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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
12:04
Mouse Genome Engineering Using Designer Nucleases
Published on: April 2, 2014
Selection-free zinc-finger-nuclease engineering by context-dependent assembly (CoDA)
Jeffry D Sander1, Elizabeth J Dahlborg, Mathew J Goodwin
1Molecular Pathology Unit and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.
Nature Methods
|December 15, 2010
Summary
Context-dependent assembly (CoDA) simplifies engineering zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) for targeted genome modification. This platform rapidly altered genes in multiple species, paving the way for large-scale genetic studies.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Engineered zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) are powerful tools for targeted genome modification.
- Developing efficient and accessible methods for ZFN engineering is crucial for advancing genetic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce Context-Dependent Assembly (CoDA), a novel platform for engineering ZFNs.
- To demonstrate the efficacy and simplicity of the CoDA platform for rapid gene alteration.
Main Methods:
- CoDA platform utilizes standard cloning techniques or custom DNA synthesis for ZFN engineering.
- CoDA-generated ZFNs were applied to modify genes in model organisms.
Main Results:
- Successfully engineered ZFNs using the CoDA platform.
- Rapidly altered 20 genes across three diverse species: Danio rerio (zebrafish), Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress), and Glycine max (soybean).
- Demonstrated the platform's efficacy in different biological systems.
Conclusions:
- CoDA offers a simplified and effective approach to ZFN engineering.
- The CoDA platform is poised to accelerate the adoption of ZFN technology.
- CoDA enables ambitious large-scale genetic projects, including multigene pathway analysis and genome-wide alterations.
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