Genetic knockdown and knockout approaches in Hydra

Abstract

Hydra is a member of the Cnidaria, an ancient phylum at the base of metazoan evolution and sister group to all bilaterian animals. The regeneration capacity of Hydra, mediated by its stem cell systems is unparalleled in the animal kingdom. The recent sequencing of the Hydra genome and that of other cnidarians has drawn new attention to this well-known model organism. In spite of this, the establishment of methods to manipulate gene expression in Hydra have remained a major challenge. Here we report a CRISPR-Cas9 based targeted mutation approach as well as an optimized, reproducible strategy for the delivery of siRNAs. Both approaches are based on a refined electroporation protocol for adult Hydra polyps. We demonstrate that these strategies provide reliable genetic interference with target gene expression, facilitating functional studies and genome editing in Hydra.