Prime Editing Permits the Introduction of Specific Mutations in the Gene Responsible for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

The Prime editing technique derived from the CRISPR/Cas9 discovery permits the modification of selected nucleotides in a specific gene. We used it to insert specific point mutations in exons 9, 20, 35, 43, 55 and 61 of the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) gene coding for the dystrophin protein, which is absent in DMD patients. Up to 11% and 21% desired mutations of the DMD gene in HEK293T cells were obtained with the PRIME Editor 2 (PE2) and PE3, respectively. Three repeated treatments increased the percentage of specific mutations with PE2 to 16%. An additional mutation in the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence improved the PE3 result to 38% after a single treatment. We also carried out the correction of c.428 G>A point mutation in exon 6 of the DMD gene in a patient myoblast. Myoblast electroporation showed up to 8% and 28% modifications, respectively, for one and three repeated treatments using the PE3 system. The myoblast correction led to dystrophin expression in myotubes detected by Western blot. Thus, prime editing can be used for the correction of point mutations in the DMD gene.