Rapid and efficient degradation of endogenous proteins in vivo identifies stage-specific roles of RNA Pol II pausing in mammalian development.

Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Abuhashem A, Lee A, Joyner A, Hadjantonakis A
Journal Dev Cell
Volume 57
Issue 8
Pagination 1068-1080.e6
Date Published 04/13/2022
ISSN 1878-1551
Keywords Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, RNA Polymerase II
Abstract Targeted protein degradation methods offer a unique avenue to assess a protein's function in a variety of model systems. Recently, these approaches have been applied to mammalian cell culture models, enabling unprecedented temporal control of protein function. However, the efficacy of these systems at the tissue and organismal levels in vivo is not well established. Here, we tested the functionality of the degradation tag (dTAG) degron system in mammalian development. We generated a homozygous knock-in mouse with a FKBP12F36V tag fused to negative elongation factor b (Nelfb) locus, a ubiquitously expressed regulator of transcription. In our validation of targeted endogenous protein degradation across mammalian development and adulthood, we demonstrate that irrespective of the route of administration the dTAG system is non-toxic, rapid, and efficient in embryos from the zygote-to-mid-gestation stages. Additionally, acute depletion of NELFB revealed a specific role in zygote-to-2-cell development and zygotic genome activation (ZGA).
DOI 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.03.013
PubMed ID 35421370
PubMed Central ID PMC9047393
Back to Top