China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (2): 819-836.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.02.028

• Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Efficiency Optimization of MSTN Gene Editing in Huaxi Cattle Cells and Embryos

DU Zhiwen1(), GAO Yuxin1, LIU Shuqin1, MA Haibin2, YANG Lei1, SONG Lishuang1, BAI Chunling1, WEI Zhuying1, LI Guangpeng1(), SU Guanghua1()   

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock (Jointly Built by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region),College of Life Sciences,Inner Mongolia University,Hohhot 010071,China
    2.Inner Mongolia Aokesi Animal Husbandry Co. ,Ltd. ,Xilingol 026321,China
  • Received:2025-05-27 Online:2026-02-20 Published:2026-01-27
  • Contact: LI Guangpeng, SU Guanghua E-mail:dzw15133339850@163.com;gpengli@imu.edu.cn;guanghuasu@imu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to precisely edit myostatin (MSTN) gene in Huaxi cattle to enhance meat production performance, and establish an efficient gene editing technology system to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the biotechnological breeding of beef cattle in China. Method Six sgRNAs targeting exons 1 and 2 of MSTN gene were designed using CRISPR/Cas9 system. Cas9 knockout vector was constructed and transfected into Huaxi cattle fetal fibroblast cells via electroporation. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was employed to screen monoclonal cell lines with mutations, and the editing outcomes were validated by Sanger sequencing. Western blotting was used to detect MSTN protein expression in both wild-type and edited Huaxi cattle fetal fibroblast cells to evaluate the gene editing efficiency. Potential off-target sites were predicted using the Cas-OFFinder software and verified by sequencing in the monoclonal cell lines. Additionally, in vitro fertilization (IVF) zygotes were utilized to deliver Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes under different electroporation parameters. Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates were assessed, and the editing efficiency in embryos was verified by nested PCR and sequencing. Result Six types of Cas9 knockout vectors were successfully constructed, with transfection efficiency consistently ranging from 12.7% to 18.6%. A total of 35 monoclonal cell lines with MSTN gene knockout were obtained through FACS. Among these, the E2-3 single-vector and E2(2+3) dual-vector strategies achieved the highest editing efficiencies, reaching 57.9% and 55.6%, respectively. Western blotting results showed that MSTN protein expression in the edited groups were extrenely significantly reduced compared with wild-type group (P<0.01). No significant off-target effects were detected, confirming the high specificity of the editing system. In the embryonic editing experiments, the optimized electroporation parameters (25 V, 6 pulses, and 2.5 ms) resulted in a blastocyst formation rate of 18.7%, which was significantly higher than that of other parameter-treated groups (P<0.05). Conclusion The experiment successfully established a gene editing technology system for MSTN gene in Huaxi cattle, achieving highly efficient gene knockout and embryonic editing, thereby providing a reliable technical solution for the genetic improvement of Huaxi cattle. The optimized electroporation parameters and dual-vector strategy enhanced editing efficiency, with no detectable off-target effects, laying an important foundation for the further development of biotechnological breeding in beef cattle.

Key words: Huaxi cattle; MSTN gene; CRISPR/Cas9 system; gene editing; embryo electroporation

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