Understanding the DNA damage response in order to achieve desired gene editing outcomes in mosquitoes

• Published in: Chromosome research Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 31 - 42
• Main Authors: Overcash, Justin M., Aryan, Azadeh, Myles, Kevin M., Adelman, Zach N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Chromosomes; CRISPR-Cas Systems - genetics; Culicidae; Culicidae - genetics; Deoxyribonucleases - metabolism; DNA damage; DNA Damage - genetics; DNA repair; DNA Repair - genetics; Genetic engineering; Genetic Engineering - methods; Human Genetics; Insect Vectors - genetics; Life Sciences; Mosquitoes; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Review; CRISPR; Mosquito; Aedes; DNA repair; Gene editing; TALEN
• ISSN: 0967-3849; 1573-6849
• DOI: 10.1007/s10577-014-9450-8

Mosquitoes are high-impact disease vectors with the capacity to transmit pathogenic agents that cause diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, chikungunya, and dengue. Continued growth in knowledge of genetic, molecular, and physiological pathways in mosquitoes allows for the development of novel control methods and for the continued optimization of existing ones. The emergence of site-specific nucleases as genomic engineering tools promises to expedite research of crucial biological pathways in these disease vectors. The utilization of these nucleases in a more precise and efficient manner is dependent upon knowledge and manipulation of the DNA repair pathways utilized by the mosquito. While progress has been made in deciphering DNA repair pathways in some model systems, research into the nature of the hierarchy of mosquito DNA repair pathways, as well as in mechanistic differences that may exist, is needed. In this review, we will describe progress in the use of site-specific nucleases in mosquitoes, along with the hierarchy of DNA repair in the context of mosquito chromosomal organization and structure, and how this knowledge may be manipulated to achieve precise chromosomal engineering in mosquitoes.