Generation and validation of isogenic TP53 knock-out AML cell lines for use in genome-wide drop-out screens (360G-Wellcome-202474_Z_16_Z)

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis, for which mainstream treatments have not changed significantly for decades. To identify new therapeutic targets in AML, Dr Vassiliou's group recently performed CRISPR-Cas9 dropout screens and identified 492 AML-specific cell-essential genes, including several established anti-leukaemic drug targets and many novel therapeutic candidates. Going forward they will apply this technology to AML subtypes defined by particular somatic mutations. One subtype of AML is defined by TP53 gene mutations and is associated with an abysmal prognosis, with For this, I will design and test different gRNAs for their effectiveness in knocking-out TP53. Cas9-expressing MOLM13 and MV4-11 cell lines will be transfected (separately) with lentiviruses carrying TP53-targeting or control gRNAs. Pooled cells will then be single-cell-sorted and clones assessed for TP53 knock-out efficiency using qRT-qPCR and western blotting. The best clones will then be used for downstream genome-wide screens.