1
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Chen Y, Luo S, Hu Y, Mao B, Wang X, Lu Z, Shan Q, Zhang J, Wang S, Feng G, Wang C, Liang C, Tang N, Niu R, Wang J, Han J, Yang N, Wang H, Zhou Q, Li W. All-RNA-mediated targeted gene integration in mammalian cells with rationally engineered R2 retrotransposons. Cell 2024; 187:4674-4689.e18. [PMID: 38981481 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
All-RNA-mediated targeted gene integration methods, rendering reduced immunogenicity, effective deliverability with non-viral vehicles, and a low risk of random mutagenesis, are urgently needed for next-generation gene addition technologies. Naturally occurring R2 retrotransposons hold promise in this context due to their site-specific integration profile. Here, we systematically analyzed the biodiversity of R2 elements and screened several R2 orthologs capable of full-length gene insertion in mammalian cells. Robust R2 system gene integration efficiency was attained using combined donor RNA and protein engineering. Importantly, the all-RNA-delivered engineered R2 system showed effective integration activity, with efficiency over 60% in mouse embryos. Unbiased high-throughput sequencing demonstrated that the engineered R2 system exhibited high on-target integration specificity (99%). In conclusion, our study provides engineered R2 tools for applications based on hit-and-run targeted DNA integration and insights for further optimization of retrotransposon systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangcan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shengqiu Luo
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanping Hu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Bangwei Mao
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xinge Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zongbao Lu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingtong Shan
- Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Siqi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Guihai Feng
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chenxin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chen Liang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Na Tang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Rui Niu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiaqiang Wang
- Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Jiabao Han
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Haoyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Wei Li
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China.
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2
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Palm SM, Horton CA, Zhang X, Collins K. Structure and sequence at an RNA template 5' end influence insertion of transgenes by an R2 retrotransposon protein. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 30:1227-1245. [PMID: 38960642 PMCID: PMC11331408 DOI: 10.1261/rna.080031.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
R2 non-long terminal repeat retrotransposons insert site-specifically into ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) in a broad range of multicellular eukaryotes. R2-encoded proteins can be leveraged to mediate transgene insertion at 28S rDNA loci in cultured human cells. This strategy, precise RNA-mediated insertion of transgenes (PRINT), relies on the codelivery of an mRNA encoding R2 protein and an RNA template encoding a transgene cassette of choice. Here, we demonstrate that the PRINT RNA template 5' module, which as a complementary DNA 3' end will generate the transgene 5' junction with rDNA, influences the efficiency and mechanism of gene insertion. Iterative design and testing identified optimal 5' modules consisting of a hepatitis delta virus-like ribozyme fold with high thermodynamic stability, suggesting that RNA template degradation from its 5' end may limit transgene insertion efficiency. We also demonstrate that transgene 5' junction formation can be either precise, formed by annealing the 3' end of first-strand complementary DNA with the upstream target site, or imprecise, by end-joining, but this difference in junction formation mechanism is not a major determinant of insertion efficiency. Sequence characterization of imprecise end-joining events indicates surprisingly minimal reliance on microhomology. Our findings expand the current understanding of the role of R2 retrotransposon transcript sequence and structure, and especially the 5' ribozyme fold, for retrotransposon mobility and RNA-templated gene synthesis in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Palm
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Connor A Horton
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Xiaozhu Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Kathleen Collins
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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3
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Rodríguez-Vargas A, Collins K. Distinct and overlapping RNA determinants for binding and target-primed reverse transcription by Bombyx mori R2 retrotransposon protein. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6571-6585. [PMID: 38499488 PMCID: PMC11194090 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic retrotransposons encode a reverse transcriptase that binds RNA to template DNA synthesis. The ancestral non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons encode a protein that performs target-primed reverse transcription (TPRT), in which the nicked genomic target site initiates complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis directly into the genome. The best understood model system for biochemical studies of TPRT is the R2 protein from the silk moth Bombyx mori. The R2 protein selectively binds the 3' untranslated region of its encoding RNA as template for DNA insertion to its target site in 28S ribosomal DNA. Here, binding and TPRT assays define RNA contributions to RNA-protein interaction, template use for TPRT and the fidelity of template positioning for TPRT cDNA synthesis. We quantify both sequence and structure contributions to protein-RNA interaction. RNA determinants of binding affinity overlap but are not equivalent to RNA features required for TPRT and its fidelity of template positioning for full-length TPRT cDNA synthesis. Additionally, we show that a previously implicated RNA-binding protein surface of R2 protein makes RNA binding affinity dependent on the presence of two stem-loops. Our findings inform evolutionary relationships across R2 retrotransposon RNAs and are a step toward understanding the mechanism and template specificity of non-LTR retrotransposon mobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Rodríguez-Vargas
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kathleen Collins
