Correction of a CD55 mutation to quantify the efficiency of targeted knock-in via flow cytometry

Targeted knock-in assisted by the CRISPR/Cas9 system is an advanced technology with promising applications in various research fields including medical and agricultural sciences. However, improvements in the efficiency, precision, and specificity of targeted knock-in are prerequisites to facilitate the practical application of this technology. To improve the efficiency of targeted knock-in, it is necessary to have a molecular system that allows sensitive monitoring of targeted knock-in events with simple procedures.

We developed an assay, named CD55 correction assay, with which to monitor CD55 gene correction accomplished by targeted knock-in. To create the reporter clones used in this assay, we initially introduced a 7.7-kb heterozygous deletion covering CD55 exons 2-5, and then incorporated a truncating mutation within exon 4 of the remaining CD55 allele in human cell lines. The resultant reporter clones that lost the CD55 protein on the cell membrane were next transfected with Cas9 constructs along with a donor plasmid carrying wild-type CD55 exon 4. The cells were subsequently stained with fluorescence-labeled CD55 antibody and analyzed by flow cytometry to detect CD55-positive cells. These procedures allow high-throughput, quantitative detection of targeted gene correction events occurring in an endogenous human gene.

The current study demonstrated the utility of the CD55 correction assay to sensitively quantify the efficiency of targeted knock-in. When used with the PIGA correction assay, the CD55 correction assay will help accurately determine the efficiency of targeted knock-in, precluding possible experimental biases caused by cell line-specific and locus-specific factors.