A group of scientists has unveiled techniques that have resulted in the inaugural successful genome editing using CRISPR in Nile grass rats.
A group of scientists at Michigan State University has unveiled techniques that have resulted in the inaugural successful genome editing using CRISPR in Nile grass rats.
The research, featured in BMC Biology, marks the first instance of genome editing in Nile grass rats. These rodents are active during the day, mirroring human sleep patterns, which could be beneficial for preclinical and translational research.
At present, preclinical studies predominantly utilize laboratory mice, which are active at night and rest during the day. The differing sleep habits have led to distinct evolutionary paths for diurnal and nocturnal mammals, including their neural circuitry and gene-regulatory frameworks.
“The variations between diurnal and nocturnal mammals create a notable challenge in translating research findings from mice to humans. Numerous therapeutic agents, such as neuroprotectants that have shown effectiveness in rodent models of cerebral ischemia, have not succeeded in clinical trials for human strokes, with increasing evidence pointing to these sleep differences as a contributing factor,” explained Lily Yan, one of the study’s co-authors and a professor in MSU’s Department of Psychology.
Katrina Linning-Duffy and Jiaming Shi, who also contributed to this research, are part of Yan’s Lab.
Given the complexity of differences between diurnal and nocturnal species, the researchers assert that a diurnal model is vital for deciphering the genetic and behavioral connections that are pertinent to human health and disease.
The newly developed technique includes a superovulation process capable of producing nearly 30 eggs from each female. Additionally, they created methods for both in vitro (outside of a living organism) embryo culture and manipulation, along with in vivo (inside a living organism) gene targeting using GONAD, or Genome editing via Oviductal Nucleic Acids Delivery.
The Nile grass rat colony at MSU serves as a distinctive asset. Thanks to collaborative efforts from the Departments of Psychology and Integrative Biology and the Transgenic and Genome Editing Facility, this colony was established on campus in 1993.
For over 30 years, MSU has secured funding for research projects involving Nile grass rats. These animals have been shared with over 20 research facilities across the U.S., Canada, Belgium, China, and Japan, where studies focus on circadian rhythms, sleep, mood and cognition, immune responses, metabolic syndromes, and evolutionary biology.
Huirong Xie leads the Transgenic and Genome Editing Facility at MSU.
“We aspire for Nile grass rats to eventually serve as an alternative mammalian model to explore the roles of genes in various biological processes, especially where the chronotype (diurnal versus nocturnal) is a vital biological factor,” Yan stated. “This research represents a crucial first step toward our overarching goal.”
Other co-authors of the study include Huirong Xie, Katrina Linning-Duffy, and Jiaming Shi from Yan’s Lab.
