Nonviral CRISPR/Cas9 Mutagenesis for Streamlined Generation of Mouse Lung Cancer Models

Functional analysis in mouse models is necessary to establish the involvement of a set of genetic variations in tumor development. Many lung cancer models have been developed using genetic techniques to create gain- or loss-of-function alleles in genes involved in tumorigenesis; however, because of their labor- and time-intensive nature, these models are not suitable for quick and flexible hypothesis testing. Here we introduce a lung mutagenesis platform that utilizes CRISPR/Cas9 RNPs delivered via cationic polymers. This approach allows for the simultaneous inactivation of multiple genes. We validate the effectiveness of this system by targeting a group of tumor suppressor genes, specifically Rb1, Rbl1, Pten, and Trp53. chosen for their potential to cause lung tumors. This polymer-based delivery platform enables the modeling of lung tumorigenesis independently of the genetic background, simplifying and expediting the process without the need for modifying the mouse germline or creating custom viral vectors. Overall design: RNA-seq data from mouse tumors, and normal lung from mice.