Optogenetic regulation of embryo implantation in mice using photoactivatable CRISPR-Cas9

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18705
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Takao Tomoka 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 助教 (40612429)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: photoactivatable / CRISPR/CAS9 / Lif / implantation

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Implantation occurs through the interaction between the fertilized egg and the endometrium and is mediated by the spatiotemporal expression of implantation-related molecules including leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). In this study, we demonstrated that knockdown of LIF by a photoactivatable CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing system using blue LED illumination can regulate implantation in a spatiotemporal manner in mice. We believe that this system can be used in the future to elucidate the spatiotemporal molecular mechanisms involved in embryo implantation and to apply it to therapeutic strategies by controlling reproductive functions in vivo.

Free Research Field

幹細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

CRISPR/Cas9というゲノム編集技術と青色LED照射による光応答的な反応を組合わせた光応答性CRISPR/Cas9システムがマウスの着床を時空間的に制御できるという試みはこれまでなく、in vivoで制御できるという初めての報告となった。このシステムを応用することにより、妊孕能に対する分子メカニズムだけでなく、非侵襲的な治療の応用にもつながると期待される。