Mouse models for understanding physiological functions of ADARs

Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing, is a highly prevalent posttranscriptional modification of RNA, mediated by the adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) proteins. Mammalian transcriptomes contain tens of thousands to millions of A-to-I editing events. Mutations in ADAR can result in rare autoinflammatory disorders such as Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) through to irreversible conditions such as motor neuron disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mouse models have played an important role in our current understanding of the physiology of ADAR proteins. With the advancement of genetic engineering technologies, a number of new mouse models have been recently generated, each providing additional insight into ADAR function. This review highlights both past and current mouse models, exploring the methodologies used in their generation, their respective discoveries, and the significance of these findings in relation to human ADAR physiology.