白斑狗鱼zpax4基因表达分析及其敲除模型的建立

Expression analysis of zpax4 gene in northern pike(Esox lucius) and establishment of its knockout model

  • 摘要: 【目的】 探究ZP基因家族中zpax4基因在白斑狗鱼性腺生长发育中的表达情况,利用CRISPR/Cas9技术建立白斑狗鱼zpax4基因敲除模型,为后续探究其生物学功能提供参考依据。【方法】 利用RACE克隆白斑狗鱼zpax4基因的全长cDNA序列,利用生物信息学软件进行zpax4蛋白理化性质、结构特点和系统进化分析;应用实时荧光定量PCR分析zpax4基因在白斑狗鱼126、180和320 d 3个时期8个组织中的相对表达量;设计并筛选合适的sgRNA,通过对受精卵的显微注射,建立白斑狗鱼zpax4基因的CRISPR/Cas9敲除模型,并对获得的F0代敲除嵌合体进行组织切片观察。【结果】 白斑狗鱼zpax4基因c DNA全长2771 bp,其中,5'非编码区(5'-UTR)为162 bp,3'非编码区(3'-UTR)为150 bp。zpax4基因编码811个氨基酸残基,蛋白分子式C4117H6364N1092O1209S39,理论分子量为91.752 kD,理论等电点(pI)为5.43,且编码蛋白N端有信号肽序列,靠近C端有ZP结构域,无跨膜结构域,其二级结构由α-螺旋(14.3%)、无规则卷曲(54.5%)和延伸链(31.2%)构成。多序列比对和系统发育树分析显示,白斑狗鱼zpax4蛋白与其他几种鱼类的zpax4蛋白氨基酸序列相似性为54.85%,功能结构域位置相对保守。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果显示,白斑狗鱼zpax4基因在肠道、肌肉、鳃、头肾、肾脏、肝脏和精巢中基本无表达,而在3个时期的卵巢中均呈极显著表达(P<0.01),且卵巢中相对表达量在126、180和320 d 3个时期呈先增后减的变化趋势,180 d相对表达量最高;此外,在320 d雄鱼的脑组织中也有一定量的表达。利用CRISPR/Cas9技术筛选得到合适的sgRNA,并成功建立白斑狗鱼zpax4基因敲除模型,得到多种突变类型个体,缺失碱基数分别为1、4、7和8,均不为3的倍数。对F0代嵌合体鱼苗进行整鱼切片分析,并未发现明显的性腺及其他部位的表型异常。【结论】 利用CRISPR/Cas9技术对白斑狗鱼zpax4基因进行敲除,成功构建了敲除模型,获得白斑狗鱼zpax4基因敲除嵌合体,并筛选出更优的sgRNA靶点序列。zpax4基因可能在白斑狗鱼卵巢发育的前中期发挥重要作用。

     

    Abstract: 【Objective】 The objective of this study was to explore the expression of zpax4 gene in the gonadal growth and development of Esox lucius in the ZP gene family, and to establish a knockout model of zpax4 gene in Esox lucius by CRISPR/Cas9 technology, which could provide reference for the subsequent exploration of its biological function. 【Method】 The full-length cDNA sequence of zpax4 gene was cloned by RACE, and the physicochemical properties, structural characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of zpax4 protein were carried out by bioinformatics software. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to analyze the relative expression levels of zpax4 gene in 8 tissues at 126, 180 and 320 d of Esox lucius. Appropriate sgRNAs were designed and screened, and a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout model of zpax4 gene was established by microinjection of fertilized eggs, and tissue sections were performed to observe the obtained F0 generation knockout chimeras. 【Result】 The total cDNA length of zpax4 gene was 2771 bp, of which 162 bp was in the 5’ noncoding region(5’-UTR) and 150 bp in the 3’ non-coding region(3’-UTR). zpax4 gene encoded 811 amino acid residues, the molecular formula of the protein was C4117H6364N1092O1209S39, the theoretical molecular weight was 91.752 kD, the theoretical isoelectric point(pI) was 5.43, and the encoded protein had a signal peptide sequence at the N-terminus, a ZP domain near the C-terminus, and no transmembrane domain, and its secondary structure was composed of α-helix(14.3%), random coil(54.5%) and extended chain(31.2%). Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the amino acid sequence similarity of zpax4 protein in Esox lucius and other fish species was 54.85%, and the position of functional domain was relatively conserved. The results of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR showed that the zpax4 gene was basically not expressed in the intestine, muscle, gills, head kidney, kidney, liver and sperm nest, but was extremely significantly expressed in the ovaries at the 3 stages(P<0.01), and the relative expression level in the ovaries increased first and then decreased at the three stages of 126, 180 and 320 d, and the relative expression level was the highest at 180 d. In addition, there was also a certain amount of expression in the brain tissue of 320 d male fish. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to screen suitable sgRNAs, and the zpax4 gene knockout model of Esox lucius was successfully established, and a variety of mutation types were obtained, and the missing base numbers were 1, 4, 7 and 8, all of which were not multiples of 3. The whole fish section analysis of the F0 generation chimera fry showed no obvious phenotypic abnormalities in gonads and other parts. 【Conclusion】 CRISPR/Cas9 technology is used to knock out the zpax4 gene of Esox lucius, and the knockout model has been successfully constructed, the zpax4 gene knockout chimera of Esox lucius is obtained, and the better sgRNA target sequences are screened. The zpax4 gene may play an important role in the early and middle stages of ovarian development in Esox lucius.

     

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