Number of inadvertent RNA targets for morpholino knockdown in Danio rerio is largely underestimated: evidence from the study of Ser/Arg-rich splicing factors.

ABSTRACT: Although the involvement of Ser/Arg-rich (SR) proteins in RNA metabolism is well documented, their role in vertebrate development remains elusive. We, therefore, elected to take advantage of the zebrafish model organism to study the SR genes' functions using the splicing morpholino (sMO) microinjection and the programmable site-specific nucleases. Consistent with previous research, we revealed discrepancies between the mutant and morphant phenotypes and we show that these inconsistencies may result from a large number of unsuspected inadvertent morpholino RNA targets. While microinjection of MOs directed against srsf5a (sMOsrsf5a) led to developmental defects, the corresponding homozygous mutants did not display any phenotypic traits. Furthermore, microinjection of sMOsrsf5a into srsf5a-/-

SUBMITTER: Joris M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5766196 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature