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Merlin JPJ, Abrahamse H. Optimizing CRISPR/Cas9 precision: Mitigating off-target effects for safe integration with photodynamic and stem cell therapies in cancer treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 180:117516. [PMID: 39332185 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Revised: 09/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 precision genome editing has revolutionized cancer treatment by introducing specific alterations to the cancer genome. But the therapeutic potential of CRISPR/Cas9 is limited by off-target effects, which can cause undesired changes to genomic regions and create major safety concerns. The primary emphasis lies in their implications within the realm of cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT), where precision is paramount. PDT is a promising cancer treatment method; nevertheless, its effectiveness is severely limited and readily leads to recurrence due to the therapeutic resistance of cancer stem cells (CSCs). With a focus on targeted genome editing into cancer cells during PDT and stem cell treatment (SCT), the review aims to further the ongoing search for safer and more accurate CRISPR/Cas9-mediated methods. At the core of this exploration are recent advancements and novel techniques that offer promise in mitigating the risks associated with off-target effects. With a focus on cancer PDT and SCT, this review critically assesses the landscape of off-target effects in CRISPR/Cas9 applications, offering a comprehensive knowledge of their nature and prevalence. A key component of the review is the assessment of cutting-edge delivery methods, such as technologies based on nanoparticles (NPs), to optimize the distribution of CRISPR components. Additionally, the study delves into the intricacies of guide RNA design, focusing on advancements that bolster specificity and minimize off-target effects, crucial elements in ensuring the precision required for effective cancer PDT and SCT. By synthesizing insights from various methodologies, including the exploration of innovative genome editing tools and leveraging robust validation methods and bioinformatics tools, the review aspires to chart a course towards more reliable and precise CRISPR-Cas9 applications in cancer PDT and SCT. For safe PDT and SCT integration in cancer therapy, CRISPR/Cas9 precision optimization is essential. Utilizing sophisticated molecular and computational techniques to address off-target effects is crucial to realizing the therapeutic promise of these technologies, which will ultimately lead to the development of individualized and successful cancer treatment strategies. Our long-term goals are to improve precision genome editing for more potent cancer therapy approaches by refining the way CRISPR/Cas9 is integrated with photodynamic and stem cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Jose Merlin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Heidi Abrahamse
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
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2
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Rymarquis L, Wu C, Hohorst D, Vega‐Sanchez M, Mullen TE, Vemulapalli V, Smith DR. Impact of predictive selection of LbCas12a CRISPR RNAs upon on- and off-target editing rates in soybean. PLANT DIRECT 2024; 8:e627. [PMID: 39157758 PMCID: PMC11328349 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology has revolutionized creating targeted genetic variation in crops. Although CRISPR enzymes have been reported to have high sequence-specificity, careful design of the editing reagents can also reduce unintended edits at highly homologous sites. This work details the first large-scale study of the heritability of on-target edits and the rate of edits at off-target sites in soybean (Glycine max), assaying ~700 T1 plants each resulting from transformation with LbCas12a constructs containing CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) predicted to be either "unique" with no off-target sites or "promiscuous" with >10 potential off-targets in the soybean genome. Around 80% of the on-target edits observed in T0 plants were inherited in the T1 generation, and ~49% of the total observed on-target edits in T1 were not observed at T0, indicating continued activity of LbCas12a throughout the life cycle of the plant. In planta editing at off-target sites was observed for the Promiscuous but not the Unique crRNA. Examination of the edited off-target sites revealed that LbCas12a was highly tolerant to mismatches between the crRNA and target site in bases 21-23 relative to the start of the protospacer, but even a single mismatch in the first 20 nt drastically reduced the editing rate. In addition, edits at off-target sites have lower inheritance rates than on-target edits, suggesting that they occur later in the plant's lifecycle. Plants with a desired on-target edit and no off-target edits could be identified in the T1 generation for 100% of the T0 plants edited with the Unique crRNA compared with the 65% of T0 plants edited with the Promiscuous crRNA. This confirms that proper crRNA selection can reduce or eliminate off-target editing. Even when potential off-target sites are predicted, plants containing only the intended edits can still be identified and propagated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chenxi Wu
- Bayer Crop ScienceChesterfieldMissouriUSA
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3
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Guan Z, Jiang Z. A systematic method for solving data imbalance in CRISPR off-target prediction tasks. Comput Biol Med 2024; 178:108781. [PMID: 38936075 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108781] [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: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Accurately identifying potential off-target sites in the CRISPR/Cas9 system is crucial for improving the efficiency and safety of editing. However, the imbalance of available off-target datasets has posed a major obstacle in enhancing prediction performance. Despite several prediction models have been developed to address this issue, there remains a lack of systematic research on handling data imbalance in off-target prediction. This article systematically investigates the data imbalance issue in off-target datasets and explores numerous methods to process data imbalance from a novel perspective. First, we highlight the impact of the imbalance problem on off-target prediction tasks by determining the imbalance ratios present in these datasets. Then, we provide a comprehensive review of various sampling techniques and cost-sensitive methods to mitigate class imbalance in off-target datasets. Finally, systematic experiments are conducted on several state-of-the-art prediction models to illustrate the impact of applying data imbalance solutions. The results show that class imbalance processing methods significantly improve the off-target prediction capabilities of the models across multiple testing datasets. The code and datasets used in this study are available at https://github.com/gzrgzx/CRISPR_Data_Imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengrui Guan
- School of Computer Science and Technology, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Zhenran Jiang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
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4
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Bailey SM, Kunkel SR, Bedford JS, Cornforth MN. The Central Role of Cytogenetics in Radiation Biology. Radiat Res 2024; 202:227-259. [PMID: 38981612 DOI: 10.1667/rade-24-00038.1] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Radiation cytogenetics has a rich history seldom appreciated by those outside the field. Early radiobiology was dominated by physics and biophysical concepts that borrowed heavily from the study of radiation-induced chromosome aberrations. From such studies, quantitative relationships between biological effect and changes in absorbed dose, dose rate and ionization density were codified into key concepts of radiobiological theory that have persisted for nearly a century. This review aims to provide a historical perspective of some of these concepts, including evidence supporting the contention that chromosome aberrations underlie development of many, if not most, of the biological effects of concern for humans exposed to ionizing radiations including cancer induction, on the one hand, and tumor eradication on the other. The significance of discoveries originating from these studies has widened and extended far beyond their original scope. Chromosome structural rearrangements viewed in mitotic cells were first attributed to the production of breaks by the radiations during interphase, followed by the rejoining or mis-rejoining among ends of other nearby breaks. These relatively modest beginnings eventually led to the discovery and characterization of DNA repair of double-strand breaks by non-homologous end joining, whose importance to various biological processes is now widely appreciated. Two examples, among many, are V(D)J recombination and speciation. Rapid technological advancements in cytogenetics, the burgeoning fields of molecular radiobiology and third-generation sequencing served as a point of confluence between the old and new. As a result, the emergent field of "cytogenomics" now becomes uniquely positioned for the purpose of more fully understanding mechanisms underlying the biological effects of ionizing radiation exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Bailey
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Stephen R Kunkel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Joel S Bedford
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Michael N Cornforth
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
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5
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Rangel V, Sterrenberg JN, Garawi A, Mezcord V, Folkerts ML, Calderon SE, Garcia YE, Wang J, Soyfer EM, Eng OS, Valerin JB, Tanjasiri SP, Quintero-Rivera F, Seldin MM, Masri S, Frock RL, Fleischman AG, Pannunzio NR. Increased AID results in mutations at the CRLF2 locus implicated in Latin American ALL health disparities. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6331. [PMID: 39068148 PMCID: PMC11283463 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50537-0] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is a B cell-specific mutator required for antibody diversification. However, it is also implicated in the etiology of several B cell malignancies. Evaluating the AID-induced mutation load in patients at-risk for certain blood cancers is critical in assessing disease severity and treatment options. We have developed a digital PCR (dPCR) assay that allows us to quantify mutations resulting from AID modification or DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation and repair at sites known to be prone to DSBs. Implementation of this assay shows that increased AID levels in immature B cells increase genome instability at loci linked to chromosomal translocation formation. This includes the CRLF2 locus that is often involved in translocations associated with a subtype of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that disproportionately affects Hispanics, particularly those with Latin American ancestry. Using dPCR, we characterize the CRLF2 locus in B cell-derived genomic DNA from both Hispanic ALL patients and healthy Hispanic donors and found increased mutations in both, suggesting that vulnerability to DNA damage at CRLF2 may be driving this health disparity. Our ability to detect and quantify these mutations will potentiate future risk identification, early detection of cancers, and reduction of associated cancer health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Rangel
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jason N Sterrenberg
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Aya Garawi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Vyanka Mezcord
- Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, USA
| | - Melissa L Folkerts
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sabrina E Calderon
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Yadhira E Garcia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jinglong Wang
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Eli M Soyfer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Oliver S Eng
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer B Valerin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sora Park Tanjasiri
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Health, Society and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Fabiola Quintero-Rivera
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Marcus M Seldin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Selma Masri
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Richard L Frock
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Angela G Fleischman
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas R Pannunzio
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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6
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Cao Y, Li X, Pan Y, Wang H, Yang S, Hong L, Ye L. CRISPR-based genetic screens advance cancer immunology. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024:10.1007/s11427-023-2571-0. [PMID: 39048715 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2571-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR technologies have revolutionized research areas ranging from fundamental science to translational medicine. CRISPR-based genetic screens offer a powerful platform for unbiased screening in various fields, such as cancer immunology. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has been shown to strongly affect cancer treatment. However, the currently available ICBs are limited and do not work in all cancer patients. Pooled CRISPR screens enable the identification of previously unknown immune regulators that can regulate T-cell activation, cytotoxicity, persistence, infiltration into tumors, cytokine secretion, memory formation, T-cell metabolism, and CD4+ T-cell differentiation. These novel targets can be developed as new immunotherapies or used with the current ICBs as new combination therapies that may yield synergistic efficacy. Here, we review the progress made in the development of CRISPR technologies, particularly technological advances in CRISPR screens and their application in novel target identification for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanfang Cao
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Xueting Li
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Yumu Pan
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Huahe Wang
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Siyu Yang
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Lingjuan Hong
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Lupeng Ye
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
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7
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Yaish O, Orenstein Y. Generating, modeling and evaluating a large-scale set of CRISPR/Cas9 off-target sites with bulges. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6777-6790. [PMID: 38813823 PMCID: PMC11229338 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae428] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a highly accurate gene-editing technique, but it can also lead to unintended off-target sites (OTS). Consequently, many high-throughput assays have been developed to measure OTS in a genome-wide manner, and their data was used to train machine-learning models to predict OTS. However, these models are inaccurate when considering OTS with bulges due to limited data compared to OTS without bulges. Recently, CHANGE-seq, a new in vitro technique to detect OTS, was used to produce a dataset of unprecedented scale and quality. In addition, the same study produced in cellula GUIDE-seq experiments, but none of these GUIDE-seq experiments included bulges. Here, we generated the most comprehensive GUIDE-seq dataset with bulges, and trained and evaluated state-of-the-art machine-learning models that consider OTS with bulges. We first reprocessed the publicly available experimental raw data of the CHANGE-seq study to generate 20 new GUIDE-seq experiments, and hundreds of OTS with bulges among the original and new GUIDE-seq experiments. We then trained multiple machine-learning models, and demonstrated their state-of-the-art performance both in vitro and in cellula over all OTS and when focusing on OTS with bulges. Last, we visualized the key features learned by our models on OTS with bulges in a unique representation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofir Yaish
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Yaron Orenstein
- Department of Computer Science, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
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8
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Cheong TC, Jang A, Wang Q, Leonardi GC, Ricciuti B, Alessi JV, Di Federico A, Awad MM, Lehtinen MK, Harris MH, Chiarle R. Mechanistic patterns and clinical implications of oncogenic tyrosine kinase fusions in human cancers. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5110. [PMID: 38877018 PMCID: PMC11178778 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49499-0] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase (TK) fusions are frequently found in cancers, either as initiating events or as a mechanism of resistance to targeted therapy. Partner genes and exons in most TK fusions are followed typical recurrent patterns, but the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of these patterns are poorly understood. By developing Functionally Active Chromosomal Translocation Sequencing (FACTS), we discover that typical TK fusions involving ALK, ROS1, RET and NTRK1 are selected from pools of chromosomal rearrangements by two major determinants: active transcription of the fusion partner genes and protein stability. In contrast, atypical TK fusions that are rarely seen in patients showed reduced protein stability, decreased downstream oncogenic signaling, and were less responsive to inhibition. Consistently, patients with atypical TK fusions were associated with a reduced response to TKI therapies. Our findings highlight the principles of oncogenic TK fusion formation and selection in cancers, with clinical implications for guiding targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taek-Chin Cheong
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Ahram Jang
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Giulia C Leonardi
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Biagio Ricciuti
- Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Joao V Alessi
- Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | - Mark M Awad
- Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Maria K Lehtinen
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Marian H Harris
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Roberto Chiarle
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, 10126, Italy.
- Division of Hematopathology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141, Milan, Italy.
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9
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Nasri M, Ritter MU, Mir P, Dannenmann B, Kaufmann MM, Arreba-Tutusaus P, Xu Y, Borbaran-Bravo N, Klimiankou M, Lengerke C, Zeidler C, Cathomen T, Welte K, Skokowa J. CRISPR-Cas9n-mediated ELANE promoter editing for gene therapy of severe congenital neutropenia. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1628-1642. [PMID: 38556793 PMCID: PMC11184331 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.03.037] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe congenital neutropenia (CN) is an inherited pre-leukemia bone marrow failure syndrome commonly caused by autosomal-dominant ELANE mutations (ELANE-CN). ELANE-CN patients are treated with daily injections of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF). However, some patients do not respond to rhG-CSF, and approximately 15% of ELANE-CN patients develop myelodysplasia or acute myeloid leukemia. Here, we report the development of a curative therapy for ELANE-CN through inhibition of ELANE mRNA expression by introducing two single-strand DNA breaks at the opposing DNA strands of the ELANE promoter TATA box using CRISPR-Cas9D10A nickases-termed MILESTONE. This editing effectively restored defective neutrophil differentiation of ELANE-CN CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in vitro and in vivo, without affecting the functions of the edited neutrophils. CRISPResso analysis of the edited ELANE-CN CD34+ HSPCs revealed on-target efficiencies of over 90%. Simultaneously, GUIDE-seq, CAST-Seq, and rhAmpSeq indicated a safe off-target profile with no off-target sites or chromosomal translocations. Taken together, ex vivo gene editing of ELANE-CN HSPCs using MILESTONE in the setting of autologous stem cell transplantation could be a universal, safe, and efficient gene therapy approach for ELANE-CN patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Nasri
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Malte U Ritter
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Perihan Mir
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Dannenmann
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Masako M Kaufmann
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Patricia Arreba-Tutusaus
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Natalia Borbaran-Bravo
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maksim Klimiankou
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Lengerke
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Zeidler
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Toni Cathomen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Karl Welte
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Children`s Hospital, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia Skokowa
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Gene and RNA Therapy Center (GRTC), University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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10
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Redel BK, Yoon J, Reese E, An H, Uh K, Chen PR, Prather RS, Lee K. Novel off-Targeting Events Identified after Genome Wide Analysis of CRISPR-Cas Edited Pigs. CRISPR J 2024; 7:141-149. [PMID: 38770737 PMCID: PMC11302191 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2024.0012] [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: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas technology has transformed our ability to introduce targeted modifications, allowing unconventional animal models such as pigs to model human diseases and improve its value for food production. The main concern with using the technology is the possibility of introducing unwanted modifications in the genome. In this study, we illustrate a pipeline to comprehensively identify off-targeting events on a global scale in the genome of three different gene-edited pig models. Whole genome sequencing paired with an off-targeting prediction software tool filtered off-targeting events amongst natural variations present in gene-edited pigs. This pipeline confirmed two known off-targeting events in IGH knockout pigs, AR and RBFOX1, and identified other presumably off-targeted loci. Independent validation of the off-targeting events using other gene-edited DNA confirmed two novel off-targeting events in RAG2/IL2RG knockout pig models. This unique strategy offers a novel tool to detect off-targeting events in genetically heterogeneous species after genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Junchul Yoon
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Emily Reese
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Hong An
- Bioinformatics and Analytics Core, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Kyungjun Uh
- Futuristic Animal Resource & Research Center (FARRC), Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Paula R. Chen
- USDA-ARS, Plant Genetics Research Unit, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Randall S. Prather
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- National Swine Resource and Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Kiho Lee
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- National Swine Resource and Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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11
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Qin M, Deng C, Wen L, Luo G, Meng Y. CRISPR-Cas and CRISPR-based screening system for precise gene editing and targeted cancer therapy. J Transl Med 2024; 22:516. [PMID: 38816739 PMCID: PMC11138051 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05235-2] [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: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Target cancer therapy has been developed for clinical cancer treatment based on the discovery of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) -Cas system. This forefront and cutting-edge scientific technique improves the cancer research into molecular level and is currently widely utilized in genetic investigation and clinical precision cancer therapy. In this review, we summarized the genetic modification by CRISPR/Cas and CRISPR screening system, discussed key components for successful CRISPR screening, including Cas enzymes, guide RNA (gRNA) libraries, target cells or organs. Furthermore, we focused on the application for CAR-T cell therapy, drug target, drug screening, or drug selection in both ex vivo and in vivo with CRISPR screening system. In addition, we elucidated the advantages and potential obstacles of CRISPR system in precision clinical medicine and described the prospects for future genetic therapy.In summary, we provide a comprehensive and practical perspective on the development of CRISPR/Cas and CRISPR screening system for the treatment of cancer defects, aiming to further improve the precision and accuracy for clinical treatment and individualized gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Qin
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Foshan Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University (Foshan Women and Children Hospital), Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China
- Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Chunhao Deng
- Chinese Medicine and Translational Medicine R&D center, Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519031, China
| | - Liewei Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519000, China
| | - Guoqun Luo
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Foshan Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University (Foshan Women and Children Hospital), Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China.
| | - Ya Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519000, China.
