A CRISPR screen identifies a pathway required for paraquat-induced cell death

Nat Chem Biol. 2017 Dec;13(12):1274-1279. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.2499. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Abstract

Paraquat, a herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease, generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which causes cell death. Because the source of paraquat-induced ROS production remains unknown, we conducted a CRISPR-based positive-selection screen to identify metabolic genes essential for paraquat-induced cell death. Our screen uncovered three genes, POR (cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase), ATP7A (copper transporter), and SLC45A4 (sucrose transporter), required for paraquat-induced cell death. Furthermore, our results revealed POR as the source of paraquat-induced ROS production. Thus, our study highlights the use of functional genomic screens for uncovering redox biology.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats / drug effects*
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats / genetics
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Paraquat / chemistry
  • Paraquat / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Paraquat

Associated data

  • PubChem-Substance/342613938
  • PubChem-Substance/342613939
  • PubChem-Substance/342613940
  • PubChem-Substance/342613941
  • PubChem-Substance/342613942