One-step CRISPR-based Strategy for Endogenous Gene Tagging in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary

Here, we present a simplified endogenous gene tagging protocol for Drosophila, which utilizes a PCR-based technique for marker-free identification of successful genetic modifications, facilitating the development of stable knock-in lines.

Abstract

The study of protein subcellular localization, dynamics, and regulation in live cells has been profoundly transformed by the advent of techniques that allow the tagging of endogenous genes to produce fluorescent fusion proteins. These methods enable researchers to visualize protein behavior in real time, providing valuable insights into their functions and interactions within the cellular environment. Many current gene tagging studies employ a two-step process where visible markers, such as eye color changes, are used to identify genetically modified organisms in the first step, and the visible marker is excised in the second step. Here, we present a one-step protocol to perform precise and rapid endogenous gene tagging in Drosophila melanogaster, which enables screening for engineered lines without the visible eye marker, offering a significant advantage over past methods. To screen for successful gene-tagging events, we employ a PCR-based technique to genotype individual flies by analyzing a small segment from their middle leg. Flies that pass the screening criteria are then used to produce stable stocks. Here, we detail the design and construction of CRISPR editing plasmids and methods for screening and confirmation of engineered lines. Together, this protocol improves the efficiency of endogenous gene tagging in Drosophila significantly and enables studies of cellular processes in vivo.

Introduction

Fluorescent proteins have emerged as powerful tools for visualizing protein localization, dynamics, and protein-protein interactions in cells within living organisms^1,2. Tagging endogenous genes with fluorescent proteins enables long-term live imaging of cellular processes with subcellular resolution. Furthermore, these endogenous gene-labeling techniques have several advantages compared to overexpression and immunostaining approaches. For example, overexpression of proteins might lead to protein misfolding, nonspecific protein-protein interactions, and mislocalization³. To date, resear....

Protocol

1. Design and construction of gene editing reagents

NOTE: To carry out endogenous tagging, it is essential to identify the various isoforms of the desired gene. Depending on the specific goals of the experiment, a fluorescent tag can be incorporated either internally or at the N- or C-termini of the selected protein isoform(s). For optimal CRISPR-mediated editing, it's crucial to position the two sgRNAs suitably close to the intended knock-in site. Subsequently, to enable editing through homologous recombination, a donor vector encompassing sequences homologous to the target gene, along with the fluorescent tag, should be prepared. Below ....

Results

In our experiments, we typically found a success rate of ~20%-30% in screening for various endogenous tagged genes on all chromosomes (X, II, III). The efficiency of this process can vary based on several factors, such as gRNA selection, the nature of the gene, and injection quality. Here, we illustrate the results from our strategy to tag the endogenous period gene with the mNeonGreen fluorophore¹³. The period gene, positioned on the X chromosome.......

Discussion

The results demonstrate a streamlined, simple one-step CRISPR-based strategy for tagging endogenous genes in Drosophila. In the protocol, we use two gRNAs to induce DNA double-strand break and homologous recombination more efficiently. The gRNAs and the donor plasmid are injected into fruit fly embryos, which express Cas9 enzyme in their germline. These embryos are subsequently cultivated under standard conditions until adulthood, at which point they are crossed with balancer flies to produce the first generatio.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
0.5M EDTA pH8.0	Invitrogen	AM9260G
5-alpha Competent E. coli (High Efficiency)	NEB	C2987H
96-well deep well plate	BRAND	701354
Agar	Fisher Scientific	BP1423-500
BbsI-HF	NEB	R3539S
DreamTaq Green PCR Master Mix (2X)	Thermo Scientific	K1081
D-Sucrose	Fisher Scientific	BP220-1
EcoRI-HF	NEB	R3101S
Hydrochloric Acid	Fisher Scientific	A142-212
Prolong Glass Antifade Mounting Medium	Invitrogen	P36982
Proteinase K	QIAGEN	19131
Schneider's Drosophila Medium	Gibco	21720001
Sodium Chloride	Fisher Scientific	S271-500
T4 DNA ligase	NEB	M0202S
Tris Base	Fisher Scientific	BP152-500
XbaI	NEB	R0145S