GSE185462
RNA Binding Proteins As Regulators of Oxidative Stress Identified by a Targeted CRISPR-Cas9 Single Guide RNA Library
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 genome editing system has been broadly adopted for high-throughput genetic screens. However, the application of genome-wide single guide RNA (sgRNA) libraries can be challenging. We generated a custom sgRNA library, an order of magnitude smaller than genome-wide alternatives, to facilitate the genetic screening of RNA binding proteins (RBPs). We demonstrated the utility of our reagent in a genetic screen for RBPs that conveyed cellular resistance or sensitivity to oxidative stress induced by paraquat. This identified that CSDE1 and STRAP, proteins that interact with each other, convey sensitivity to oxidative stress and that Pumilio homologues (PUM1 and PUM2) convey resistance. Targeting eIF4-E1 and -A1 protected cells from high-dose paraquat, whereas eIF4E2 targeted cells did less well. We also found that G3BP1 promoted sensitivity to a low dose of paraquat but protected cells at a higher dose. Our study highlights the use of genetic screens to identify roles of RBPs and identifies novel genes regulating sensitivity to oxidative stress. Overall design: An sgRNA library targeting human RNA binding proteins was transduced into Jurkat T cells expressing Cas9. Guide representation was assessed by NGS following 14 or 21 days culture in 0, 50 or 200µM paraquat, with 1 replicate per condition. One replicate of cells at day 0 (without paraquat) was also included.