Dose rad genes improve HDR by CRISPR-induced in C.elegans?

Model Organism: Worms Scientific Discussion
1

I read some papers about rad genes which could enhanced CRISPR-mediated HDR in mammallian cell, for example RAD51 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10.1038%2Fs41467-019-09983-4), 53BP1 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10.1038%2Fnbt.4021), RAD18 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10.1038%2Fs41467-019-11105-z). I questioned if the rad genes or other genes have a similar function in C.elegans. If yes, which one maybe work better and I would try it co-expressing with Cas9.

Thanks in advance!

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We haven’t tried one of these strategies in our lab yet, but if you’re willing to experiment, I would go for the RAD-51 option first.
I do not expect targeting 53BP1 (HSR-9) by inhibition or indirectly by using the RAD18 variant (if conserved) to have any effect on CRISPR outcomes, since TMEJ (and not NHEJ!!) generates the inherited CRISPR-induced indels in the C.elegans germline (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26077599).

53BP1 prevents resection of break ends, thereby preventing HR and stimulating NHEJ. However, similar to HR, TMEJ also requires resected break ends. Therefore, inhibiting 53BP1 will probably not change the balance between HDR and TMEJ.