Using CRISPR Gene Editing to Prevent Accumulation of Lipids in Hepatocytes

Abstract

CRISPR gene editing is a molecular technology that can be used to silence gene expression. In this experiment, genes that are known to play a role in lipid accumulation in hepatocytes were targeted. Specifically, levels of fatty acid transport proteins 2 and 5 (FATP2 & 5) have been shown to be elevated in cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The goal of this experiment was to reduce expression of these genes by using a dead Cas9 (dCas9) protein with an attached inhibitory domain (KRAB) that acts on the promotor region. When measuring the mRNA expression, it was determined that the levels of the CRISPR-modified gene products were significantly reduced compared to the control. However, the same extent of inhibition was not consistently observed when conducting flow cytometry. Current work is aimed at discovering why lipid accumulation is not inhibited to the expected degree based on the results of mRNA expression.