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Homing endonucleases catalyze double‐stranded DNA breaks and somatic transgene excision in Aedes aegypti
Author(s) -
Traver B. E.,
Anderson M. A. E.,
Adelman Z. N.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
insect molecular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.955
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2583
pISSN - 0962-1075
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2009.00905.x
Subject(s) - homing endonuclease , biology , aedes aegypti , transgene , dna , somatic cell , homing (biology) , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , gene , endonuclease , botany , ecology , larva
Aedes aegypti is a major vector of arthropod‐borne viruses such as yellow fever virus and dengue viruses. Efforts to discern the function of genes involved in important behaviours, such as vector competence and host seeking through reverse genetics, would greatly benefit from the ability to generate targeted gene disruptions. Homing endonucleases are selfish elements which catalyze double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) breaks in a sequence‐specific manner. In this report we demonstrate that the homing endonucleases I‐ Ppo I, I‐ Sce I, I‐ Cre I and I‐ Ani I are all able to induce dsDNA breaks in adult female Ae. aegypti chromosomes as well as catalyze the somatic excision of a transgene. These experiments provide evidence that homing endonucleases can be used to manipulate the genome of this important disease vector.