CRISPR/Cas9 Knockout of Shell Matrix Protein 1 in the Slipper-Snail Crepidula atrasolea.

ABSTRACT: Over the course of hundreds of millions of years, biomineralization has evolved independently many times across all kingdoms of life. Among animals, the phylum Mollusca displays a remarkable diversity in biomineral structures, particularly the molluscan shell, which varies greatly in shape, size, pigmentation, and patterning. Shell matrix proteins (SMPs) are key components of these shells, and are thought to drive the precipitation of calcium carbonate minerals and influence shell morphology. However, this structure-function relationship has rarely been studied directly because tools for knocking out genes did not exist in molluscs until recently. In this study, we report the first successful use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to target an SMP in gastropod molluscs. Using the emerging model g

SUBMITTER: Batzel G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12277549 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature