to egg microinjection to implement Thermobia as a laboratory model species. This method can also be used for application of other genetic tools such as RNI mediated gene knockdown, and transgenesis in thermobia.Maintain wild type and mutant populations in a large plastic container with regular artificial fish food, water in plastic cups with a ventilation hole on the top, a folded paper for hiding the insects and layered cotton for laying eggs. Keep all T.domestica cultures inside 37 degree Celsius incubators and set the relative humidity inside each container to 60 to 80%To prepare the egg collection colonies transfer about 20 male and 20 female adults to a middle sized container with food, a water supply, a folded paper, and a small piece of layered cotton for egg-laying. Set up several colonies to obtain a large number of staged embryos within a short time period.On the day of injection replace the cotton inside the containers with new cotton. Eight hours later collect the eggs from the layered cotton by separating the layers using forceps. Align the eggs on the double-sided tape using a wet paint brush keeping a two millimeter distance between the eggs.All eggs should be oriented so that the longitudinal axis of an egg faces the injection side. Gently press the eggs down with a paintbrush for firm holding during the injection. Load two microliters of the gRNA CAS9 solution into a glass injection capillary with a micro loader.Make sure there are no air bubbles in the solution before the injection. If necessary tap the needle to remove the bubbles. optimize the shape of the needle tip by breaking it slightly with forceps to prevent clogging and to get better durability throughout a series of injections.Insert the needle at the midpoint of the longitudinal axis of an egg and inject a small amount of the solution. Adjust the configuration of the electronic micro injector during injection, depending on the shape of the needle tip. Keep the injected eggs in an appropriately sized container with 60 to 80%relative humidity at 37 degrees Celsius.Check the injected eggs periodically and discard damaged eggs to avoid fungal growth. If too much fungus is growing on an egg, clean the surface of the egg with 70%ethanol. Before hatching dip the glass slide with the injected eggs into talcum powder to coat the surface of the double-sided tape.This will prevent the stacking of hatched nymphs. Transfer the powder coated glass slides to a middle-sized container with food, water, and a folded paper. Isolate G1 nymphs into 24 well plates with an aspirator or a paintbrush.Maintain the supply of artificial regular fish food. Place the 24 well plates in a larger container with a water supply for a humidity of 60 to 80%Pinch and pull a cercus from a nymph or adult using forceps and collect them into a 0.2 milliliter tube containing 50 microliters of ethanol. Store the collected samples at negative 20 degrees Celsius for long-term storage.Place sample tubes with the lids open on a thermal block for 15 minutes at 70 degrees Celsius to evaporate the ethanol. Injection of gRNA CAS9 ribonucleoprotein complex in embryos within the first eight hours after egg-laying results in indels at the gRNA targeted site. this causes biallelic mutations in some cells of the injected generation and mutant mosaic phenotypes are usually obtained.When this protocol was used to inject a gRNA that was designed to target the white gene, 32.6%of G0 nymphs displayed a partial loss of pigmentation in their compound eyes and dorsal regions. Assessment of the germline transformation of G0 adults and mutated G1 individuals was done by genomic PCR followed by a hetero duplex mobility assay. In G1 samples, differential band patterns between wild type and mutated samples are clearly distinguishable.Genome editing in Thermobia provides a solid approach to analyze genetic mechanisms underlying premature traits of insects. It helps to explore the secrets behind their outstanding success and ours.

egg-microinjection-efficient-mating-for-genome-editing-firebrat

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Analysis of Zebrafish Larvae Skeletal Muscle Integrity with Evans Blue Dye

The zebrafish model is an emerging system for the study of neuromuscular disorders. In the study of neuromuscular diseases, the integrity of the muscle membrane is a critical disease determinant. To date, numerous neuromuscular conditions display degenerating muscle fibers with abnormal membrane integrity; this is most commonly observed in muscular dystrophies. Evans Blue Dye (EBD) is a vital, cell permeable dye that is rapidly taken into degenerating, damaged, or apoptotic cells; in contrast, it is not taken up by cells with an intact membrane. EBD injection is commonly employed to ascertain muscle integrity in mouse models of neuromuscular diseases. However, such EBD experiments require muscle dissection and/or sectioning prior to analysis. In contrast, EBD uptake in zebrafish is visualized in live, intact preparations. Here, we demonstrate a simple and straightforward methodology for performing EBD injections and analysis in live zebrafish. In addition, we demonstrate a co-injection strategy to increase efficacy of EBD analysis. Overall, this video article provides an outline to perform EBD injection and characterization in zebrafish models of neuromuscular disease.

