CRISPR loss of function screening to identify genes involved in human primordial germ cell-like cell development

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Abstract

Despite our increasing knowledge of molecular mechanisms guiding various aspects of human reproduction, those underlying human primordial germ cell (PGC) development remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted custom CRISPR screening in an in vitro system of human PGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) to identify genes required for acquisition and maintenance of PGC fate. Amongst our candidates, we identified TCL1A , an AKT coactivator. Functional assessment in our in vitro hPGCLCs system revealed that TCL1A played a critical role in later stages of hPGCLC development. Moreover, we found that TCL1A loss reduced AKT-mTOR signaling, downregulated expression of genes related to translational control, and subsequently led to a reduction in global protein synthesis and proliferation. Together, our study highlights the utility of CRISPR screening for human in vitro-derived germ cells and identifies novel translational regulators critical for hPGCLC development.

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  2. Note: This preprint has been reviewed by subject experts for Review Commons. Content has not been altered except for formatting.

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    Referee #3

    Evidence, reproducibility and clarity

    Summary:

    In this study, Hwang et al. develop an inducible Cas9 hiPSC line and perform with it a pooled CRISPR knockout screen using a custom sgRNA library to identify novel genes involved in human primordial germ cell like cell (hPGCLC) differentiation in vitro. Thereby they find the AKT coactivator TCL1A to be important in the proliferation/survival of hPGCLCs after specification.

    Specific Comments:

    1.) p.7-p.8: "Using the MAGeCK algorithm (Li et al, 2014) to call hits on merged replicates, 25 genes scored as significantly depleted from the AG+ population at p < 0.05. Among the top hits was SOX17, and near-hits included TFAP2C, …

  3. Note: This preprint has been reviewed by subject experts for Review Commons. Content has not been altered except for formatting.

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    Referee #2

    Evidence, reproducibility and clarity

    The authors conducted a custom CRISPR screening including 422 coding-genes in hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) to identify genes important to hPGCLC. Based on the screen, they found two candidates, TCL1A and METTL7A, that regulate hPGCLC specification. They concluded that TCL1A, an AKT coactivator, is critical for hPGCLC specification through regulating AKT-mTOR signaling. Unfortunately, we found that the evidences for the key conclusions are not quite convincing. Reasons are as below:

    1. The results to demonstrate the key role of TCL1A on hPGCLC specification is not convincing. Fig. 3B, C & D. the cell number per aggregate is also …
  4. Note: This preprint has been reviewed by subject experts for Review Commons. Content has not been altered except for formatting.

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    Referee #1

    Evidence, reproducibility and clarity

    In this manuscript, the authors performed CRISPR/Cas9-based screening to identify genes involved in human germ cell development. Using human PGCLC system, the authors found that sgRNAs targeting TCL1A and METTL7A genes were enriched in non-PGCLC population. Gene-disruption of each gene resulted in a significant reduction in PGCLC differentiation. Moreover, TCL1A-knockout PGCLCs failed to proliferation during PGCLC induction, possibly due to attenuation of AKT signaling. Further analyses showed that protein synthesis and cell-cycle progression, especially in S-phase, were impaired in TCL1A-knockout PGCLCs. Thus, the authors provided …