A platform for rapid exploration of aging and diseases in a naturally short-lived vertebrate
- PMID:25684364
- PMCID: PMC4344913
- DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.01.038
A platform for rapid exploration of aging and diseases in a naturally short-lived vertebrate
Abstract
Aging is a complex process that affects multiple organs. Modeling aging and age-related diseases in the lab is challenging because classical vertebrate models have relatively long lifespans. Here, we develop the first platform for rapid exploration of age-dependent traits and diseases in vertebrates, using the naturally short-lived African turquoise killifish. We provide an integrative genomic and genome-editing toolkit in this organism using our de-novo-assembled genome and the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. We mutate many genes encompassing the hallmarks of aging, and for a subset, we produce stable lines within 2-3 months. As a proof of principle, we show that fish deficient for the protein subunit of telomerase exhibit the fastest onset of telomere-related pathologies among vertebrates. We further demonstrate the feasibility of creating specific genetic variants. This genome-to-phenotype platform represents a unique resource for studying vertebrate aging and disease in a high-throughput manner and for investigating candidates arising from human genome-wide studies.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Comment in
- Fertile waters for aging research.Wang AM, Promislow DEL, Kaeberlein M.Wang AM, et al.Cell. 2015 Feb 26;160(5):814-815. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.026.Cell. 2015.PMID:25723160
- Model organisms: Short-lived excitement.Eisenstein M.Eisenstein M.Nat Methods. 2015 Apr;12(4):289. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.3353.Nat Methods. 2015.PMID:26005731No abstract available.
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