In this study, we describe a straightforward method to perform Evans Blue Dye (EBD) analysis on zebrafish larvae. This technique is a powerful tool for the characterization of skeletal muscle integrity and delineation of zebrafish models of muscular dystrophy, and is a valuable method for the development of novel therapeutics.

The zebrafish model is an emerging system for the study of neuromuscular disorders.  In the study of neuromuscular diseases, the integrity of the muscle ...

Technique to Target Microinjection to the Developing Xenopus Kidney

The embryonic kidney of Xenopus&#160;laevis (frog), the pronephros, consists of a single nephron, and can be used as a model for kidney disease. Xenopus embryos are large, develop externally, and can be easily manipulated by microinjection or surgical procedures. In addition, fate maps have been established for early Xenopus embryos. Targeted microinjection into the individual blastomere that will eventually give rise to an organ or tissue of interest can be used to selectively overexpress or knock down gene expression within this restricted region, decreasing secondary effects in the rest of the developing embryo. In this protocol, we describe how to utilize established Xenopus fate maps to target the developing Xenopus kidney (the pronephros), through microinjection into specific blastomere of 4- and 8-cell embryos. Injection of lineage tracers allows verification of the specific targeting of the injection. After embryos have developed to stage 38 - 40, whole-mount immunostaining is used to visualize pronephric development, and the contribution by targeted cells to the pronephros can be assessed. The same technique can be adapted to target other tissue types in addition to the pronephros.

Technique to Target Microinjection to the Developing Xenopus Kidney

Here, we present a protocol to use fate maps and lineage tracers to target injections into individual blastomeres that give rise to the kidney of Xenopus laevis embryos.

The embryonic kidney of Xenopus&#160;laevis (frog), the pronephros, consists of a single nephron, and can be used as a model for kidney disease. Xenopus ...

Identification of Critical Conditions for Immunostaining in the Pea Aphid Embryos: Increasing Tissue Permeability and Decreasing Background Staining

The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, with a sequenced genome and abundant phenotypic plasticity, has become an emerging model for genomic and developmental studies. Like other aphids, A. pisum propagate rapidly via parthenogenetic viviparous reproduction, where the embryos develop within egg chambers in an assembly-line fashion in the ovariole. Previously we have established a robust platform of whole-mount in situ hybridization allowing detection of mRNA expression in the aphid embryos. For analyzing the expression of protein, though, established protocols for immunostaining the ovarioles of asexual viviparous aphids did not produce satisfactory results. Here we report conditions optimized for increasing tissue permeability and decreasing background staining, both of which were problems when applying established approaches. Optimizations include: (1) incubation of proteinase K (1 &#181;g/ml, 10 min), which was found essential for antibody penetration in mid- and late-stage aphid embryos; (2) replacement of normal goat serum/bovine serum albumin with a blocking reagent supplied by a Digoxigenin (DIG)-based buffer set and (3) application of methanol rather hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for bleaching endogenous peroxidase; which significantly reduced the background staining in the aphid tissues. These critical conditions optimized for immunostaining will allow effective detection of gene products in the embryos of A. pisum and other aphids.

A protocol of whole-mount immunostaining on aphid embryos is presented, in which critical conditions for decreasing background staining and increasing tissue permeability are addressed. These conditions are specifically developed for effective detection of protein expression in the embryonic tissues of aphids.

The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, with a sequenced genome and abundant phenotypic plasticity, has become an emerging model for genomic and developmental ...

Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks

The threespine stickleback fish has emerged as a powerful system to study the genetic basis of a wide variety of morphological, physiological, and behavioral phenotypes. The remarkably diverse phenotypes that have evolved as marine populations adapt to countless freshwater environments, combined with the ability to cross marine and freshwater forms, provide a rare vertebrate system in which genetics can be used to map genomic regions controlling evolved traits. Excellent genomic resources are now available, facilitating molecular genetic dissection of evolved changes. While mapping experiments generate lists of interesting candidate genes, functional genetic manipulations are required to test the roles of these genes. Gene regulation can be studied with transgenic reporter plasmids and BACs integrated into the genome using the Tol2 transposase system. Functions of specific candidate genes and cis-regulatory elements can be assessed by inducing targeted mutations with TALEN and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing reagents. All methods require introducing nucleic acids into fertilized one-cell stickleback embryos, a task made challenging by the thick chorion of stickleback embryos and the relatively small and thin blastomere. Here, a detailed protocol for microinjection of nucleic acids into stickleback embryos is described for transgenic and genome editing applications to study gene expression and function, as well as techniques to assess the success of transgenesis and recover stable lines.

Transgenic manipulations and genome editing are critical for functionally testing the roles of genes and cis-regulatory elements. Here a detailed microinjection protocol for the generation of genomic modifications (including Tol2-mediated fluorescent reporter transgene constructs, TALENs, and CRISPRs) is presented for the emergent model fish, the threespine stickleback.

The threespine stickleback fish has emerged as a powerful system to study the genetic basis of a wide variety of morphological, physiological, and ...

Embryo Microinjection and Electroporation in the Chordate Ciona intestinalis

Simple model organisms are instrumental for in vivo studies of developmental and cellular differentiation processes. Currently, the evolutionary distance to man of conventional invertebrate model systems and the complexity of genomes in vertebrates are critical challenges to modeling human normal and pathological conditions. The chordate Ciona intestinalis is an invertebrate chordate that emerged from a common ancestor with the vertebrates and may represent features at the interface between invertebrates and vertebrates. A common body plan with much simpler cellular and genomic composition should unveil gene regulatory network (GRN) links and functional genomics readouts explaining phenomena in the vertebrate condition. The compact genome of Ciona, a fixed embryonic lineage with few divisions and large cells, combined with versatile community tools foster efficient gene functional analyses in this organism. Here, we present several crucial methods for this promising model organism, which belongs to the closest sister group to vertebrates. We present protocols for transient transgenesis by electroporation, along with microinjection-mediated gene knockdown, which together provide the means to study gene function and genomic regulatory elements. We extend our protocols to provide information on how community databases are utilized for in silico design of gene regulatory or gene functional experiments. An example study demonstrates how novel information can be gained on the interplay, and its quantification, of selected neural factors conserved between Ciona and man. Furthermore, we show examples of differential subcellular localization in embryonic cells, following DNA electroporation in Ciona zygotes. Finally, we discuss the potential of these protocols to be adapted for tissue specific gene interference with emerging gene editing methods. The in vivo approaches in Ciona overcome major shortcomings of classical model organisms in the quest of unraveling conserved mechanisms in the chordate developmental program, relevant to stem cell research, drug discovery, and subsequent clinical application.

Embryo Microinjection and Electroporation in the Chordate Ciona intestinalis

We present transient transgenesis and gene knockdown in Ciona intestinalis, a chordate sister group to vertebrates, using microinjection and electroporation techniques. Such methods facilitate functional genomics in this simple invertebrate that features rudimentary characteristics of vertebrates, including notochord and head sensory epithelia, and many orthologs of human disease associated genes.

Simple model organisms are instrumental for in vivo studies of developmental and cellular differentiation processes. Currently, the evolutionary distance ...

