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bioRxiv · 10.1101/730507

Targeted cell ablation in zebrafish using optogenetic transcriptional control

Mruk, K.·Ciepla, P.·Piza, P.·Alnaqib, M.·Chen, J. K.
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Abstract

Cell ablation is a powerful method for elucidating the contributions of individual cell populations to embryonic development and tissue regeneration. Targeted cell loss in whole organisms has been typically achieved through expression of a cytotoxic or prodrug-activating gene product in the cell type of interest. This approach depends on the availability of tissue-specific promoters, and it does not allow further spatial selectivity within the promoter-defined region(s). To address this limitation, we have developed ablative methods that combine genetically encoded toxins, the tissue specificity afforded by cis-regulatory elements, and the conditionality of optogenetics. Using this integrative approach, we have ablated cells in zebrafish embryos with spatial and temporal precision.

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Mruk, K., Ciepla, P., Piza, P., Alnaqib, M., Chen, J. K.. 2019-08-10. Targeted cell ablation in zebrafish using optogenetic transcriptional control. https://doi.org/10.1101/730507

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