Establishing a semi-homology-directed recombination method for precision gene integration in axolotls.

Abstract

The axolotl is broadly used in regenerative, developmental, and evolutionary biology research. Targeted gene knock-in is crucial for precision transgenesis, enabling disease modeling, visualization, tracking, and functional manipulation of specific cells or genes of interest (GOIs). Existing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology-independent method for gene knock-in often causes "scars/indels" at integration junctions. Here, we develop a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated semi-homology-directed recombination (HDR) knock-in method using a donor construct containing a single homology arm for precise GOI integration. This semi-HDR approach achieves seamless single-end integration of the Cherry reporter gene and a large inducible Cre cassette into intronless genes like Sox2 and Neurod6 in axolotls, which are challenging to modify with the homology-independent method. Additionally, we integrate the inducible Cre cassette into intron-containing loci (e.g., Nkx2.2 and FoxA2) without introducing indels via semi-HDR. GOIs are properly expressed in F0 founders, with approximately 5%-10% showing precise integration confirmed by genotyping. Furthermore, using the Nkx2.2:CreER^T2 line, we fate-map spinal cord p3 neural progenitor cells, revealing that Nkx2.2⁺ cells adopt different lineages in development and regeneration, preferentially generating motoneurons over oligodendrocytes during regeneration. Overall, this semi-HDR method balances efficiency and precision in GOI integration, providing a valuable tool for generating knock-in axolotls and potentially extending to other species.