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12
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Wang J, Sadeghi CA, Frock RL. DNA-PKcs suppresses illegitimate chromosome rearrangements. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:5048-5066. [PMID: 38412274 PMCID: PMC11109964 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae140] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Two DNA repair pathways, non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and alternative end joining (A-EJ), are involved in V(D)J recombination and chromosome translocation. Previous studies reported distinct repair mechanisms for chromosome translocation, with NHEJ involved in humans and A-EJ in mice predominantly. NHEJ depends on DNA-PKcs, a critical partner in synapsis formation and downstream component activation. While DNA-PKcs inhibition promotes chromosome translocations harboring microhomologies in mice, its synonymous effect in humans is not known. We find partial DNA-PKcs inhibition in human cells leads to increased translocations and the continued involvement of a dampened NHEJ. In contrast, complete DNA-PKcs inhibition substantially increased microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ), thus bridging the two different translocation mechanisms between human and mice. Similar to a previous study on Ku70 deletion, DNA-PKcs deletion in G1/G0-phase mouse progenitor B cell lines, significantly impairs V(D)J recombination and generated higher rates of translocations as a consequence of dysregulated coding and signal end joining. Genetic DNA-PKcs inhibition suppresses NHEJ entirely, with repair phenotypically resembling Ku70-deficient A-EJ. In contrast, we find DNA-PKcs necessary in generating the near-exclusive MMEJ associated with Lig4 deficiency. Our study underscores DNA-PKcs in suppressing illegitimate chromosome rearrangement while also contributing to MMEJ in both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglong Wang
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cheyenne A Sadeghi
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Richard L Frock
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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13
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Lemmens M, Dorsheimer L, Zeller A, Dietz-Baum Y. Non-clinical safety assessment of novel drug modalities: Genome safety perspectives on viral-, nuclease- and nucleotide-based gene therapies. MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2024; 896:503767. [PMID: 38821669 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2024.503767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapies have emerged as promising treatments for various conditions including inherited diseases as well as cancer. Ensuring their safe clinical application requires the development of appropriate safety testing strategies. Several guidelines have been provided by health authorities to address these concerns. These guidelines state that non-clinical testing should be carried out on a case-by-case basis depending on the modality. This review focuses on the genome safety assessment of frequently used gene therapy modalities, namely Adeno Associated Viruses (AAVs), Lentiviruses, designer nucleases and mRNAs. Important safety considerations for these modalities, amongst others, are vector integrations into the patient genome (insertional mutagenesis) and off-target editing. Taking into account the constraints of in vivo studies, health authorities endorse the development of novel approach methodologies (NAMs), which are innovative in vitro strategies for genotoxicity testing. This review provides an overview of NAMs applied to viral and CRISPR/Cas9 safety, including next generation sequencing-based methods for integration site analysis and off-target editing. Additionally, NAMs to evaluate the oncogenicity risk arising from unwanted genomic modifications are discussed. Thus, a range of promising techniques are available to support the safe development of gene therapies. Thorough validation, comparisons and correlations with clinical outcomes are essential to identify the most reliable safety testing strategies. By providing a comprehensive overview of these NAMs, this review aims to contribute to a better understanding of the genome safety perspectives of gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lena Dorsheimer
- Research and Development, Preclinical Safety, Sanofi, Industriepark Hoechst, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany.
| | - Andreas Zeller
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, pRED Innovation Center Basel, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel 4070, Switzerland
| | - Yasmin Dietz-Baum
- Research and Development, Preclinical Safety, Sanofi, Industriepark Hoechst, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany
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14
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Wang Y, Chen J, Huang X, Wu B, Dai P, Zhang F, Li J, Wang L. Gene-knockout by iSTOP enables rapid reproductive disease modeling and phenotyping in germ cells of the founder generation. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1035-1050. [PMID: 38332217 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2408-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Cytosine base editing achieves C•G-to-T•A substitutions and can convert four codons (CAA/CAG/CGA/TGG) into STOP-codons (induction of STOP-codons, iSTOP) to knock out genes with reduced mosaicism. iSTOP enables direct phenotyping in founders' somatic cells, but it remains unknown whether this works in founders' germ cells so as to rapidly reveal novel genes for fertility. Here, we initially establish that iSTOP in mouse zygotes enables functional characterization of known genes in founders' germ cells: Cfap43-iSTOP male founders manifest expected sperm features resembling human "multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella" syndrome (i.e., MMAF-like features), while oocytes of Zp3-iSTOP female founders have no zona pellucida. We further illustrate iSTOP's utility for dissecting the functions of unknown genes with Ccdc183, observing MMAF-like features and male infertility in Ccdc183-iSTOP founders, phenotypes concordant with those of Ccdc183-KO offspring. We ultimately establish that CCDC183 is essential for sperm morphogenesis through regulating the assembly of outer dynein arms and participating in the intra-flagellar transport. Our study demonstrates iSTOP as an efficient tool for direct reproductive disease modeling and phenotyping in germ cells of the founder generation, and rapidly reveals the essentiality of Ccdc183 in fertility, thus providing a time-saving approach for validating genetic defects (like nonsense mutations) for human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jingwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xueying Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Bangguo Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Peng Dai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Lingbo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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15
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Klermund J, Rhiel M, Kocher T, Chmielewski KO, Bischof J, Andrieux G, El Gaz M, Hainzl S, Boerries M, Cornu TI, Koller U, Cathomen T. On- and off-target effects of paired CRISPR-Cas nickase in primary human cells. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1298-1310. [PMID: 38459694 PMCID: PMC11081867 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.03.006] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Undesired on- and off-target effects of CRISPR-Cas nucleases remain a challenge in genome editing. While the use of Cas9 nickases has been shown to minimize off-target mutagenesis, their use in therapeutic genome editing has been hampered by a lack of efficacy. To overcome this limitation, we and others have developed double-nickase-based strategies to generate staggered DNA double-strand breaks to mediate gene disruption or gene correction with high efficiency. However, the impact of paired single-strand nicks on genome integrity has remained largely unexplored. Here, we developed a novel CAST-seq pipeline, dual CAST, to characterize chromosomal aberrations induced by paired CRISPR-Cas9 nickases at three different loci in primary keratinocytes derived from patients with epidermolysis bullosa. While targeting COL7A1, COL17A1, or LAMA3 with Cas9 nucleases caused previously undescribed chromosomal rearrangements, no chromosomal translocations were detected following paired-nickase editing. While the double-nicking strategy induced large deletions/inversions within a 10 kb region surrounding the target sites at all three loci, similar to the nucleases, the chromosomal on-target aberrations were qualitatively different and included a high proportion of insertions. Taken together, our data indicate that double-nickase approaches combine efficient editing with greatly reduced off-target effects but still leave substantial chromosomal aberrations at on-target sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Klermund
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Manuel Rhiel
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kocher
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Kay Ole Chmielewski
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; PhD Program, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Bischof
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Geoffroy Andrieux
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Melina El Gaz
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Hainzl
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Melanie Boerries
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tatjana I Cornu
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Koller
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Toni Cathomen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
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16
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Corazzi L, Ionasz VS, Andrejev S, Wang LC, Vouzas A, Giaisi M, Di Muzio G, Ding B, Marx AJM, Henkenjohann J, Allers MM, Gilbert DM, Wei PC. Linear interaction between replication and transcription shapes DNA break dynamics at recurrent DNA break Clusters. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3594. [PMID: 38678011 PMCID: PMC11055891 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47934-w] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Recurrent DNA break clusters (RDCs) are replication-transcription collision hotspots; many are unique to neural progenitor cells. Through high-resolution replication sequencing and a capture-ligation assay in mouse neural progenitor cells experiencing replication stress, we unravel the replication features dictating RDC location and orientation. Most RDCs occur at the replication forks traversing timing transition regions (TTRs), where sparse replication origins connect unidirectional forks. Leftward-moving forks generate telomere-connected DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), while rightward-moving forks lead to centromere-connected DSBs. Strand-specific mapping for DNA-bound RNA reveals co-transcriptional dual-strand DNA:RNA hybrids present at a higher density in RDC than in other actively transcribed long genes. In addition, mapping RNA polymerase activity uncovers that head-to-head interactions between replication and transcription machinery result in 60% DSB contribution to the head-on compared to 40% for co-directional. Taken together we reveal TTR as a fragile class and show how the linear interaction between transcription and replication impacts genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Corazzi
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Bioscience, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vivien S Ionasz
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Bioscience, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Li-Chin Wang
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Athanasios Vouzas
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
- San Diego Biomedical Research Institute, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Marco Giaisi
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Giulia Di Muzio
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Bioscience, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Boyu Ding
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Bioscience, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna J M Marx
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Bioscience, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Henkenjohann
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Bioscience, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael M Allers
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David M Gilbert
- San Diego Biomedical Research Institute, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Pei-Chi Wei
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Faculty of Bioscience, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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17
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Chen P, Zhou J, Liu H, Zhou E, He B, Wu Y, Wang H, Sun Z, Paek C, Lei J, Chen Y, Zhang X, Yin L. Engineering of Cas12a nuclease variants with enhanced genome-editing specificity. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002514. [PMID: 38483978 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002514] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas12a system is a powerful tool in gene editing; however, crRNA-DNA mismatches might induce unwanted cleavage events, especially at the distal end of the PAM. To minimize this limitation, we engineered a hyper fidelity AsCas12a variant carrying the mutations S186A/R301A/T315A/Q1014A/K414A (termed HyperFi-As) by modifying amino acid residues interacting with the target DNA and crRNA strand. HyperFi-As retains on-target activities comparable to wild-type AsCas12a (AsCas12aWT) in human cells. We demonstrated that HyperFi-As has dramatically reduced off-target effects in human cells, and HyperFi-As possessed notably a lower tolerance to mismatch at the position of the PAM-distal region compared with the wild type. Further, a modified single-molecule DNA unzipping assay at proper constant force was applied to evaluate the stability and transient stages of the CRISPR/Cas ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. Multiple states were sensitively detected during the disassembly of the DNA-Cas12a-crRNA complexes. On off-target DNA substrates, the HyperFi-As-crRNA was harder to maintain the R-loop complex state compared to the AsCas12aWT, which could explain exactly why the HyperFi-As has low off-targeting effects in human cells. Our findings provide a novel version of AsCas12a variant with low off-target effects, especially capable of dealing with the high off-targeting in the distal region from the PAM. An insight into how the AsCas12a variant behaves at off-target sites was also revealed at the single-molecule level and the unzipping assay to evaluate multiple states of CRISPR/Cas RNP complexes might be greatly helpful for a deep understanding of how CRISPR/Cas behaves and how to engineer it in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Erchi Zhou
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Boxiao He
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yankang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongjian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zaiqiao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chonil Paek
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- The Faculty of Life Science, KIM IL SUNG University, Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongshun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinghua Zhang
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Department of Clinical Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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18
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Corazzi L, Ionasz V, Andrejev S, Wang LC, Vouzas A, Giaisi M, Di Muzio G, Ding B, Marx AJM, Henkenjohann J, Allers MM, Gilbert DM, Wei PC. Linear Interaction Between Replication and Transcription Shapes DNA Break Dynamics at Recurrent DNA Break Clusters. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.22.554340. [PMID: 37662334 PMCID: PMC10473677 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.22.554340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent DNA break clusters (RDCs) are replication-transcription collision hotspots; many are unique to neural progenitor cells. Through high-resolution replication sequencing and a capture-ligation assay in mouse neural progenitor cells experiencing replication stress, we unraveled the replication features dictating RDC location and orientation. Most RDCs occur at the replication forks traversing timing transition regions (TTRs), where sparse replication origins connect unidirectional forks. Leftward-moving forks generate telomere-connected DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), while rightward-moving forks lead to centromere-connected DSBs. Strand-specific mapping for DNA-bound RNA revealed co-transcriptional dual-strand DNA:RNA hybrids present at a higher density in RDC than in other actively transcribed long genes. In addition, mapping RNA polymerase activity revealed that head-to-head interactions between replication and transcription machinery resulted in 60% DSB contribution to the head-on compared to 40% for co-directional. Our findings revealed TTR as a novel fragile class and highlighted how the linear interaction between transcription and replication impacts genome stability.
