A Y-chromosome shredding gene drive for controlling pest vertebrate populations

eLife

Joshua V Ross¹  Phillip Cassey²  Thomas AA Prowse³  Fatwa Adikusuma⁴  Paul Thomas⁵ 

[1] School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia;South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia;School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia;School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia;The Centre for Applied Conservation Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia;

关键词: gene drive;    sex-ratio distortion;    pest control;    CRISPR;    resistance allele;    island conservation;   

DOI  :  10.7554/eLife.41873

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Self-replicating gene drives that modify sex ratios or infer a fitness cost could be used to control populations of invasive alien species. The targeted deletion of Y sex chromosomes using CRISPR technology offers a new approach for sex bias that could be incorporated within gene-drive designs. We introduce a novel gene-drive strategy termed Y-CHromosome deletion using Orthogonal Programmable Endonucleases (Y-CHOPE), incorporating a programmable endonuclease that ‘shreds’ the Y chromosome, thereby converting XY males into fertile XO females. Firstly, we demonstrate that the CRISPR/Cas12a system can eliminate the Y chromosome in embryonic stem cells with high efficiency (c. 90%). Next, using stochastic, individual-based models of a pest mouse population, we show that a Y-shredding drive that progressively depletes the pool of XY males could effect population eradication through mate limitation. Our molecular and modeling data suggest that a Y-CHOPE gene drive could be a viable tool for vertebrate pest control.

【 授权许可】

Unknown