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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4
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Shao F, Zeng M, Xu X, Zhang H, Peng Z. FishTEDB 2.0: an update fish transposable element (TE) database with new functions to facilitate TE research. Database (Oxford) 2024; 2024:baae044. [PMID: 38829853 PMCID: PMC11146639 DOI: 10.1093/database/baae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
We launched the initial version of FishTEDB in 2018, which aimed to establish an open-source, user-friendly, data-rich transposable element (TE) database. Over the past 5 years, FishTEDB 1.0 has gained approximately 10 000 users, accumulating more than 450 000 interactions. With the unveiling of extensive fish genome data and the increasing emphasis on TE research, FishTEDB needs to extend the richness of data and functions. To achieve the above goals, we introduced 33 new fish species to FishTEDB 2.0, encompassing a wide array of fish belonging to 48 orders. To make the updated database more functional, we added a genome browser to visualize the positional relationship between TEs and genes and the estimated TE insertion time in different species. In conclusion, we released a new version of the fish TE database, FishTEDB 2.0, designed to assist researchers in the future study of TE functions and promote the progress of biological theories related to TEs. Database URL: https://www.fishtedb.com/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Shao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Southwest University School of Life Sciences, 2 Tiansheng Road, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Minzhi Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Southwest University School of Life Sciences, 2 Tiansheng Road, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiaofei Xu
- School of Computing Technologies, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Huahao Zhang
- College of Pharmacy and Life Science, Jiujiang University, 551 Qianjin East Road, Jiujiang 332005, China
| | - Zuogang Peng
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Southwest University School of Life Sciences, 2 Tiansheng Road, Chongqing 400715, China
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5
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Villiger L, Joung J, Koblan L, Weissman J, Abudayyeh OO, Gootenberg JS. CRISPR technologies for genome, epigenome and transcriptome editing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:464-487. [PMID: 38308006 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00697-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Our ability to edit genomes lags behind our capacity to sequence them, but the growing understanding of CRISPR biology and its application to genome, epigenome and transcriptome engineering is narrowing this gap. In this Review, we discuss recent developments of various CRISPR-based systems that can transiently or permanently modify the genome and the transcriptome. The discovery of further CRISPR enzymes and systems through functional metagenomics has meaningfully broadened the applicability of CRISPR-based editing. Engineered Cas variants offer diverse capabilities such as base editing, prime editing, gene insertion and gene regulation, thereby providing a panoply of tools for the scientific community. We highlight the strengths and weaknesses of current CRISPR tools, considering their efficiency, precision, specificity, reliance on cellular DNA repair mechanisms and their applications in both fundamental biology and therapeutics. Finally, we discuss ongoing clinical trials that illustrate the potential impact of CRISPR systems on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Villiger
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julia Joung
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Luke Koblan
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan Weissman
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Omar O Abudayyeh
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Jonathan S Gootenberg
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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6
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Lee RJ, Horton CA, Van Treeck B, McIntyre JJR, Collins K. Conserved and divergent DNA recognition specificities and functions of R2 retrotransposon N-terminal domains. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114239. [PMID: 38753487 PMCID: PMC11204384 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
R2 non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons are among the most extensively distributed mobile genetic elements in multicellular eukaryotes and show promise for applications in transgene supplementation of the human genome. They insert new gene copies into a conserved site in 28S ribosomal DNA with exquisite specificity. R2 clades are defined by the number of zinc fingers (ZFs) at the N terminus of the retrotransposon-encoded protein, postulated to additively confer DNA site specificity. Here, we illuminate general principles of DNA recognition by R2 N-terminal domains across and between clades, with extensive, specific recognition requiring only one or two compact domains. DNA-binding and protection assays demonstrate broadly shared as well as clade-specific DNA interactions. Gene insertion assays in cells identify the N-terminal domains sufficient for target-site insertion and reveal roles in second-strand cleavage or synthesis for clade-specific ZFs. Our results have implications for understanding evolutionary diversification of non-LTR retrotransposon insertion mechanisms and the design of retrotransposon-based gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Jooyoung Lee
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Connor A Horton
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Briana Van Treeck
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jeremy J R McIntyre
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kathleen Collins
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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7
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Pacesa M, Pelea O, Jinek M. Past, present, and future of CRISPR genome editing technologies. Cell 2024; 187:1076-1100. [PMID: 38428389 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Genome editing has been a transformative force in the life sciences and human medicine, offering unprecedented opportunities to dissect complex biological processes and treat the underlying causes of many genetic diseases. CRISPR-based technologies, with their remarkable efficiency and easy programmability, stand at the forefront of this revolution. In this Review, we discuss the current state of CRISPR gene editing technologies in both research and therapy, highlighting limitations that constrain them and the technological innovations that have been developed in recent years to address them. Additionally, we examine and summarize the current landscape of gene editing applications in the context of human health and therapeutics. Finally, we outline potential future developments that could shape gene editing technologies and their applications in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Pacesa