Collection of Post-mating Semen from the Female Reproductive Tract and Measurement of Semen Liquefaction in Mice

In mice, ejaculated semen is deposited in the uterus. After ejaculation, the semen changes consistency from gel-like to watery, a process called liquefaction. In this study, we show how to collect the post-ejaculated semen from the female reproductive tract in a mouse model. First, adult female mice in the estrus stage were housed in a male&#39;s cage overnight. The next morning, copulation was confirmed by the presence of copulatory plug at the vaginal opening. Female mice with copulatory plugs were euthanized, and each reproductive tract was collected as a whole (vagina, uterus, oviducts, ovaries), ensuring a closed system to contain the semen. The reproductive tract was placed in a 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube, and the vagina was cut off to release the semen into the tube. To ensure maximum semen volume for analysis, toothless forceps were used to squeeze the uterine horns from ovarian end to vaginal end expelling remaining semen. The whole reproductive tract was then discarded. The semen-containing tube was briefly spun down. A 25 &#956;L capillary pipette was placed into the tube at a 180&#176; angle (parallel to the tube wall). The amount of time used to fill the capillary tube to the 25 &#956;L line was recorded. Semen from a proven male breeder usually takes approximately 60-180 s to fill a 25 &#956;L capillary tube. This semen collection technique can also be used in other downstream applications such as sperm imaging and motility analysis.

Semen liquefaction is required for sperm to be liberated from the seminal gel. This study provides the procedures for collecting semen from the female reproductive tract post-coitus, and measuring semen liquefaction time.

In mice, ejaculated semen is deposited in the uterus. After ejaculation, the semen changes consistency from gel-like to watery, a process called ...

An Efficient Strategy for Generating Tissue-specific Binary Transcription Systems in Drosophila by Genome Editing

Binary transcription systems are powerful genetic tools widely used for visualizing and manipulating cell fate and gene expression in specific groups of cells or tissues in model organisms. These systems contain two components as separate transgenic lines. A driver line expresses a transcriptional activator under the control of tissue-specific promoters/enhancers, and a reporter/effector line harbors a target gene placed downstream to the binding site of the transcription activator. Animals harboring both components induce tissue-specific transactivation of a target gene expression. Precise spatiotemporal expression of the gene in targeted tissues is critical for unbiased interpretation of cell/gene activity. Therefore, developing a method for generating exclusive cell/tissue-specific driver lines is essential. Here we present a method to generate highly tissue-specific targeted expression system by employing a &#34;Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat/CRISPR-associated&#34; (CRISPR/Cas)-based genome editing technique. In this method, the endonuclease Cas9 is targeted by two chimeric guide RNAs (gRNA) to specific sites in the first coding exon of a gene in the Drosophila genome to create double-strand breaks (DSB). Subsequently, using an exogenous donor plasmid containing the transactivator sequence, the cell-autonomous repair machinery enables homology-directed repair (HDR) of the DSB, resulting in precise deletion and replacement of the exon with the transactivator sequence. The knocked-in transactivator is expressed exclusively in cells where the cis-regulatory elements of the replaced gene are functional. The detailed step-by-step protocol presented here for generating a binary transcriptional driver expressed in Drosophila fgf/branchless-producing epithelial/neuronal cells can be adopted for any gene- or tissue-specific expression.

An Efficient Strategy for Generating Tissue-specific Binary Transcription Systems in Drosophila by Genome Editing

Here, we present a method for generating tissue-specific binary transcription systems in Drosophila by replacing the first coding exon of genes with transcription drivers. The CRISPR/Cas9-based method places a transactivator sequence under the endogenous regulation of a replaced gene, and consequently facilitates transctivator expression exclusively in gene-specific spatiotemporal patterns.

Binary transcription systems are powerful genetic tools widely used for visualizing and manipulating cell fate and gene expression in specific groups of ...

Microinjection-based System for In Vivo Implantation of Embryonic Cardiomyocytes in the Avian Embryo

Interpreting the relative impact of cell autonomous patterning versus extrinsic microenvironmental influence on cell lineage determination represents a general challenge in developmental biology research. In the embryonic heart, this can be particularly difficult as regional differences in the expression of transcriptional regulators, paracrine/juxtacrine signaling cues, and hemodynamic force are all known to influence cardiomyocyte maturation. A simplified method to alter a developing cardiomyocyte's molecular and biomechanical microenvironment would, therefore, serve as a powerful technique to examine how local conditions influence cell fate and function. To address this, we have optimized a method to physically transplant juvenile cardiomyocytes into ectopic locations in the heart or the surrounding embryonic tissue. This allows us to examine how microenvironmental conditions influence cardiomyocyte fate transitions at single cell resolution within the intact embryo. Here, we describe a protocol in which embryonic myocytes can be isolated from a variety of cardiac sub-domains, dissociated, fluorescently labeled, and microinjected into host embryos with high precision. Cells can then be directly analyzed in situ using a variety of imaging and histological techniques. This protocol is a powerful alternative to traditional grafting experiments that can be prohibitively difficult in a moving tissue such as the heart. The general outline of this method can also be adapted to a variety of donor tissues and host environments, and its ease of use, low cost, and speed make it a potentially useful application for a variety of developmental studies.