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19
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Bischof J, Hierl M, Koller U. Emerging Gene Therapeutics for Epidermolysis Bullosa under Development. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2243. [PMID: 38396920 PMCID: PMC10889532 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042243] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The monogenetic disease epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is characterised by the formation of extended blisters and lesions on the patient's skin upon minimal mechanical stress. Causal for this severe condition are genetic mutations in genes, leading to the functional impairment, reduction, or absence of the encoded protein within the skin's basement membrane zone connecting the epidermis to the underlying dermis. The major burden of affected families justifies the development of long-lasting and curative therapies operating at the genomic level. The landscape of causal therapies for EB is steadily expanding due to recent breakthroughs in the gene therapy field, providing promising outcomes for patients suffering from this severe disease. Currently, two gene therapeutic approaches show promise for EB. The clinically more advanced gene replacement strategy was successfully applied in severe EB forms, leading to a ground-breaking in vivo gene therapy product named beremagene geperpavec (B-VEC) recently approved from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, the continuous innovations in both designer nucleases and gene editing technologies enable the efficient and potentially safe repair of mutations in EB in a potentially permanent manner, inspiring researchers in the field to define and reach new milestones in the therapy of EB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Bischof
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (J.B.); (M.H.)
| | - Markus Hierl
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (J.B.); (M.H.)
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ulrich Koller
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (J.B.); (M.H.)
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20
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Ye L, Lam SZ, Yang L, Suzuki K, Zou Y, Lin Q, Zhang Y, Clark P, Peng L, Chen S. AAV-mediated delivery of a Sleeping Beauty transposon and an mRNA-encoded transposase for the engineering of therapeutic immune cells. Nat Biomed Eng 2024; 8:132-148. [PMID: 37430157 PMCID: PMC11320892 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01058-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Engineering cells for adoptive therapy requires overcoming limitations in cell viability and, in the efficiency of transgene delivery, the duration of transgene expression and the stability of genomic integration. Here we report a gene-delivery system consisting of a Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposase encoded into a messenger RNA delivered by an adeno-associated virus (AAV) encoding an SB transposon that includes the desired transgene, for mediating the permanent integration of the transgene. Compared with lentiviral vectors and with the electroporation of plasmids of transposon DNA or minicircle DNA, the gene-delivery system, which we named MAJESTIC (for 'mRNA AAV-SB joint engineering of stable therapeutic immune cells'), offers prolonged transgene expression, as well as higher transgene expression, therapeutic-cell yield and cell viability. MAJESTIC can deliver chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) into T cells (which we show lead to strong anti-tumour activity in vivo) and also transduce natural killer cells, myeloid cells and induced pluripotent stem cells with bi-specific CARs, kill-switch CARs and synthetic T-cell receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lupeng Ye
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Stanley Z Lam
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Luojia Yang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics, and Development Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kazushi Suzuki
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yongji Zou
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Qianqian Lin
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yueqi Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paul Clark
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lei Peng
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sidi Chen
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA.
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA.
- Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics, and Development Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Immunobiology Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Yale Center for Biomedical Data Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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21
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Huang ME, Qin Y, Shang Y, Hao Q, Zhan C, Lian C, Luo S, Liu LD, Zhang S, Zhang Y, Wo Y, Li N, Wu S, Gui T, Wang B, Luo Y, Cai Y, Liu X, Xu Z, Dai P, Li S, Zhang L, Dong J, Wang J, Zheng X, Xu Y, Sun Y, Wu W, Yeap LS, Meng FL. C-to-G editing generates double-strand breaks causing deletion, transversion and translocation. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:294-304. [PMID: 38263276 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01342-2] [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: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Base editors (BEs) introduce base substitutions without double-strand DNA cleavage. Besides precise substitutions, BEs generate low-frequency 'stochastic' byproducts through unclear mechanisms. Here, we performed in-depth outcome profiling and genetic dissection, revealing that C-to-G BEs (CGBEs) generate substantial amounts of intermediate double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are at the centre of several byproducts. Imperfect DSB end-joining leads to small deletions via end-resection, templated insertions or aberrant transversions during end fill-in. Chromosomal translocations were detected between the editing target and off-targets of Cas9/deaminase origin. Genetic screenings of DNA repair factors disclosed a central role of abasic site processing in DSB formation. Shielding of abasic sites by the suicide enzyme HMCES reduced CGBE-initiated DSBs, providing an effective way to minimize DSB-triggered events without affecting substitutions. This work demonstrates that CGBEs can initiate deleterious intermediate DSBs and therefore require careful consideration for therapeutic applications, and that HMCES-aided CGBEs hold promise as safer tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Emma Huang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yining Qin
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yafang Shang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Hao
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuanzong Zhan
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chaoyang Lian
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Simin Luo
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liu Daisy Liu
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Senxin Zhang
- Department of Mathematics, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Wo
- Departments of Thoracic Surgery and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Niu Li
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuheng Wu
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Tuantuan Gui
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Binbin Wang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifeng Luo
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanni Cai
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojing Liu
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziye Xu
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Pengfei Dai
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Simiao Li
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Junchao Dong
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Wang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqi Zheng
- Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingjie Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihua Sun
- Departments of Thoracic Surgery and State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Leng-Siew Yeap
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fei-Long Meng
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Sci-Tech Inno Center for Infection & Immunity, Shanghai, China.
