Production of Sry knockout mouse using TALEN via oocyte injection

Sci Rep. 2013 Nov 5:3:3136. doi: 10.1038/srep03136.

Abstract

Recently developed transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) technology has enabled the creation of knockout mice, even for genes on the Y chromosome. In this study, we generated a knockout mouse for Sry, a sex-determining gene on the Y chromosome, using microinjection of TALEN RNA into pronuclear stage oocytes. As expected, the knockout mouse had female external and internal genitalia, a female level of blood testosterone and a female sexually dimorphic nucleus in the brain. The knockout mouse exhibited an estrous cycle and performed copulatory behavior as females, although it was infertile or had reduced fertility. A histological analysis showed that the ovary of the knockout mouse displayed a reduced number of oocytes and luteinized unruptured follicles, implying that a reduced number of ovulated oocytes is a possible reason for infertility and/or reduced fertility in the KO mouse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Endonucleases / genetics*
  • Endonucleases / metabolism*
  • Estrous Cycle
  • Female
  • Fertility
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Targeting / methods
  • Hormones / blood
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microinjections*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Oocytes / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Hormones
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • Endonucleases