- Laboratory of Protein Design and Immunoengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Oana Pelea
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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8
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Zhang X, Van Treeck B, Horton CA, McIntyre JJR, Palm SM, Shumate JL, Collins K. Harnessing eukaryotic retroelement proteins for transgene insertion into human safe-harbor loci. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-024-02137-y. [PMID: 38379101 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02137-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Current approaches for inserting autonomous transgenes into the genome, such as CRISPR-Cas9 or virus-based strategies, have limitations including low efficiency and high risk of untargeted genome mutagenesis. Here, we describe precise RNA-mediated insertion of transgenes (PRINT), an approach for site-specifically primed reverse transcription that directs transgene synthesis directly into the genome at a multicopy safe-harbor locus. PRINT uses delivery of two in vitro transcribed RNAs: messenger RNA encoding avian R2 retroelement-protein and template RNA encoding a transgene of length validated up to 4 kb. The R2 protein coordinately recognizes the target site, nicks one strand at a precise location and primes complementary DNA synthesis for stable transgene insertion. With a cultured human primary cell line, over 50% of cells can gain several 2 kb transgenes, of which more than 50% are full-length. PRINT advantages include no extragenomic DNA, limiting risk of deleterious mutagenesis and innate immune responses, and the relatively low cost, rapid production and scalability of RNA-only delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhu Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Briana Van Treeck
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Connor A Horton
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy J R McIntyre
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sarah M Palm
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Justin L Shumate
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kathleen Collins
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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9
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Liu ZX, Zhang S, Zhu HZ, Chen ZH, Yang Y, Li LQ, Lei Y, Liu Y, Li DY, Sun A, Li CP, Tan SQ, Wang GL, Shen JY, Jin S, Gao C, Liu JJG. Hydrolytic endonucleolytic ribozyme (HYER) is programmable for sequence-specific DNA cleavage. Science 2024; 383:eadh4859. [PMID: 38301022 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh4859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Ribozymes are catalytic RNAs with diverse functions including self-splicing and polymerization. This work aims to discover natural ribozymes that behave as hydrolytic and sequence-specific DNA endonucleases, which could be repurposed as DNA manipulation tools. Focused on bacterial group II-C introns, we found that many systems without intron-encoded protein propagate multiple copies in their resident genomes. These introns, named HYdrolytic Endonucleolytic Ribozymes (HYERs), cleaved RNA, single-stranded DNA, bubbled double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), and plasmids in vitro. HYER1 generated dsDNA breaks in the mammalian genome. Cryo-electron microscopy analysis revealed a homodimer structure for HYER1, where each monomer contains a Mg2+-dependent hydrolysis pocket and captures DNA complementary to the target recognition site (TRS). Rational designs including TRS extension, recruiting sequence insertion, and heterodimerization yielded engineered HYERs showing improved specificity and flexibility for DNA manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Xian Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shouyue Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Han-Zhou Zhu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhi-Hang Chen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yun Yang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Long-Qi Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuan Lei
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Dan-Yuan Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ao Sun
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Cheng-Ping Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shun-Qing Tan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Gao-Li Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jie-Yi Shen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shuai Jin
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Caixia Gao
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun-Jie Gogo Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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10
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Cristofari G. Snapshots of genetic copy-and-paste machinery in action. Nature 2024; 626:40-42. [PMID: 38287184 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-00112-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
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11
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Thawani A, Ariza AJF, Nogales E, Collins K. Template and target-site recognition by human LINE-1 in retrotransposition. Nature 2024; 626:186-193. [PMID: 38096901 PMCID: PMC10830416 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06933-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1, hereafter L1) retrotransposon has generated nearly one-third of the human genome and serves as an active source of genetic diversity and human disease1. L1 spreads through a mechanism termed target-primed reverse transcription, in which the encoded enzyme (ORF2p) nicks the target DNA to prime reverse transcription of its own or non-self RNAs2. Here we purified full-length L1 ORF2p and biochemically reconstituted robust target-primed reverse transcription with template RNA and target-site DNA. We report cryo-electron microscopy structures of the complete human L1 ORF2p bound to structured template RNAs and initiating cDNA synthesis. The template polyadenosine tract is recognized in a sequence-specific manner by five distinct domains. Among them, an RNA-binding domain bends the template backbone to allow engagement of an RNA hairpin stem with the L1 ORF2p C-terminal segment. Moreover, structure and biochemical reconstitutions demonstrate an unexpected target-site requirement: L1 ORF2p relies on upstream single-stranded DNA to position the adjacent duplex in the endonuclease active site for nicking of the longer DNA strand, with a single nick generating a staggered DNA break. Our research provides insights into the mechanism of ongoing transposition in the human genome and informs the engineering of retrotransposon proteins for gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Thawani