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22
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Toufikuzzaman M, Hassan Samee MA, Sohel Rahman M. CRISPR-DIPOFF: an interpretable deep learning approach for CRISPR Cas-9 off-target prediction. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbad530. [PMID: 38388680 PMCID: PMC10883906 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad530] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR Cas-9 is a groundbreaking genome-editing tool that harnesses bacterial defense systems to alter DNA sequences accurately. This innovative technology holds vast promise in multiple domains like biotechnology, agriculture and medicine. However, such power does not come without its own peril, and one such issue is the potential for unintended modifications (Off-Target), which highlights the need for accurate prediction and mitigation strategies. Though previous studies have demonstrated improvement in Off-Target prediction capability with the application of deep learning, they often struggle with the precision-recall trade-off, limiting their effectiveness and do not provide proper interpretation of the complex decision-making process of their models. To address these limitations, we have thoroughly explored deep learning networks, particularly the recurrent neural network based models, leveraging their established success in handling sequence data. Furthermore, we have employed genetic algorithm for hyperparameter tuning to optimize these models' performance. The results from our experiments demonstrate significant performance improvement compared with the current state-of-the-art in Off-Target prediction, highlighting the efficacy of our approach. Furthermore, leveraging the power of the integrated gradient method, we make an effort to interpret our models resulting in a detailed analysis and understanding of the underlying factors that contribute to Off-Target predictions, in particular the presence of two sub-regions in the seed region of single guide RNA which extends the established biological hypothesis of Off-Target effects. To the best of our knowledge, our model can be considered as the first model combining high efficacy, interpretability and a desirable balance between precision and recall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Toufikuzzaman
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh
| | - Md Abul Hassan Samee
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - M Sohel Rahman
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh
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23
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Lopes R, Prasad MK. Beyond the promise: evaluating and mitigating off-target effects in CRISPR gene editing for safer therapeutics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 11:1339189. [PMID: 38390600 PMCID: PMC10883050 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1339189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, CRISPR has revolutionized drug development due to its potential to cure genetic diseases that currently do not have any treatment. CRISPR was adapted from bacteria for gene editing in human cells in 2012 and, remarkably, only 11 years later has seen it's very first approval as a medicine for the treatment of sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. However, the application of CRISPR systems is associated with unintended off-target and on-target alterations (including small indels, and structural variations such as translocations, inversions and large deletions), which are a source of risk for patients and a vital concern for the development of safe therapies. In recent years, a wide range of methods has been developed to detect unwanted effects of CRISPR-Cas nuclease activity. In this review, we summarize the different methods for off-target assessment, discuss their strengths and limitations, and highlight strategies to improve the safety of CRISPR systems. Finally, we discuss their relevance and application for the pre-clinical risk assessment of CRISPR therapeutics within the current regulatory context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Lopes
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Centre Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Megana K Prasad
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Centre Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
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24
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Chiarle R, Cheong TC, Jang A, Wang Q, Leonardi G, Ricciuti B, Alessi J, Federico AD, Awad M, Lehtinen M, Harris M. Mechanistic patterns and clinical implications of oncogenic tyrosine kinase fusions in human cancers. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3782958. [PMID: 38313284 PMCID: PMC10836111 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3782958/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase (TK) fusions are frequently found in cancers, either as initiating events or as a mechanism of resistance to targeted therapy. Partner genes and exons in most TK fusions are typical and recurrent, but the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of these patterns are poorly understood. Here, we investigated structures of > 8,000 kinase fusions and explore their generative mechanisms by applying newly developed experimental framework integrating high-throughput genome-wide gene fusion sequencing and clonal selection called Functionally Active Chromosomal Translocation Sequencing (FACTS). We discovered that typical oncogenic TK fusions recurrently seen in patients are selected from large pools of chromosomal rearrangements spontaneously occurring in cells based on two major determinants: active transcription of the fusion partner genes and protein stability. In contrast, atypical TK fusions that are rarely seen in patients showed reduced protein stability, decreased downstream oncogenic signaling, and were less responsive to inhibition. Consistently, patients with atypical TK fusions were associated with a reduced response to TKI therapies, as well as a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to patients with typical TK fusions. These findings highlight the principles of oncogenic TK fusion formation and their selection in cancers, with clinical implications for guiding targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ahram Jang
- Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
| | - Qi Wang
- Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marian Harris
- Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
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25
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Liang Y, Yuan Q, Zheng Q, Mei Z, Song Y, Yan H, Yang J, Wu S, Yuan J, Wu W. DNA Damage Atlas: an atlas of DNA damage and repair. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:D1218-D1226. [PMID: 37831087 PMCID: PMC10767978 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA damage and its improper repair are the major source of genomic alterations responsible for many human diseases, particularly cancer. To aid researchers in understanding the underlying mechanisms of genome instability, a number of genome-wide profiling approaches have been developed to monitor DNA damage and repair events. The rapid accumulation of published datasets underscores the critical necessity of a comprehensive database to curate sequencing data on DNA damage and repair intermediates. Here, we present DNA Damage Atlas (DDA, http://www.bioinformaticspa.com/DDA/), the first large-scale repository of DNA damage and repair information. Currently, DDA comprises 6,030 samples from 262 datasets by 59 technologies, covering 16 species, 10 types of damage and 135 treatments. Data collected in DDA was processed through a standardized workflow, including quality checks, hotspots identification and a series of feature characterization for the hotspots. Notably, DDA encompasses analyses of highly repetitive regions, ribosomal DNA and telomere. DDA offers a user-friendly interface that facilitates browsing, searching, genome browser visualization, hotspots comparison and data downloading, enabling convenient and thorough exploration for datasets of interest. In summary, DDA will stand as a valuable resource for research in genome instability and its association with diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Qingqing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Qijie Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zilv Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yawei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Huan Yan
- GMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiajie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Shuheng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jiao Yuan
- GMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
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26
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Lee Y, Oh Y, Lee SH. Recent advances in genome engineering by CRISPR technology. BMB Rep 2024; 57:12-18. [PMID: 38053294 PMCID: PMC10828434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the development of CRISPR technology, the era of effective editing of target genes has arrived. However, the offtarget problem that occurs when recognizing target DNA due to the inherent nature of CRISPR components remains the biggest task to be overcome in the future. In this review, the principle of inducing such unintended off-target editing is analyzed from the structural aspect of CRISPR, and the methodology that has been developed to reduce off-target editing until now is summarized. [BMB Reports 2024; 57(1): 12-18].
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngsik Lee
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
| | - Yeounsun Oh
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Lee
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
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27
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Upreti A, Mukherjee S. Therapeutic Potential of CRISPR/Cas in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: A Comprehensive Review. Curr Gene Ther 2024; 24:179-192. [PMID: 38310457 DOI: 10.2174/0115665232266508231210154930] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a commonly occurring illness of autoimmune endocrine origin. It is usually present in the pediatric age group along with other well-known diseases, such as type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes. The defining feature of this disease is the immune-- mediated attack on the thyroid gland resulting in the destruction of thyroid tissues and cells. Given that HT frequently affects family members, it is well-recognized that individuals are genetically predisposed to this disease. Patients with HT also display a significantly increased risk for several different cancers, justifying the eminent need for the development of therapies for managing and treating HT. Gene editing has made several advancements in the field of molecular biology and has turned out to become a promising approach to correct several autoimmune diseases. Currently, CRISPR/Cas, a nuclease-based editing technique, is publicized as a promising tool for curing several genetic diseases and cancers. However, very limited research has been conducted as of now on autoimmune disease management and cure via CRISPR/Cas technique. This review provides an account of the potential candidate genes associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and only a few animal and human models have been generated via the CRISPR/Cas gene editing technique. Mouse models of autoimmune thyroiditis generated through the CRISPR/Cas gene editing technique by targeting the candidate genes will provide us with a deeper insight into the pathophysiology of HT and further pave the way for the immunomodulation of HT via gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apoorva Upreti
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Campus, Lucknow 226028, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sayali Mukherjee
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Campus, Lucknow 226028, Uttar Pradesh, India
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28
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Wang Y, Feng YL, Liu Q, Xiao JJ, Liu SC, Huang ZC, Xie AY. TREX2 enables efficient genome disruption mediated by paired CRISPR-Cas9 nickases that generate 3'-overhanging ends. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 34:102072. [PMID: 38028195 PMCID: PMC10661556 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.102072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Paired SpCas9 nickases (SpCas9n) are an effective strategy to reduce off-target effect in genome editing. However, this approach is not efficient with 3'-overhanging ends, limiting its applications. In order to expand the utility of paired SpCas9n in genome editing, we tested the effect of the TREX2 3'-5' exonuclease on repair of 3'-overhanging ends. We found ectopic overexpression of Trex2 stimulates the efficiency of paired SpCas9n in genome disruption with 3'-overhanging ends up to 400-fold with little stimulation of off-target editing. TREX2 overexpressed preferentially deletes entire 3' overhangs but has no significant effect on 5' overhangs. Trex2 overexpression also stimulates genome disruption by paired SpCas9n that potentially generate short 3'-overhanging ends at overlapping SpCas9n target sites, suggesting sequential nicking of overlapping target sites by SpCas9n. This approach is further simplified with improved efficiency and safety by fusion of TREX2 and particularly its DNA-binding-deficient mutant to SpCas9n. Junction analysis at overlapping targets revealed the different extent of end resection of 3' single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) by free TREX2 and TREX2 fused to SpCas9n. SpCas9n-TREX2 fusion is more convenient and safer than overexpression of free TREX2 to process 3'-overhanging ends for efficient genome disruption by paired SpCas9n, allowing practical use of this TREX2-based strategy in genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, P.R. China
- Hangzhou Qiantang Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, P.R. China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Li Feng
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, P.R. China
- Hangzhou Qiantang Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, P.R. China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, P.R. China
| | - Qian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, P.R. China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, P.R. China
| | - Jing-Jing Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, P.R. China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, P.R. China
| | - Si-Cheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, P.R. China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Cheng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, P.R. China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, P.R. China
| | - An-Yong Xie
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, P.R. China
- Hangzhou Qiantang Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, P.R. China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, P.R. China
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Wang J, Le Gall J, Frock RL, Strick TR. Shifted PAMs generate DNA overhangs and enhance SpCas9 post-catalytic complex dissociation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2023; 30:1707-1718. [PMID: 37828409 PMCID: PMC10643121 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01104-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Using Sanger sequencing and high-throughput genome sequencing of DNA cleavage reactions, we find that the Streptococcus pyogenes SpCas9 complex responds to internal mechanical strain by robustly generating a distribution of overhanging, rather than blunt, DNA ends. Internal mechanical strain is generated by shifting (increasing or decreasing) the spacing between the RNA-DNA hybrid and the downstream canonical PAM. Up to 2-base 3' overhangs can be robustly generated via a 2-base increase in the distance between hybrid and PAM. We also use single-molecule experiments to reconstruct the full course of the CRISPR-SpCas9 reaction in real-time, structurally and kinetically monitoring and quantifying R-loop formation, the first and second DNA-incision events, and dissociation of the post-catalytic complex. Complex dissociation and release of broken DNA ends is a rate-limiting step of the reaction, and shifted SpCas9 is sufficiently destabilized so as to rapidly dissociate after formation of broken DNA ends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglong Wang
- Institut Jacques Monod, Université de Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, Paris, France
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Julien Le Gall
- Institut de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Richard L Frock
- Programme « Equipe Labélisée » de la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Terence R Strick
- Institut de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, Paris, France.
