Synthesizing a Genetic Sensor Based on CRISPR-Cas9 for Specifically Killing p53-Deficient Cancer Cells

Cancer is still one of the greatest medical challenges in the world. The p53 protein plays an important role in the process of cancer formation. In addition, p53 is found as the most common mutant gene in cancers. Because of the central role of p53 in oncology, it is necessary to construct effective sensors to detect this protein. However, there are few methods to detect wild type p53 protein (WTP53) or to distinguish the wild type and mutant p53 proteins. In our study, we designed and constructed a p53 genetic sensor that detected the expression of WTP53 in cells. Moreover, we combined the p53 sensor with diphtheria toxin using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to construct a p53 genetic sensor that specifically killed p53-deficient cells such as tumor cells. Our study therefore developed a new way to treat cancers by using an available genetic sensor based on p53 protein.