TALEN-Mediated Targeted Gene Integration: Using Engineered Sequence-Specific Nucleases for the Precise Insertion of Fluorescent Protein Gene into hiPSCs

Abstract

Source: Cerbini, T. et al. Transfection, Selection, and Colony-picking of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells TALEN-targeted with a GFP Gene into the AAVS1 Safe Harbor. J. Vis. Exp. (2015)

This video describes a precise genome editing technique in human induced pluripotent stem cells, or hiPSCs, using TALENs to create double-stranded breaks at a targeted locus, inducing homology-directed repair for fluorescence protein gene integration.

Protocol

1. Preparation of Basement Membrane Matrix and Coating of Plasticware

1. Place the frozen basement membrane matrix stock from -20 °C onto ice and thaw overnight at 4 °C.
2. After thawing, pipette 2 mg aliquots of basement membrane matrix into pre-chilled eppendorf tubes. Store these at -20 °C until needed.
3. To prepare basement membrane matrix-coated plates, thaw one aliquot on ice until the last piece of ice in the eppendorf tube disappears (usually within ~2 hr).
4. After thawing, add basement membrane matrix to 12 ml of cold (4 °C) DMEM/F12 to make basement membrane matrix coating solution.
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Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Matrigel Growth Factor Reduced (GFR) Basement Membrane Matrix, *LDEV-Free, 10 ml	Corning	354230	Store at -20 °C.
DMEM/F-12	Life Technologies	11320-033	Store at 4 °C.
Costar 6 Well Clear TC-Treated Multiple Well Plates	Corning	3506
Essential 8 Medium	Life Technologies	A1517001	Store basal medium at 4 °C. Store supplement at -20 °C.
Y-27632 dihydrochloride	Tocris	1254	Store at room temp. Once dissolved in H2O, store at -20 °C.
Sodium Chloride	Sigma	S5886-500G
UltraPure 0.5 M EDTA, pH 8.0	Life Technologies	15575-020
DPBS, no calcium, no magnesium	Life Technologies	14190-250
100 mm TC-Treated Culture Dish	Corning	430167
DR4 MEF 2M IRR - Academic	GlobalStem	GSC-6204G	Store in liquid Nitrogen.
DMEM, high glucose, pyruvate	Life Technologies	11995-040	Store at 4 °C.
Defined Fetal Bovine Serum, US Origin	HyClone	SH30070.03	Store at -20 °C. Thaw at 4 °C overnight and aliquot. Store aliquots at -20 °C until needed.
MEM Non-Essential Amino Acids Solution (100X)	Life Technologies	11140-050	Store at 4 °C.
4D-Nucleofector Core unit	Lonza	AAF-1001B	Part of the electroporation system.
4D-Nucleofector X unit	Lonza	AAF-1001X	Part of the electroporation system.
P3 Primary Cell 4D-Nucleofector X Kit L (24 RCT)	Lonza	V4XP-3024	Upon arrival, remove Primary Cell Solution and supplement and store at 4 °C.
StemPro Accutase Cell Dissociation Reagent	Life Technologies	A1110501	Store at -20 °C. Thaw overnight at 4°C and warm an aliquot in a 37 °C water bath before use.
NutriStem XF/FF Culture Medium	Stemgent	01-2005	Store at -20 °C. Thaw overnight at 4 °C
AAVS1 TALENs (pZT-AAVS1-L1 and pZT-AAVS1-R1)	Addgene	52637 and 52638
AAVS1-CAG-EGFP Homologous Recombination donor	Addgene	22212
Puromycin Dihydrochloride	Life Technologies	A11138-03	Store at -20 °C. Prepare working aliquots of 1 mg/ml in ddH2O.
Disposable Borosilicate Glass Pasteur Pipettes	Fisher Scientific	13-678-20A
Sorvall Legend XTR (Refrigerated), 120 V 60 Hz	Thermo Scientific	75-004-521
TX-750 4 × 750 ml Swinging Bucket Rotor	Thermo Scientific	75003607
Trypan Blue Solution, 0.4%	Life Technologies	15250-061