Editing the Melanocortin-4 Receptor Gene in Channel Catfish Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays a critical role in homeostasis and the regulation of body weight. Polymorphisms mc4r gene have been discovered linked to growth, carcass composition, meat quality traits. Therefore, we used CRISPR-Cas9 system target most important freshwater aquaculture species USA, channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Guide RNAs were designed direct Cas9 coding sequence catfish gene. gRNA(s)-Cas9 mixtures delivered into one-cell embryos using electroporation microinjection. For each treatment, nature rate mutations analyzed. Hatching survival rates calculated. overall mutation 30.6% 66.7–90.6% for microinjection, respectively. Mutated fish generated via or microinjection exhibited 38% 20% improvement weight, respectively, when compared with full-sib control. mean feed conversion ratio mutants was 1.18 1.57 control fish. improved growth indicate that generation mc4r-edited could economically benefit production.