Temporal-Spatial Visualization of Endogenous Chromosome Rearrangements in Living Cells

Abstract

Visualizing the real-time dynamics of genome rearrangement in single living cells is core to studying genomics and diagnostics. Here, we report a robust, versatile approach named CRISPR Live-cell fluorescent in situ hybridization (LiveFISH) for multi-locus genome tracking and cytogenetic detection in a broad variety of cell types including primary cells. LiveFISH utilizes an intrinsic stability switch of CRISPR guide RNAs, which enables efficient and accurate detection of chromosomal disorders such as Patau Syndrome in prenatal amniotic fluid cells and allows multi-locus tracking in human T lymphocytes. Using LiveFISH, we are able to detect and track real-time spatiotemporal dynamics of non-homologous endogenous chromosome translocations induced by gene editing. This new approach enables FISH imaging in living primary cells, which can provide useful insights into the spatiotemporal changes of genome organization and rearrangements in normal and diseased primary cells and will enable fast cytogenetic visualization of various gene-editing associated chromosomal translocations.