Exploiting a Y chromosome-linked Cas9 for sex selection and gene drive.
Nat Commun
; 12(1): 7202, 2021 12 10.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34893590
ABSTRACT
CRISPR-based genetic engineering tools aimed to bias sex ratios, or drive effector genes into animal populations, often integrate the transgenes into autosomal chromosomes. However, in species with heterogametic sex chromsomes (e.g. XY, ZW), sex linkage of endonucleases could be beneficial to drive the expression in a sex-specific manner to produce genetic sexing systems, sex ratio distorters, or even sex-specific gene drives, for example. To explore this possibility, here we develop a transgenic line of Drosophila melanogaster expressing Cas9 from the Y chromosome. We functionally characterize the utility of this strain for both sex selection and gene drive finding it to be quite effective. To explore its utility for population control, we built mathematical models illustrating its dynamics as compared to other state-of-the-art systems designed for both population modification and suppression. Taken together, our results contribute to the development of current CRISPR genetic control tools and demonstrate the utility of using sex-linked Cas9 strains for genetic control of animals.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sex Preselection
/
Y Chromosome
/
Genes, Y-Linked
/
CRISPR-Cas Systems
/
Gene Drive Technology
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: