Name: the zebrafish tol2 system: a modular and flexible gateway-based transgenesis approach
Uploaded: 2022-11-30T14:50:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Zebrafish Tol2 System: A Modular and Flexible Gateway-Based Transgenesis Approach at JoVE.com

The research presented in this article was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse (NIH/NIAAA) R00AA023560 to C.B.L.

All zebrafish embryos used in this procedure were raised and bred following established IACUC protocols12. These protocols were approved by the University of Louisville.
NOTE: The wild-type zebrafish strain, AB, and the bmp4st72;smad5b1100 double mutant line were used in this study. All the water used in this procedure was sterile reverse osmosis water. Confocal images were taken under a laser-scanning confocal microscope. The endoderm mea...

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A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fetal+alcohol+spectrum+disorders:+Characteristics,+complications,+and+treatment.">Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Characteristics, complications, and treatment.</a> Community Mental Health Journal. 53, 711-718 (2017).</li><li>Wozniak, J. R., Riley, E. P., Charness, M. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clinical+presentation,+diagnosis,+and+management+of+fetal+alcohol+spectrum+disorder.">Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.</a> The Lancet Neurology. 18 (8), 760-770 (2019).</li><li>Patten, A. R., Fontaine, C. J., Christie, B. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Comparison+of+the+different+animal+models+of+fetal+alcohol+spectrum+disorders+and+their+use+in+studying+complex+behaviors.">A Comparison of the different animal models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and their use in studying complex behaviors.</a> Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2, 93 (2014).</li><li>Lovely, C. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Animal+models+of+gene-alcohol+interactions.">Animal models of gene-alcohol interactions.</a> Birth Defects Research. 112 (4), 367-379 (2020).</li><li>Fernandes, Y., Lovely, C. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zebrafish+models+of+fetal+alcohol+spectrum+disorders.">Zebrafish models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.</a> Genesis. 59 (11), 23460 (2021).</li><li>Fernandes, Y., Buckley, D. M., Eberhart, J. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diving+into+the+world+of+alcohol+teratogenesis:+a+review+of+zebrafish+models+of+fetal+alcohol+spectrum+disorder.">Diving into the world of alcohol teratogenesis: a review of zebrafish models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.</a> Biochemistry and Cell Biology. 96 (2), 88-97 (2018).</li><li>Choe, C. 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=Transgenic+fluorescent+zebrafish+lines+that+have+revolutionized+biomedical+research.">Transgenic fluorescent zebrafish lines that have revolutionized biomedical research.</a> Lab Animal Research. 37 (1), 26 (2021).</li><li>Kwan, K. M., 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+Tol2kit:+A+multisite+gateway-based+construction+kit+forTol2+transposon+transgenesis+constructs.">The Tol2kit: A multisite gateway-based construction kit forTol2 transposon transgenesis constructs.</a> Developmental Dynamics. 236 (11), 3088-3099 (2007).</li><li>Don, E. K., 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=A+Tol2+gateway-compatible+toolbox+for+the+study+of+the+nervous+system+and+neurodegenerative+disease.">A Tol2 gateway-compatible toolbox for the study of the nervous system and neurodegenerative disease.</a> Zebrafish. 14 (1), 69-72 (2017).</li><li>Westerfield, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The Zebrafish Book. A Guide for the Laboratory Use of Zebrafish (Danio rerio). , (2000).</li><li>Protocols. UMass Chan Medical School Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.umassmed.edu/lawson-lab/reagents/lawson-lab-protocols">https://www.umassmed.edu/lawson-lab/reagents/lawson-lab-protocols</a> (2017)</li><li>Mosimann, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multisite+gateway+calculations:+Excel+spreadsheet.">Multisite gateway calculations: Excel spreadsheet.</a> protocols.io. , (2022).</li><li>Chung, W. -. S., Stainier, D. Y. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intra-endodermal+interactions+are+required+for+pancreatic+&#946;+cell+induction.">Intra-endodermal interactions are required for pancreatic &#946; cell induction.</a> Developmental Cell. 14 (4), 582-593 (2008).</li><li>Grevellec, A., Tucker, A. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+pharyngeal+pouches+and+clefts:+Development,+evolution,+structure+and+derivatives.">The pharyngeal pouches and clefts: Development, evolution, structure and derivatives.</a> Seminars in Cell &amp; Developmental Biology. 21 (3), 325-332 (2010).</li><li>Lovely, C. B., Swartz, M. E., McCarthy, N., Norrie, J. L., Eberhart, J. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bmp+signaling+mediates+endoderm+pouch+morphogenesis+by+regulating+Fgf+signaling+in+zebrafish.">Bmp signaling mediates endoderm pouch morphogenesis by regulating Fgf signaling in zebrafish.</a> Development. 143 (11), 2000-2011 (2016).</li><li>Silva Brito, R., Canedo, A., Farias, D., Rocha, T. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transgenic+zebrafish+(Danio+rerio)+as+an+emerging+model+system+in+ecotoxicology+and+toxicology:+Historical+review,+recent+advances,+and+trends.">Transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an emerging model system in ecotoxicology and toxicology: Historical review, recent advances, and trends.</a> Science of The Total Environment. 848, 157665 (2022).</li><li>Lai, K. P., Gong, Z., Tse, W. K. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zebrafish+as+the+toxicant+screening+model:+Transgenic+and+omics+approaches.">Zebrafish as the toxicant screening model: Transgenic and omics approaches.</a> Aquatic Toxicology. 234, 105813 (2021).</li><li>Stuart, G. W., McMurray, J. V., Westerfield, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stable+lines+of+transgenic+zebrafish+exhibit+reproducible+patterns+of+transgene+expression.">Stable lines of transgenic zebrafish exhibit reproducible patterns of transgene expression.</a> Development. 109 (3), 577-584 (1988).</li><li>Stuart, G. W., McMurray, J. V., Westerfield, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Replication,+integration+and+stable+germ-line+transmission+of+foreign+sequences+injected+into+early+zebrafish+embryos.">Replication, integration and stable germ-line transmission of foreign sequences injected into early zebrafish embryos.</a> Development. 103 (2), 403-412 (1990).</li><li>Thermes, V., 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=I-SceI+meganuclease+mediates+highly+efficient+transgenesis+in+fish.">I-SceI meganuclease mediates highly efficient transgenesis in fish.</a> Mechanisms of Development. 118 (1-2), 91-98 (2002).</li><li>Kawakami, K., 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=A+transposon-mediated+gene+trap+approach+identifies+developmentally+regulated+genes+in+zebrafish.">A transposon-mediated gene trap approach identifies developmentally regulated genes in zebrafish.</a> Developmental Cell. 7 (1), 133-144 (2004).</li><li>Kawakami, K., Asakawa, K., Muto, A., Wada, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tol2-mediated+transgenesis,+gene+trapping,+enhancer+trapping,+and+Gal4-UAS+system.">Tol2-mediated transgenesis, gene trapping, enhancer trapping, and Gal4-UAS system.</a> Methods in Cell Biology. 135, 19-37 (2016).</li></ol>

