Background:Zinc-finger nucleases(ZFNs)and transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs)have been successfully used to knock out endogenous genes in stem cell research.However,the deficiencies of current gene...Background:Zinc-finger nucleases(ZFNs)and transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs)have been successfully used to knock out endogenous genes in stem cell research.However,the deficiencies of current gene-based delivery systems may hamper the clinical application of these nucleases.A new delivery method that can improve the utility of these nucleases is needed.Results:In this study,we utilized a cell-penetrating peptide-based system for ZFN and TALEN delivery.Functional TAT-ZFN and TAT-TALEN proteins were generated by fusing the cell-penetrating TAT peptide to ZFN and TALEN,respectively.However,TAT-ZFN was difficult to purify in quantities sufficient for analysis in cell culture.Purified TAT-TALEN was able to penetrate cells and disrupt the gene encoding endogenous human chemokine(C-C motif)receptor 5(CCR5,a co-receptor for HIV-1 entry into cells).Hypothermic treatment greatly enhanced the TAT-TALENmediated gene disruption efficiency.A 5%modification rate was observed in human induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs)treated with TAT-TALEN as measured by the Surveyor assay.Conclusions:TAT-TALEN protein-mediated gene disruption was applicable in hiPSCs and represents a promising technique for gene knockout in stem cells.This new technique may advance the clinical application of TALEN technology.展开更多
基金We are grateful to Miguel A.Esteban and his group for supplying the hiPSCs.This work was financially supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project(2013ZX10001-004-002-004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81200398).
文摘Background:Zinc-finger nucleases(ZFNs)and transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs)have been successfully used to knock out endogenous genes in stem cell research.However,the deficiencies of current gene-based delivery systems may hamper the clinical application of these nucleases.A new delivery method that can improve the utility of these nucleases is needed.Results:In this study,we utilized a cell-penetrating peptide-based system for ZFN and TALEN delivery.Functional TAT-ZFN and TAT-TALEN proteins were generated by fusing the cell-penetrating TAT peptide to ZFN and TALEN,respectively.However,TAT-ZFN was difficult to purify in quantities sufficient for analysis in cell culture.Purified TAT-TALEN was able to penetrate cells and disrupt the gene encoding endogenous human chemokine(C-C motif)receptor 5(CCR5,a co-receptor for HIV-1 entry into cells).Hypothermic treatment greatly enhanced the TAT-TALENmediated gene disruption efficiency.A 5%modification rate was observed in human induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs)treated with TAT-TALEN as measured by the Surveyor assay.Conclusions:TAT-TALEN protein-mediated gene disruption was applicable in hiPSCs and represents a promising technique for gene knockout in stem cells.This new technique may advance the clinical application of TALEN technology.