- Programme « Equipe Labélisée » de la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Paris, France.
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30
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Barghouth PG, Melemenidis S, Montay-Gruel P, Ollivier J, Viswanathan V, Jorge PG, Soto LA, Lau BC, Sadeghi C, Edlabadkar A, Zhang R, Ru N, Baulch JE, Manjappa R, Wang J, Le Bouteiller M, Surucu M, Yu A, Bush K, Skinner L, Maxim PG, Loo BW, Limoli CL, Vozenin MC, Frock RL. FLASH-RT does not affect chromosome translocations and junction structures beyond that of CONV-RT dose-rates. Radiother Oncol 2023; 188:109906. [PMID: 37690668 PMCID: PMC10591966 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.109906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The impact of radiotherapy (RT) at ultra high vs conventional dose rate (FLASH vs CONV) on the generation and repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) is an important question that remains to be investigated. Here, we tested the hypothesis as to whether FLASH-RT generates decreased chromosomal translocations compared to CONV-RT. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used two FLASH validated electron beams and high-throughput rejoin and genome-wide translocation sequencing (HTGTS-JoinT-seq), employing S. aureus and S. pyogenes Cas9 "bait" DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) in HEK239T cells, to measure differences in bait-proximal repair and their genome-wide translocations to "prey" DSBs generated after various irradiation doses, dose rates and oxygen tensions (normoxic, 21% O2; physiological, 4% O2; hypoxic, 2% and 0.5% O2). Electron irradiation was delivered using a FLASH capable Varian Trilogy and the eRT6/Oriatron at CONV (0.08-0.13 Gy/s) and FLASH (1x102-5x106 Gy/s) dose rates. Related experiments using clonogenic survival and γH2AX foci in the 293T and the U87 glioblastoma lines were also performed to discern FLASH-RT vs CONV-RT DSB effects. RESULTS Normoxic and physioxic irradiation of HEK293T cells increased translocations at the cost of decreasing bait-proximal repair but were indistinguishable between CONV-RT and FLASH-RT. Although no apparent increase in chromosome translocations was observed with hypoxia-induced apoptosis, the combined decrease in oxygen tension with IR dose-rate modulation did not reveal significant differences in the level of translocations nor in their junction structures. Furthermore, RT dose rate modality on U87 cells did not change γH2AX foci numbers at 1- and 24-hours post-irradiation nor did this affect 293T clonogenic survival. CONCLUSION Irrespective of oxygen tension, FLASH-RT produces translocations and junction structures at levels and proportions that are indistinguishable from CONV-RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Barghouth
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stavros Melemenidis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Pierre Montay-Gruel
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Jonathan Ollivier
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vignesh Viswanathan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Patrik G Jorge
- Institute of Radiation Physics/CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Luis A Soto
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Brianna C Lau
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cheyenne Sadeghi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anushka Edlabadkar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Richard Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Ning Ru
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Janet E Baulch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Rakesh Manjappa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jinghui Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marie Le Bouteiller
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Murat Surucu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Amy Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Karl Bush
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lawrie Skinner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Peter G Maxim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Billy W Loo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Charles L Limoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Marie-Catherine Vozenin
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Richard L Frock
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Preta G. Development of New Genome Editing Tools for the Treatment of Hyperlipidemia. Cells 2023; 12:2466. [PMID: 37887310 PMCID: PMC10605581 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202466] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperlipidemia is a medical condition characterized by high levels of lipids in the blood. It is often associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. Traditional treatment approaches for hyperlipidemia involve lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, and the use of medications like statins. Recent advancements in genome editing technologies, including CRISPR-Cas9, have opened up new possibilities for the treatment of this condition. This review provides a general overview of the main target genes involved in lipid metabolism and highlights the progress made during recent years towards the development of new treatments for dyslipidemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Preta
- VU LSC-EMBL Partnership Institute for Genome Editing Technologies, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania;
- Institute of Biochemistry, Life Science Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
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32
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Newton MD, Losito M, Smith QM, Parnandi N, Taylor BJ, Akcakaya P, Maresca M, van Eijk P, Reed SH, Boulton SJ, King GA, Cuomo ME, Rueda DS. Negative DNA supercoiling induces genome-wide Cas9 off-target activity. Mol Cell 2023; 83:3533-3545.e5. [PMID: 37802026 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 is a powerful gene-editing technology; however, off-target activity remains an important consideration for therapeutic applications. We have previously shown that force-stretching DNA induces off-target activity and hypothesized that distortions of the DNA topology in vivo, such as negative DNA supercoiling, could reduce Cas9 specificity. Using single-molecule optical-tweezers, we demonstrate that negative supercoiling λ-DNA induces sequence-specific Cas9 off-target binding at multiple sites, even at low forces. Using an adapted CIRCLE-seq approach, we detect over 10,000 negative-supercoiling-induced Cas9 off-target double-strand breaks genome-wide caused by increased mismatch tolerance. We further demonstrate in vivo that directed local DNA distortion increases off-target activity in cells and that induced off-target events can be detected during Cas9 genome editing. These data demonstrate that Cas9 off-target activity is regulated by DNA topology in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that cellular processes, such as transcription and replication, could induce off-target activity at previously overlooked sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Newton
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK; Single Molecule Imaging, MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK; DSB Repair Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Marialucrezia Losito
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK; Single Molecule Imaging, MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK; Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB2 0AA, UK
| | - Quentin M Smith
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK; Single Molecule Imaging, MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - Nishita Parnandi
- DSB Repair Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Benjamin J Taylor
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB2 0AA, UK
| | - Pinar Akcakaya
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marcello Maresca
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Patrick van Eijk
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4AW, UK
| | - Simon H Reed
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4AW, UK
| | - Simon J Boulton
- DSB Repair Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Graeme A King
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | | | - David S Rueda
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK; Single Molecule Imaging, MRC-London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK.
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33
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Dai R, Zhu Y, Li Z, Qin L, Liu N, Liao S, Hao B. Three-way contact analysis characterizes the higher order organization of the Tcra locus. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:8987-9000. [PMID: 37534534 PMCID: PMC10516640 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad641] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The generation of highly diverse antigen receptors in T and B lymphocytes relies on V(D)J recombination. The enhancer Eα has been implicated in regulating the accessibility of Vα and Jα genes through long-range interactions during rearrangements of the T-cell antigen receptor gene Tcra. However, direct evidence for Eα physically mediating the interaction of Vα and Jα genes is still lacking. In this study, we utilized the 3C-HTGTS assay, a chromatin interaction technique based on 3C, to analyze the higher order chromatin structure of the Tcra locus. Our analysis revealed the presence of sufficient information in the 3C-HTGTS data to detect multiway contacts. Three-way contact analysis of the Tcra locus demonstrated the co-occurrence of the proximal Jα genes, Vα genes and Eα in CD4+CD8+ double-positive thymocytes. Notably, the INT2-TEAp loop emerged as a prominent structure likely to be responsible for bringing the proximal Jα genes and the Vα genes into proximity. Moreover, the enhancer Eα utilizes this loop to establish physical proximity with the proximal Vα gene region. This study provides insights into the higher order chromatin structure of the Tcra locus, shedding light on the spatial organization of chromatin and its impact on V(D)J recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Dai
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Yongchang Zhu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450003, China
| | - Zhaoqiang Li
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Litao Qin
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450003, China
| | - Nan Liu
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Shixiu Liao
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450003, China
| | - Bingtao Hao
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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34
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Kulcsár PI, Tálas A, Ligeti Z, Tóth E, Rakvács Z, Bartos Z, Krausz SL, Welker Á, Végi VL, Huszár K, Welker E. A cleavage rule for selection of increased-fidelity SpCas9 variants with high efficiency and no detectable off-targets. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5746. [PMID: 37717069 PMCID: PMC10505190 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41393-5] [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: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) has been employed as a genome engineering tool with a promising potential within therapeutics. However, its off-target effects present major safety concerns for applications requiring high specificity. Approaches developed to date to mitigate this effect, including any of the increased-fidelity (i.e., high-fidelity) SpCas9 variants, only provide efficient editing on a relatively small fraction of targets without detectable off-targets. Upon addressing this problem, we reveal a rather unexpected cleavability ranking of target sequences, and a cleavage rule that governs the on-target and off-target cleavage of increased-fidelity SpCas9 variants but not that of SpCas9-NG or xCas9. According to this rule, for each target, an optimal variant with matching fidelity must be identified for efficient cleavage without detectable off-target effects. Based on this insight, we develop here an extended set of variants, the CRISPRecise set, with increased fidelity spanning across a wide range, with differences in fidelity small enough to comprise an optimal variant for each target, regardless of its cleavability ranking. We demonstrate efficient editing with maximum specificity even on those targets that have not been possible in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter István Kulcsár
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Tálas
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Ligeti
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Eszter Tóth
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Rakvács
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsa Bartos
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sarah Laura Krausz
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Biospiral-2006 Ltd, Szeged, Hungary
- School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Welker
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Gene Design Ltd, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Vanessza Laura Végi
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Biospiral-2006 Ltd, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Huszár
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Gene Design Ltd, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ervin Welker
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary.