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Alfredo Jose Florez Ariza
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), Berkeley, CA, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Eva Nogales
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Kathleen Collins
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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12
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Baldwin ET, van Eeuwen T, Hoyos D, Zalevsky A, Tchesnokov EP, Sánchez R, Miller BD, Di Stefano LH, Ruiz FX, Hancock M, Işik E, Mendez-Dorantes C, Walpole T, Nichols C, Wan P, Riento K, Halls-Kass R, Augustin M, Lammens A, Jestel A, Upla P, Xibinaku K, Congreve S, Hennink M, Rogala KB, Schneider AM, Fairman JE, Christensen SM, Desrosiers B, Bisacchi GS, Saunders OL, Hafeez N, Miao W, Kapeller R, Zaller DM, Sali A, Weichenrieder O, Burns KH, Götte M, Rout MP, Arnold E, Greenbaum BD, Romero DL, LaCava J, Taylor MS. Structures, functions and adaptations of the human LINE-1 ORF2 protein. Nature 2024; 626:194-206. [PMID: 38096902 PMCID: PMC10830420 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06947-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposon is an ancient genetic parasite that has written around one-third of the human genome through a 'copy and paste' mechanism catalysed by its multifunctional enzyme, open reading frame 2 protein (ORF2p)1. ORF2p reverse transcriptase (RT) and endonuclease activities have been implicated in the pathophysiology of cancer2,3, autoimmunity4,5 and ageing6,7, making ORF2p a potential therapeutic target. However, a lack of structural and mechanistic knowledge has hampered efforts to rationally exploit it. We report structures of the human ORF2p 'core' (residues 238-1061, including the RT domain) by X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy in several conformational states. Our analyses identified two previously undescribed folded domains, extensive contacts to RNA templates and associated adaptations that contribute to unique aspects of the L1 replication cycle. Computed integrative structural models of full-length ORF2p show a dynamic closed-ring conformation that appears to open during retrotransposition. We characterize ORF2p RT inhibition and reveal its underlying structural basis. Imaging and biochemistry show that non-canonical cytosolic ORF2p RT activity can produce RNA:DNA hybrids, activating innate immune signalling through cGAS/STING and resulting in interferon production6-8. In contrast to retroviral RTs, L1 RT is efficiently primed by short RNAs and hairpins, which probably explains cytosolic priming. Other biochemical activities including processivity, DNA-directed polymerization, non-templated base addition and template switching together allow us to propose a revised L1 insertion model. Finally, our evolutionary analysis demonstrates structural conservation between ORF2p and other RNA- and DNA-dependent polymerases. We therefore provide key mechanistic insights into L1 polymerization and insertion, shed light on the evolutionary history of L1 and enable rational drug development targeting L1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Trevor van Eeuwen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Structural Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Hoyos
- Computational Oncology, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arthur Zalevsky
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Quantitative Biology Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Egor P Tchesnokov
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Bryant D Miller
- Department of Pathology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luciano H Di Stefano
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Francesc Xavier Ruiz
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Matthew Hancock
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Quantitative Biology Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Esin Işik
- Department of Pathology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carlos Mendez-Dorantes
- Department of Pathology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas Walpole
- Charles River Laboratories, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden, UK
| | - Charles Nichols
- Charles River Laboratories, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden, UK
| | - Paul Wan
- Charles River Laboratories, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden, UK
| | - Kirsi Riento
- Charles River Laboratories, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden, UK
| | - Rowan Halls-Kass
- Charles River Laboratories, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden, UK
| | | | - Alfred Lammens
- Proteros Biostructures GmbH, Martinsried, Planegg, Germany
| | - Anja Jestel
- Proteros Biostructures GmbH, Martinsried, Planegg, Germany
| | - Paula Upla
- Laboratory of Cellular and Structural Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kera Xibinaku
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Kacper B Rogala
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Anna M Schneider
- Structural Biology of Selfish RNA, Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Andrej Sali
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Quantitative Biology Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Oliver Weichenrieder
- Structural Biology of Selfish RNA, Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kathleen H Burns
- Department of Pathology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Matthias Götte
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Michael P Rout
- Laboratory of Cellular and Structural Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Eddy Arnold
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Benjamin D Greenbaum
- Computational Oncology, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
| | | | - John LaCava
- Laboratory of Cellular and Structural Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Martin S Taylor
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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13
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Abstract
RNA-guided DNA writing enzymes offer promise for programmable gene insertion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel H Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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