Genetic Engineering Publications - GEG Tech top picks

High content screening (HCS), in which manipulation of candidate genes is combined with rapid image analysis of phenotypic effects, has emerged as a powerful technique to identify key regulators of axon outgrowth. In this study, the scientists explore the utility of a genome editing approach referred to as CRISPR  for knockout screening in primary neurons. For example, they targeted proteins included NeuN (RbFox3) and PTEN, a well-studied regulator of axon growth. Effective knockdown lagged at least four days behind transfection, but targeted proteins were eventually undetectable by immunohistochemistry in > 80% of transfected cells.  Their finding establish an example of CRISPR-mediated protein knockdown in primary cortical neurons and its compatibility with HCS workflows.