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35
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Adlat S, Vázquez Salgado AM, Lee M, Yin D, Wangensteen KJ. Emerging and potential use of CRISPR in human liver disease. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00538. [PMID: 37607734 PMCID: PMC10881897 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR is a gene editing tool adapted from naturally occurring defense systems from bacteria. It is a technology that is revolutionizing the interrogation of gene functions in driving liver disease, especially through genetic screens and by facilitating animal knockout and knockin models. It is being used in models of liver disease to identify which genes are critical for liver pathology, especially in genetic liver disease, hepatitis, and in cancer initiation and progression. It holds tremendous promise in treating human diseases directly by editing DNA. It could disable gene function in the case of expression of a maladaptive protein, such as blocking transthyretin as a therapy for amyloidosis, or to correct gene defects, such as restoring the normal functions of liver enzymes fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase or alpha-1 antitrypsin. It is also being studied for treatment of hepatitis B infection. CRISPR is an exciting, evolving technology that is facilitating gene characterization and discovery in liver disease and holds the potential to treat liver diseases safely and permanently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salah Adlat
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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36
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Dabiri H, Safarzadeh Kozani P, Habibi Anbouhi M, Mirzaee Godarzee M, Haddadi MH, Basiri M, Ziaei V, Sadeghizadeh M, Hajizadeh Saffar E. Site-specific transgene integration in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies. Biomark Res 2023; 11:67. [PMID: 37403182 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00509-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and natural killer (NK) cells are genetically engineered immune cells that can detect target antigens on the surface of target cells and eliminate them following adoptive transfer. Recent progress in CAR-based therapies has led to outstanding clinical success in certain patients with leukemias and lymphomas and offered therapeutic benefits to those resistant to conventional therapies. The universal approach to stable CAR transgene delivery into the T/NK cells is the use of viral particles. Such approaches mediate semi-random transgene insertions spanning the entire genome with a high preference for integration into sites surrounding highly-expressed genes and active loci. Regardless of the variable CAR expression level based on the integration site of the CAR transgene, foreign integrated DNA fragments may affect the neighboring endogenous genes and chromatin structure and potentially change a transduced T/NK cell behavior and function or even favor cellular transformation. In contrast, site-specific integration of CAR constructs using recent genome-editing technologies could overcome the limitations and disadvantages of universal random gene integration. Herein, we explain random and site-specific integration of CAR transgenes in CAR-T/NK cell therapies. Also, we tend to summarize the methods for site-specific integration as well as the clinical outcomes of certain gene disruptions or enhancements due to CAR transgene integration. Also, the advantages and limitations of using site-specific integration methods are discussed in this review. Ultimately, we will introduce the genomic safe harbor (GSH) standards and suggest some appropriate safety prospects for CAR integration in CAR-T/NK cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Dabiri
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pooria Safarzadeh Kozani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mohadeseh Mirzaee Godarzee
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mohsen Basiri
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahab Ziaei
- National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Sadeghizadeh
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ensiyeh Hajizadeh Saffar
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
- Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Technology Development Center (ATMP-TDC), Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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37
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Dabiri H, Safarzadeh Kozani P, Habibi Anbouhi M, Mirzaee Godarzee M, Haddadi MH, Basiri M, Ziaei V, Sadeghizadeh M, Hajizadeh Saffar E. Site-specific transgene integration in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies. Biomark Res 2023; 11:67. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1186/s40364-023-00509-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractChimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and natural killer (NK) cells are genetically engineered immune cells that can detect target antigens on the surface of target cells and eliminate them following adoptive transfer. Recent progress in CAR-based therapies has led to outstanding clinical success in certain patients with leukemias and lymphomas and offered therapeutic benefits to those resistant to conventional therapies. The universal approach to stable CAR transgene delivery into the T/NK cells is the use of viral particles. Such approaches mediate semi-random transgene insertions spanning the entire genome with a high preference for integration into sites surrounding highly-expressed genes and active loci. Regardless of the variable CAR expression level based on the integration site of the CAR transgene, foreign integrated DNA fragments may affect the neighboring endogenous genes and chromatin structure and potentially change a transduced T/NK cell behavior and function or even favor cellular transformation. In contrast, site-specific integration of CAR constructs using recent genome-editing technologies could overcome the limitations and disadvantages of universal random gene integration. Herein, we explain random and site-specific integration of CAR transgenes in CAR-T/NK cell therapies. Also, we tend to summarize the methods for site-specific integration as well as the clinical outcomes of certain gene disruptions or enhancements due to CAR transgene integration. Also, the advantages and limitations of using site-specific integration methods are discussed in this review. Ultimately, we will introduce the genomic safe harbor (GSH) standards and suggest some appropriate safety prospects for CAR integration in CAR-T/NK cell therapies.
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Tiwari PK, Ko TH, Dubey R, Chouhan M, Tsai LW, Singh HN, Chaubey KK, Dayal D, Chiang CW, Kumar S. CRISPR/Cas9 as a therapeutic tool for triple negative breast cancer: from bench to clinics. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1214489. [PMID: 37469704 PMCID: PMC10352522 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1214489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is a third-generation genome editing method that has revolutionized the world with its high throughput results. It has been used in the treatment of various biological diseases and infections. Various bacteria and other prokaryotes such as archaea also have CRISPR/Cas9 systems to guard themselves against bacteriophage. Reportedly, CRISPR/Cas9-based strategy may inhibit the growth and development of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) via targeting the potentially altered resistance genes, transcription, and epigenetic regulation. These therapeutic activities could help with the complex issues such as drug resistance which is observed even in TNBC. Currently, various methods have been utilized for the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 into the targeted cell such as physical (microinjection, electroporation, and hydrodynamic mode), viral (adeno-associated virus and lentivirus), and non-viral (liposomes and lipid nano-particles). Although different models have been developed to investigate the molecular causes of TNBC, but the lack of sensitive and targeted delivery methods for in-vivo genome editing tools limits their clinical application. Therefore, based on the available evidences, this review comprehensively highlighted the advancement, challenges limitations, and prospects of CRISPR/Cas9 for the treatment of TNBC. We also underscored how integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning could improve CRISPR/Cas9 strategies in TNBC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Kumar Tiwari
- Biological and Bio-Computational Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Sharda School of Basic Science and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Tin-Hsien Ko
- Department of Orthopedics, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Rajni Dubey
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Mandeep Chouhan
- Biological and Bio-Computational Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Sharda School of Basic Science and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Lung-Wen Tsai
- Department of Medicine Research, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Information Technology Office, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Data Science, College of Management, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Himanshu Narayan Singh
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Centre, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kundan Kumar Chaubey
- Division of Research and Innovation, School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Deen Dayal
- Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Chih-Wei Chiang
- Department of Orthopedics, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Biological and Bio-Computational Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Sharda School of Basic Science and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
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39
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Lu X, Jin H. A Review of CRISPR-Based Advances in Dermatological Diseases. Mol Diagn Ther 2023; 27:445-456. [PMID: 37041404 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-023-00642-5] [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: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) has revolutionized biomedical research by offering novel approaches to genetic and epigenetic manipulation. In dermatology, it has significantly promoted our understanding of complex diseases, and shown great potential in therapeutic applications. In this review, we introduce the adoption of CRISPR technology as a tool to study different types of skin disorders, including monogenic genodermatoses, inflammatory disorders, and cutaneous infections. We highlight the promising preclinical results of CRISPR-mediated treatment and important mechanic discoveries in investigative studies. Future opportunities and remaining challenges are also discussed. We predict that CRISPR will be more extensively used for dermatological research and even be accessible to patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Lu
- Department of Dermatology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Hongzhong Jin
- Department of Dermatology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases, Beijing, 100730, China.
