Figure 1

Generation of Irs2 KO hamsters. (A) The exon composition of the hamster Irs2 gene. Specific gRNAs were designed to target sequences on the 5′ or 3′ side of the CDS domain (exon 1) of the hamster Irs2 gene. (B) The mutant allele of a founder F0#35 was used to establish the Irs2 KO strain. A 2653-bp deletion was identified at the first exon. The mutant allele lost three major domains of hamster Irs2 (PH, PTB, and KRLB) (see also Supplementary Fig. S1). (C) Body weight change of Irs2 KO hamsters. Homozygous (Ho) KO hamsters of both sexes had lower body weight than heterozygous (Het) KO or wild-type (WT) hamsters (*P < 0.05, Scheffe’s F multiple comparison test). There were no significant differences between homozygous KO groups and between heterozygous KO/WT groups. Each group consisted of 2–6 animals. (D) Appearance of homozygous (homo) and heterozygous (hetero) KO hamsters, which can be distinguished by size. (E) Expression levels of Irs1 and Irs2 in Irs2 KO hamsters. *P < 0.05 (vs. wild type). N.D., not detected. Error bars mean S.E.