Genome editing of a hybridoma cell line via the CRISPR/Cas9 system: A new approach for constitutive high-level expression of heterologous proteins in eukaryotic system.

ABSTRACT

The power of the CRISPR/Cas9 system has revolutionized genome editing in many fields of biology. These applications have expanded exponentially over recent years, including those regarding protein expression technologies. The CRISPR/Cas9 system avoids random integration of the gene of interest and due to this characteristic can be exploited to obtain a stable cell line for the high-yield expression of recombinant proteins. Here we propose a method to edit a hybridoma cell line for the constitutive expression of proteins of interest using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. First, with the scope of optimizing the method, we replaced part of the light chain of immunoglobulin with the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) gene, obtaining a precise knock-in in the hybridoma genome. We confirmed the expression and secretion of GFP into the culture medium via fluorimetric analysis, as well as correct genome editing by RNA sequencing. Then, using the same approach, we included the gene encoding a protein of diagnostic interest, the Bovine Herpesvirus 1 glycoprotein E, in the donor DNA. We obtained a stable clone able to secrete gE protein in fusion with GFP into the culture medium. This result was confirmed by ELISA and Western Blot analysis. This study confirms the suitability of this cell line for the production of proteins of diagnostic interest by stable gene expression in a mammalian system. These experiments will enable the technique to be developed from its proof of concept to more specific applications in the field of infectious disease diagnostics.