(218) Generation of Androgen Receptor Knockout Lizards

Bonnie K. Kircher¹ and Richard R. Behringer¹

1. Department of Genetics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Abstract Text:

Steroid hormones regulate reproductive organ development and function. We have characterized the anatomy of the adult male and female reproductive tract organs, using histology and 3D imaging techniques (light sheet microscopy, microCT, and optical coherence tomography). Using CRISPR/Cas gene editing, we targeted exons 5 and 6 of the androgen receptor (AR) gene, encoding the DNA binding domain, in the brown anole (Anolis sagrei) lizards. In one genetic male mutant, a homozygous 51-bp deletion resulted in an in-frame deletion of the AR DNA binding domain. We show that secondary sex characteristics in this species rely on signaling through the androgen receptor to develop.  These studies establish the brown anole as a model reptile for genetics studies of the reproductive biology. Funding sources include NIH grant HD30284, the Ben F. Love Endowment to Richard R. Behringer, NIH grant T32HD098068, NSF PRFB 2209150, NIH grant OD024976, and NIH grant CA16672.