Transient inhibition of p53 enhances prime editing and cytosine base-editing efficiencies in human pluripotent stem cells

Nat Commun. 2022 Oct 27;13(1):6354. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-34045-7.

Abstract

Precise gene editing in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) holds great promise for studying and potentially treating human diseases. Both prime editing and base editing avoid introducing double strand breaks, but low editing efficiencies make those techniques still an arduous process in hPSCs. Here we report that co-delivering of p53DD, a dominant negative fragment of p53, can greatly enhance prime editing and cytosine base editing efficiencies in generating precise mutations in hPSCs. We further apply PE3 in combination with p53DD to efficiently create multiple isogenic hPSC lines, including lines carrying GBA or LRRK2 mutations associated with Parkinson disease and a LMNA mutation linked to Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. We also correct GBA and LMNA mutations in the patient-specific iPSCs. Our data show that p53DD improves PE3 efficiency without compromising the genome-wide safety, making it feasible for safe and routine generation of isogenic hPSC lines for disease modeling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Cytosine
  • Gene Editing / methods
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells* / physiology
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics

Substances

  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Cytosine