Advancements in Genetic Engineering
Open Access

Abstract

Two ways to control CjCas9 expression in the deletion of pathogenic GAA repeat in frataxin gene

Pouiré Yaméogo

 

 Most Friedrich Ataxia cases are caused by an insertion of a GAA repeat sequence (GAAr) in the first intron of the frataxin gene leading to a decrease in protein expression. Deletion of this GAAr by CRISPR-Cas9 technology leads to an increase in frataxin ex­pression. Due to the limited size of AAV packaging, GAAr remov­al by SpCas9 required two Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). Us­ing 2 AAVs reduces the efficiency of a potential treatment since each cell must be infected by both viruses. We have therefore used CjCas9 because it is small enough to be delivered with two sgR­NAs by a single AAV. However, a constitutive expression of the CjCas9 gene delivered by an AAV in vivo may increase off-target mutations and induce an immune response against the Cas9 pro­tein. Temporal expression is important for the CRISPR system. We investigated two approaches to limit the nuclease expression.

First, molecular Hara Kiri, we simultaneously transfected in HeLa cells plasmids encoding CjCas9, two guides (pre and post GAAr) targeting the frataxin gene and two guides targeting the CjCas9 gene. Our results showed that despite the self-destruction of the CjCas9 gene, an effective genome editing of the FXN gene was obtained in vitro.

Second, CRISPR-SCReT (Stop Codon Read Through), we insert­ed a stop codon (TGA) at the beginning of the CjCas9 gene to repress its expression. Subsequently, we induced the expression of Cas9 by molecules capable to allow translation despite the pres­ence of the premature stop codon. This plasmid was transfected into 293T cells with two sgRNAs (pre and post GAAr). We noted deletion of the GAAr only in cells treated with G418.

These different methods permitted to obtain efficient editing of the frataxin gene while preventing a sustained Cas9 expression. This could reduce the chances of off-target mutations and im­mune reaction against Cas9 protein.

Published Date: 2020-11-24; Received Date: 2020-11-16