A modified TALEN-based strategy for rapidly and efficiently generating knockout mice for kidney development studies

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 8;9(1):e84893. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084893. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) strategy has been widely used to delete and mutate genes in vitro. This strategy has begun to be used for in vivo systemic gene manipulation, but not in an organ-specific manner. In this study, we developed a modified, highly efficient TALEN strategy using a dual-fluorescence reporter. We used this modified strategy and, within 5 weeks, we successfully generated kidney proximal tubule-specific gene Ttc36 homozygous knockout mice. Unilateral nephrectomy was performed on the 6-week-old founders (F0) to identify the knockout genotype prior to the birth of the offspring. This strategy was found to have little effect on reproduction in the knockout mice and inheritability of the knockout genotypes. The modified TALEN knockout strategy in combination with unilateral nephrectomy can be readily used for studies of gene function in kidney development and diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • DNA Restriction Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Frameshift Mutation
  • Gene Knockout Techniques / methods*
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Homologous Recombination / genetics
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Kidney / growth & development*
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kidney / surgery
  • Mice
  • Nephrectomy
  • Phenotype
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • DNA Restriction Enzymes

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2011CB944002) to Prof. Qin Zhou M.D. & Ph.D. and the Grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31271563) to Prof. Qin Zhou M.D. & Ph.D. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.