CRISPR/Cpf1-mediated editing of DNM1L in induced pluripotent stem cells.

CRISPR/Cpf1 editing of DNM1L in human iPSCs produces a mutant line with normal morphology, stability, and differentiation capacity.

• Why it matters: Understanding DNM1L's role in human stem cells is crucial because mutations are linked to neurological and cardiac disorders, yet its functions in pluripotent cells remain unclear.
• What they did: The study used CRISPR/Cpf1 to target exon 18 of DNM1L, creating a compound heterozygous mutant iPSC line, and assessed its morphology, stability, marker expression, and differentiation potential.
• The result: The mutant iPSC line maintained normal features and could differentiate into all three germ layers, suggesting DNM1L mutation does not impair basic pluripotency or differentiation.