In this method, embryonic cardiac tissues are surgically microdissected, dissociated, fluorescently labeled, and implanted into host embryonic tissues. This provides a platform for studying the individual or tissue level developmental organization under ectopic hemodynamic conditions, and/or altered paracrine/juxtacrine environments.

Interpreting the relative impact of cell autonomous patterning versus extrinsic microenvironmental influence on cell lineage determination represents a ...

Brain Organoid Generation from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Home-Made Mini Bioreactors

The iPSC-derived brain organoid is a promising technology for in vitro modeling the pathologies of the nervous system and drug screening. This technology has emerged recently. It is still in its infancy and has some limitations unsolved yet. The current protocols do not allow obtaining organoids to be consistent enough for drug discovery and preclinical studies. The maturation of organoids can take up to a year, pushing the researchers to launch multiple differentiation processes simultaneously. It imposes additional costs for the laboratory in terms of space and equipment. In addition, brain organoids often have a necrotic zone in the center, which suffers from nutrient and oxygen deficiency. Hence, most current protocols use a circulating system for culture medium to improve nutrition.
Meanwhile, there are no inexpensive dynamic systems or bioreactors for organoid cultivation. This paper describes a protocol for producing brain organoids in compact and inexpensive home-made mini bioreactors. This protocol allows obtaining high quality organoids in large quantities.

Here we describe a protocol for generating brain organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). To obtain brain organoids in large quantities and of high quality, we use home-made mini bioreactors.

The iPSC-derived brain organoid is a promising technology for in vitro modeling the pathologies of the nervous system and drug screening. This technology ...

Zygote Microinjection for Creating Gene Cassette Knock-in and Flox Alleles in Mice

CRISPR-Cas technology has enabled the rapid and effortless generation of genetically modified mice. Specifically, mice and point mutant mice are readily produced by electroporation of CRISPR factors (and single-stranded oligo DNA donors) into the zygote. In contrast, gene cassette (&#62;1 kb) knock-in and floxed mice are mainly generated by microinjection of CRISPR factors and double-stranded DNA donors into zygotes. Genome editing technologies have also increased the flexibility of genetically modified mice production. It is now possible to introduce the intended mutations in the target genomic regions in a number of beneficial inbred mouse strains. Our team has produced over 200 gene cassette knock-in mouse lines, and over 110 floxed mouse lines by zygote microinjection of CRISPR-Cas9 following requests from several countries, including Japan. Some of these genome editing used BALB/c, C3H/HeJ, and C57BL/6N inbred strains, however most used C57BL/6J. Unlike the electroporation method, genome editing by zygote microinjection in various inbred strains of mice is not that easy. However, gene cassette knock-in and floxed mice on single inbred genetic backgrounds are as critical as genetic humanized, fluorescent reporter, and conditional knockout mouse models. Therefore, this article presents the protocol for the zygote microinjection of CRISPR factors and double-stranded DNA donors in C57BL/6J mice for generating gene cassette knock-in and floxed mice. This article exclusively focuses on nuclear injection rather than cytoplasmic injection. In addition to zygote microinjection, we outline the timeline for the production process and peripheral techniques such as induction of superovulation and embryo transfer.

The present protocol describes zygote microinjection of CRISPR-Cas9 and donor DNA to efficiently produce gene cassette knock-in and floxed mice.

CRISPR-Cas technology has enabled the rapid and effortless generation of genetically modified mice. Specifically, mice and point mutant mice are readily ...