482 Translational gene editing strategies for understanding and treating CHCHD10-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Abstract

Objectives/Goals: This study aims to explore transcriptional adaptation, where mutations in one gene trigger compensatory changes in related genes, and how this affects the variability in clinical manifestations of ALS. Our findings will provide insights for therapeutic strategies, while we also use gene editing to investigate correcting variants in ALS patients. Methods/Study Population: The presence of a premature termination codon triggers transcriptional activation. Therefore, we utilized CRISPR-Cas9 tool to generate a premature termination codon in CHCHD10 gene in multiple types of cells, including induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patient samples with known CHCHD10 mutations causative for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. CRISPR-Cas9 tool was delivered via ribonucleoprotein electroporation and transfected cell’s DNA was sequenced to validate gene editing. To confirm transcriptional adaption, changes in levels of protein and gene expression will be measured via immunoblot and quantification of CHCHD10 and CHCHCD2 from whole cell lysates of the edited cells. Results/Anticipated Results: Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 tools, we anticipate that CHCHD2 gene can functionally compensate for the loss of function in the CHCHD10 locus through transcriptional adaptation. Additionally, employing single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) we aim to accurately correct the genetic aberrations in ALS patient cells, and study the pathomechanisms of aberrant CHCHD10. Discussion/Significance of Impact: The significance of this research lies in its potential to uncover transcriptional adaptation in humans, which could explain why patients with the same genetic variant experience different symptoms. By understanding this mechanism, we could pave the way for novel therapies, especially for CHCHD10-associated ALS.