Efficient gene editing in a medaka(Oryzias latipes)cell line and embryos by SpCas9/tRNA-gRNA

Generation of mutants with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9(Cas9)is commonly carried out in fish species by co-injecting a mixture of Cas9 messenger RNA(mRNA)or protein and transcribed guide RNA(gRNA).However,the appropriate expression system to produce functional gRNAs in fish embryos and cells is rarely present.In this study,we employed a poly-transfer RNA(tRNA)-gRNA(PTG)system driven by cytomegalovirus(CMV)promoter to target the medaka(Oryzias latipes)endogenous gene tyrosinase(tyr)or paired box 6.1(pax6.1)and illustrated its function in a medaka cell line and embryos.The PTG system was combined with the CRISPR/Cas9 system under high levels of promoter to successfully induce gene editing in medaka.This is a valuable step forward in potential application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in medaka and other teleosts.