Time-specific gene knockout technology：model establishment, present and future / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The target gene cannot be deleted at specific time by using conditional gene knockout system. Most gene knockout animals cannot survive during embryonic development and after birth, which limits the study of gene function. OBJECTIVE: To review the recent advances about time-specific gene knockout technology. METHODS: An online search in PubMed was performed from the initial stage of database establishment to August 2014. The key words were gene knockout, inducer and Cre/loxP system. The repeated experiment and unrelated articles were excluded during primary search. A summary was made by analyzing time-specific gene knockout technology. RESULTS AND CONCLUTION Most important gene knockout animals could not survive after birth, or die at early embryonic stage due to serious physical defects induced by an important gene deletion. Therefore, the progress in the functionality of a gene at a particular time, the genetic characteristics of an individual organism in a particular developmental period, and the treatment of certain acquired disease at a given time have been limited because of the limitations of research methods. However, the occurrence of conditional gene knockout animals, especial y time-specific knockout animals, provides a research model for the study of these areas. This study reviewed the recent advances, development and application about time-specific gene knockout animals, and discussed the significance and broad prospects of time-specific gene knockout technology of specific genes in the field of scientific research.