Generating viable mice with heritable embryonically lethal mutations using the CRISPR-Cas9 system in two-cell embryos

A substantial number of mouse genes, about 25%, are embryonically lethal when knocked out. Using current genetic tools, such as the CRISPR-Cas9 system, it is difficult—or even impossible—to produce viable mice with heritable embryonically lethal mutations. Here, we establish a one-step method for microinjection of CRISPR reagents into one blastomere of two-cell embryos to generate viable chimeric founder mice with a heritable embryonically lethal mutation, of either Virma or Dpm1. By examining founder mice, we identify a phenotype and role of Virma in regulating kidney metabolism in adult mice. Additionally, we generate knockout mice with a heritable postnatally lethal mutation, of either Slc17a5 or Ctla-4, and study its function in vivo. This one-step method provides a convenient system that rapidly generates knockout mice possessing lethal phenotypes. This allows relatively easy in vivo study of the associated genes’ functions.