A functional screen of RNA binding proteins identifies genes that promote or limit the accumulation of CD138+ plasma cells

Abstract

To identify roles of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in the differentiation or survival of antibody secreting plasma cells we performed a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen of 1213 mouse RBPs for their ability to affect proliferation and/or survival, and the abundance of differentiated CD138+ cells in vitro. We validated the binding partners CSDE1 and STRAP as well as the m6A binding protein YTHDF2 as promoting the accumulation of CD138+ cells in vitro. We validated the EIF3 subunits EIF3K and EIF3L and components of the CCR4-NOT complex as inhibitors of CD138+ cell accumulation in vitro. In chimeric mouse models YTHDF2-deficient plasma cells failed to accumulate.