title: TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 fuel genetically engineered clinically relevant Xenopus tropicalis tumor models.
abstract: The targeted nuclease revolution (TALENs, CRISPR/Cas9) now allows Xenopus researchers to rapidly generate custom on-demand genetic knockout models. These novel methods to perform reverse genetics are unprecedented and are fueling a wide array of human disease models within the aquatic diploid model organism Xenopus tropicalis (X. tropicalis). This emerging technology review focuses on the tools to rapidly generate genetically engineered X. tropicalis models (GEXM), with a focus on establishment of genuine genetic and clinically relevant cancer models. We believe that due to particular advantageous characteristics, outlined within this review, GEXM will become a valuable alternative animal model for modeling human cancer. Furthermore, we provide perspectives of how GEXM will be used as a platform for elucidation of novel therapeutic targets and for preclinical drug validation. Finally, we also discuss some future prospects on how the recent expansions and adaptations of the CRISPR/Cas9 toolbox might influence and push forward X. tropicalis cancer research.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naert
authors.affiliation: Developmental Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Nieuwenhuysen
authors.affiliation: Developmental Biology Unit, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Belgium.|Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kris
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9666-4105
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vleminckx
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064113:CRISPR-Cas Systems / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018390:Gene Targeting; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000069896:Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases / Q000235:genetics*; D014981:Xenopus / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000069896:Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases
keywords: desmoid tumors; drug assessment; familial adenomatous polyposis; genome editing; retinoblastoma; target identification