Zebrafish are ideally suited for studying the impact of ethanol exposure on development and disease states7,8. Zebrafish produce large numbers of translucent, externally fertilized, genetically tractable embryos, which allows for the live imaging of several transgene-labeled tissues and cell types simultaneously in multiple environmental contexts19,20. These strengths, combined with the strong development...

Prenatal ethanol exposure gives rise to a continuum of structural deficits and cognitive impairments termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)1,2,3,4. The complex relationships between multiple factors make studying and understanding the etiology of FASD in humans challenging. To resolve this challenge, a wide variety of animal models have been used. The biological and experimental tools available in these models have proven crucial in developing our understanding of the mechanistic basis of ethanol teratogenicity, and the results from these model systems have been remarkably consistent with what is found in human ethanol studies5,6. Among these, zebrafish have emerged as a powerful model to study ethanol teratogenesis7,8, in part due to their external fertilization, high fecundity, genetic tractability, and translucent embryos. These strengths combine to make zebrafish ideal for real-time live imaging studies of FASD using transgenic zebrafish lines.
Transgenic zebrafish have been extensively used to study multiple aspects of embryonic development9. However, creating transgenic constructs and subsequent transgenic lines can be exceedingly difficult. A standard transgene requires an active promoter element to drive the transgene and a poly A signal or &#34;tail&#34;, all in a stable bacterial vector for general vector maintenance. The traditional generation of a multi-component transgenic construct requires multiple time-consuming sub-cloning steps10. PCR-based approaches, such as Gibson assembly, can circumvent some of the issues associated with sub-cloning. However, unique primers must be designed and tested for the generation of every unique transgenic construct10. Beyond transgene construction, genomic integration, germline transmission, and screening for proper transgene integration have been difficult as well. Here, we describe a protocol for using the transposon-based Tol2 transgenesis system (Tol2Kit)10,11. This modular system uses multisite Gateway cloning to quickly generate multiple transgenic constructs from an ever-expanding library of &#34;entry&#34; and &#34;destination&#34; vectors. Integrated Tol2 transposable elements greatly increase the rate of transgenesis, allowing for the rapid construction and genomic integration of multiple transgenes. Using this system, we show how the generation of an endoderm transgenic zebrafish line can be used to study the tissue-specific structural defects underlying FASD. Ultimately, in this protocol, we show that the modular setup and the construction of transgenic constructs will greatly aid zebrafish-based FASD research.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Addgene Tol2 toolbox</td>
			<td>https://www.addgene.org/kits/cole-tol2-neuro-toolbox/</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Air</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Provided directly by the university</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ampicillin</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP1760</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Analytical Balance</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>10204-962</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Borosil 1.0 mm OD x 0.75 mm ID Capillary</td>
			<td>FHC</td>
			<td>30-30-0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calcium Chloride</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>97062-590</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Chloramphenicol</td>
			<td>BioVision</td>
			<td>2486</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EDTA</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP118-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescent Dissecting Microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>SZX16</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kanamycin</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP906</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>Fluoview FV1000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lawsone Lab Donor Plasmid Prep</td>
			<td>https://www.umassmed.edu/lawson-lab/reagents/lawson-lab-protocols/</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LB Agar</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP9724</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LB Broth</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP1426</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Low-EEO/Multi-Purpose/Molecular Biology Grade Agarose</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP160-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LR Clonase II Plus Enzyme</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12538200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium Sulfate (Heptahydrate)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>M63-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micro Pipette holder</td>
			<td>Applied Scientific Instrumentation</td>
			<td>MIMPH-M-PIP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microcentrifuge tube 0.5 mL&#160;</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>10025-724</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microcentrifuge tube 1.5 mL&#160;</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>10025-716</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micromanipulator</td>
			<td>Applied Scientific Instrumentation</td>
			<td>MM33</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micropipette tips 10 &#956;L&#160;</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>13611106</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micropipette tips 1000 &#956;L&#160;</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>13611127</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micropipette tips 200 &#956;L&#160;</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>13611112</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>mMESSAGE mMACHINE SP6 Transcription Kit</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>AM1340</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mosimann Lab Tol2 Calculation Worksheet</td>
			<td>https://www.protocols.io/view/multisite-gateway-calculations-excel-spreadsheet-8epv599p4g1b/v1</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NanoDrop Spectrophotometer</td>
			<td>NanoDrop</td>
			<td>ND-1000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NcoI</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>R0189S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NotI</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>R0189S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Petri dishes 100 mm&#160;</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>FB012924</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phenol Red sodium salt</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>P4758-5G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pipetman L p1000L Micropipette</td>
			<td>Gilson</td>
			<td>FA10006M</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pipetman L p200L Micropipette</td>
			<td>Gilson</td>
			<td>FA10005M</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pipetman L p2L Micropipette</td>
			<td>Gilson</td>
			<td>FA10001M</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium Chloride</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>P217-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium Phosphate (Dibasic)</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>BDH9266-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pressure Injector</td>
			<td>Applied Scientific Instrumentation</td>
			<td>MPPI-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>QIAprep Spin Miniprep Kit</td>
			<td>Qiagen</td>
			<td>27106</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Bicarbonate</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>BDH9280-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Chloride</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>S271-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Phosphate (Dibasic)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>S374-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stericup .22 &#181;m vacuum filtration system&#160;</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>SCGPU11RE</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tol2 Wiki Page</td>
			<td>http://tol2kit.genetics.utah.edu/index.php/Main_Page</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Top10 Chemically Competent E. coli</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>C404010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vertical Pipetter Puller</td>
			<td>David Kopf Instruments</td>
			<td>720</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zebrafish microinjection mold</td>
			<td>Adaptive Science Tools</td>
			<td>i34</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

