Efficient Generation and Correction of Mutations in Human iPS Cells Utilizing mRNAs of CRISPR Base Editors and Prime Editors

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

In contrast to CRISPR/Cas9 nucleases, CRISPR base editors (BE) and prime editors (PE) enable predefined nucleotide exchanges in genomic sequences without generating DNA double strand breaks. Here, we employed BE and PE mRNAs in conjunction with chemically synthesized sgRNAs and pegRNAs for efficient editing of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Whereas we were unable to correct a disease-causing mutation in patient derived iPSCs using a CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease approach, we corrected the mutation back to wild type with high efficiency utilizing an adenine BE. We also used adenine and cytosine BEs to introduce nine different cancer associated TP53 mutations into human iPSCs with up to 90% efficiency, generating a panel of cell lines to investigate the biology of these mutations in an isogenic background. Finally, we pioneered the use of prime editing in human iPSCs, opening this important cell type for the precise modification of nucleotides not addressable by BEs and to multiple nucleotide exchanges. These approaches eliminate the necessity of deriving disease specific iPSCs from human donors and allows the comparison of different disease-causing mutations in isogenic genetic backgrounds.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number511
JournalGenes
Volume11
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 6 May 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC7288465
ORCID /0000-0001-9335-9749/work/116692782
Scopus 85084579488

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Adenine/chemistry, Aminohydrolases, Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/genetics, Base Sequence, CRISPR-Associated Protein 9, CRISPR-Cas Systems, Cell Line, Cellular Reprogramming Techniques, Cytosine/chemistry, Embryoid Bodies, Gene Editing/methods, Genes, p53, HEK293 Cells, Humans, Imidazoles/pharmacology, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism, Mutagenesis, Mutation, Nervous System Malformations/genetics, Piperazines/pharmacology, RNA, Guide/genetics, RNA, Messenger/genetics, SAM Domain and HD Domain-Containing Protein 1/genetics, Transfection