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40
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Liang Z, Zhao L, Ye AY, Lin SG, Zhang Y, Guo C, Dai HQ, Ba Z, Alt FW. Contribution of the IGCR1 regulatory element and the 3' Igh CTCF-binding elements to regulation of Igh V(D)J recombination. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2306564120. [PMID: 37339228 PMCID: PMC10293834 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306564120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region exons are assembled in progenitor-B cells, from VH, D, and JH gene segments located in separate clusters across the Igh locus. RAG endonuclease initiates V(D)J recombination from a JH-based recombination center (RC). Cohesin-mediated extrusion of upstream chromatin past RC-bound RAG presents Ds for joining to JHs to form a DJH-RC. Igh has a provocative number and organization of CTCF-binding elements (CBEs) that can impede loop extrusion. Thus, Igh has two divergently oriented CBEs (CBE1 and CBE2) in the IGCR1 element between the VH and D/JH domains, over 100 CBEs across the VH domain convergent to CBE1, and 10 clustered 3'Igh-CBEs convergent to CBE2 and VH CBEs. IGCR1 CBEs segregate D/JH and VH domains by impeding loop extrusion-mediated RAG-scanning. Downregulation of WAPL, a cohesin unloader, in progenitor-B cells neutralizes CBEs, allowing DJH-RC-bound RAG to scan the VH domain and perform VH-to-DJH rearrangements. To elucidate potential roles of IGCR1-based CBEs and 3'Igh-CBEs in regulating RAG-scanning and elucidate the mechanism of the ordered transition from D-to-JH to VH-to-DJH recombination, we tested effects of inverting and/or deleting IGCR1 or 3'Igh-CBEs in mice and/or progenitor-B cell lines. These studies revealed that normal IGCR1 CBE orientation augments RAG-scanning impediment activity and suggest that 3'Igh-CBEs reinforce ability of the RC to function as a dynamic loop extrusion impediment to promote optimal RAG scanning activity. Finally, our findings indicate that ordered V(D)J recombination can be explained by a gradual WAPL downregulation mechanism in progenitor-B cells as opposed to a strict developmental switch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoyi Liang
- HHMI, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Lijuan Zhao
- HHMI, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Adam Yongxin Ye
- HHMI, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Sherry G. Lin
- HHMI, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- HHMI, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Chunguang Guo
- HHMI, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Hai-Qiang Dai
- HHMI, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Zhaoqing Ba
- HHMI, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Frederick W. Alt
- HHMI, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
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41
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Liang SQ, Liu P, Ponnienselvan K, Suresh S, Chen Z, Kramme C, Chatterjee P, Zhu LJ, Sontheimer EJ, Xue W, Wolfe SA. Genome-wide profiling of prime editor off-target sites in vitro and in vivo using PE-tag. Nat Methods 2023; 20:898-907. [PMID: 37156841 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-01859-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Prime editors have a broad range of potential research and clinical applications. However, methods to delineate their genome-wide editing activities have generally relied on indirect genome-wide editing assessments or the computational prediction of near-cognate sequences. Here we describe a genome-wide approach for the identification of potential prime editor off-target sites, which we call PE-tag. This method relies on the attachment or insertion of an amplification tag at sites of prime editor activity to allow their identification. PE-tag enables genome-wide profiling of off-target sites in vitro using extracted genomic DNA, in mammalian cell lines and in the adult mouse liver. PE-tag components can be delivered in a variety of formats for off-target site detection. Our studies are consistent with the high specificity previously described for prime editor systems, but we find that off-target editing rates are influenced by prime editing guide RNA design. PE-tag represents an accessible, rapid and sensitive approach for the genome-wide identification of prime editor activity and the evaluation of prime editor safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Qing Liang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Pengpeng Liu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Karthikeyan Ponnienselvan
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Sneha Suresh
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Zexiang Chen
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Pranam Chatterjee
- Wyss Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Wen Xue
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Scot A Wolfe
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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42
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Sherkatghanad Z, Abdar M, Charlier J, Makarenkov V. Using traditional machine learning and deep learning methods for on- and off-target prediction in CRISPR/Cas9: a review. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:bbad131. [PMID: 37080758 PMCID: PMC10199778 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9) is a popular and effective two-component technology used for targeted genetic manipulation. It is currently the most versatile and accurate method of gene and genome editing, which benefits from a large variety of practical applications. For example, in biomedicine, it has been used in research related to cancer, virus infections, pathogen detection, and genetic diseases. Current CRISPR/Cas9 research is based on data-driven models for on- and off-target prediction as a cleavage may occur at non-target sequence locations. Nowadays, conventional machine learning and deep learning methods are applied on a regular basis to accurately predict on-target knockout efficacy and off-target profile of given single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs). In this paper, we present an overview and a comparative analysis of traditional machine learning and deep learning models used in CRISPR/Cas9. We highlight the key research challenges and directions associated with target activity prediction. We discuss recent advances in the sgRNA-DNA sequence encoding used in state-of-the-art on- and off-target prediction models. Furthermore, we present the most popular deep learning neural network architectures used in CRISPR/Cas9 prediction models. Finally, we summarize the existing challenges and discuss possible future investigations in the field of on- and off-target prediction. Our paper provides valuable support for academic and industrial researchers interested in the application of machine learning methods in the field of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Sherkatghanad
- Departement d’Informatique, Universite du Quebec a Montreal, H2X 3Y7, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Moloud Abdar
- Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Deakin University, 3216, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Jeremy Charlier
- Departement d’Informatique, Universite du Quebec a Montreal, H2X 3Y7, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Vladimir Makarenkov
- Departement d’Informatique, Universite du Quebec a Montreal, H2X 3Y7, Montreal, QC, Canada
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43
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Zhang H, Yan J, Lu Z, Zhou Y, Zhang Q, Cui T, Li Y, Chen H, Ma L. Deep sampling of gRNA in the human genome and deep-learning-informed prediction of gRNA activities. Cell Discov 2023; 9:48. [PMID: 37193681 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00549-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Life science studies involving clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) editing generally apply the best-performing guide RNA (gRNA) for a gene of interest. Computational models are combined with massive experimental quantification on synthetic gRNA-target libraries to accurately predict gRNA activity and mutational patterns. However, the measurements are inconsistent between studies due to differences in the designs of the gRNA-target pair constructs, and there has not yet been an integrated investigation that concurrently focuses on multiple facets of gRNA capacity. In this study, we analyzed the DNA double-strand break (DSB)-induced repair outcomes and measured SpCas9/gRNA activities at both matched and mismatched locations using 926,476 gRNAs covering 19,111 protein-coding genes and 20,268 non-coding genes. We developed machine learning models to forecast the on-target cleavage efficiency (AIdit_ON), off-target cleavage specificity (AIdit_OFF), and mutational profiles (AIdit_DSB) of SpCas9/gRNA from a uniformly collected and processed dataset by deep sampling and massively quantifying gRNA capabilities in K562 cells. Each of these models exhibited superlative performance in predicting SpCas9/gRNA activities on independent datasets when benchmarked with previous models. A previous unknown parameter was also empirically determined regarding the "sweet spot" in the size of datasets used to establish an effective model to predict gRNA capabilities at a manageable experimental scale. In addition, we observed cell type-specific mutational profiles and were able to link nucleotidylexotransferase as the key factor driving these outcomes. These massive datasets and deep learning algorithms have been implemented into the user-friendly web service http://crispr-aidit.com to evaluate and rank gRNAs for life science studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Zhang
- Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- AIdit Therapeutics, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianfeng Yan
- Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- AIdit Therapeutics, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhike Lu
- Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yangfan Zhou
- Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | | | | | - Yini Li
- Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hui Chen
- AIdit Therapeutics, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lijia Ma
- Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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44
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Tang PZ, Ding B, Reyes C, Papp D, Potter J. Target-seq: single workflow for detection of genome integration site, DNA translocation and off-target events. Biotechniques 2023. [PMID: 37161298 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2023-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Designed donor DNA delivery through viral or nonviral systems to target loci in the host genome is a critical step for gene therapy. Adeno-associated virus and lentivirus are leading vehicles for in vivo and ex vivo delivery of therapeutic genes due to their high delivery and editing efficiency. Nonviral editing tools, such as CRISPR/Cas9, are getting more attention for gene modification. However, there are safety concerns; for example, tumorigenesis due to off-target effects and DNA rearrangement. Analysis tools to detect and characterize on-target and off-target genome modification post editing in the host genome are pivotal for evaluating the success and safety of gene therapy. We developed Target-seq combined with different analysis tools to detect the genome integration site, DNA translocation and off-target events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bo Ding
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., MA, USA
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45
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Jiménez C, Crosetto N. Discovering CRISPR-Cas off-target breaks. Nat Methods 2023; 20:641-642. [PMID: 37024652 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-01847-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicola Crosetto
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden.
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46
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Zou RS, Liu Y, Gaido OER, Konig MF, Mog BJ, Shen LL, Aviles-Vazquez F, Marin-Gonzalez A, Ha T. Improving the sensitivity of in vivo CRISPR off-target detection with DISCOVER-Seq. Nat Methods 2023; 20:706-713. [PMID: 37024653 PMCID: PMC10172116 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-01840-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: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Discovery of off-target CRISPR-Cas activity in patient-derived cells and animal models is crucial for genome editing applications, but currently exhibits low sensitivity. We demonstrate that inhibition of DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit accumulates the repair protein MRE11 at CRISPR-Cas-targeted sites, enabling high-sensitivity mapping of off-target sites to positions of MRE11 binding using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing. This technique, termed DISCOVER-Seq+, discovered up to fivefold more CRISPR off-target sites in immortalized cell lines, primary human cells and mice compared with previous methods. We demonstrate applicability to ex vivo knock-in of a cancer-directed transgenic T cell receptor in primary human T cells and in vivo adenovirus knock-out of cardiovascular risk gene PCSK9 in mice. Thus, DISCOVER-Seq+ is, to our knowledge, the most sensitive method to-date for discovering off-target genome editing in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger S Zou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Oscar E Reyes Gaido
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Maximilian F Konig
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brian J Mog
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Ludwig Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Leo L Shen
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Franklin Aviles-Vazquez
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alberto Marin-Gonzalez
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Taekjip Ha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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47
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Liang Z, Zhao L, Yongxin Ye A, