Electroporation-mediated genome editing in vitrified/warmed mouse zygotes created by IVF via ultra-superovulation

Abstract

Recently, genome editing in mouse zygotes has become convenient and scalable, in association with various technological developments and improvements such as novel nuclease tools, alternative delivery methods, and contemporary reproductive engineering techniques. We have so far demonstrated the applicability of ultra-superovulation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and vitrification/warming of zygotes in microinjection-mediated mouse genome editing. Moreover, an electroporation-mediated method has rapidly become established for simple gene knockout and small precise modifications including single amino acid substitutions. Here, we present an updated example of an application coupling the following three latest technologies: 1) CRISPR–Cas9 ribonucleoprotein as the most convenient genome-editing reagent, 2) electroporation as the most effortless delivery method, and 3) cryopreserved oocytes created by IVF via ultra-superovulation as the most animal welfare- and user-friendly strategy. We successfully created gene knockout and knock-in mice carrying insertion/deletion mutations and single amino acid substitutions, respectively, using the streamlined production system of mouse genome editing described above, referred to as the CREATRE (CARD-based Reproductive Engineering-Assisted Technology for RNP Electroporation) system. Owing to its accessibility, robustness, and high efficiency, we believe that our CREATRE protocol will become widely used globally for the production of genome-edited mice.