the zebrafish tol2 system: a modular and flexible gateway-based transgenesis approach

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are characterized by a highly variable set of structural defects and cognitive impairments that arise due to prenatal ethanol exposure. Due to the complex pathology of FASD, animal models have proven critical to our current understanding of ethanol-induced developmental defects. Zebrafish have proven to be a powerful model to examine ethanol-induced developmental defects due to the high degree of conservation of both genetics and development between zebrafish and humans. As a model system, zebrafish possess many attributes that make them ideal for developmental studies, including large numbers of externally fertilized embryos that are genetically tractable and translucent. This allows researchers to precisely control the timing and dosage of ethanol exposure in multiple genetic contexts. One important genetic tool available in zebrafish is transgenesis. However, generating transgenic constructs and establishing transgenic lines can be complex and difficult. To address this issue, zebrafish researchers have established the transposon-based Tol2 transgenesis system. This modular system uses a multisite Gateway cloning approach for the quick assembly of complete Tol2 transposon-based transgenic constructs. Here, we describe the flexible Tol2 system toolbox and a protocol for generating transgenic constructs ready for zebrafish transgenesis and their use in ethanol studies.

To generate the transgenic constructs, we used the Tol2 transgenesis system. Three entry vectors, including p5E, which holds the gene promoter/enhancer elements, pME, which holds the gene to be expressed by the promoter/enhancer elements, and p3E which, at minimum, holds the polyA tail, were used to generate the transgenic construct via multisite gateway LR cloning. The destination vector, pDest, provides the Tol2 repeats for the genomic insertion of the transgenic construct in zebrafish embryos and contains all...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Zebrafish Tol2 System: A Modular and Flexible Gateway-Based Transgenesis Approach at JoVE.com

The Zebrafish Tol2 System: A Modular and Flexible Gateway-Based Transgenesis Approach

This work describes a protocol for the modular Tol2 transgenesis system, a gateway-based cloning method to create and inject transgenic constructs into zebrafish embryos.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are characterized by a highly variable set of structural defects and cognitive impairments that arise due to ...

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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 ...

Precise Cellular Ablation Approach for Modeling Acute Kidney Injury in Developing Zebrafish

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a common medical condition with a high mortality rate. With the repair abilities of the kidney, it is possible to restore ...

Culture and Transfection of Zebrafish Primary Cells

Zebrafish embryos are transparent and develop rapidly outside the mother, thus allowing for excellent in vivo imaging of dynamic biological processes in ...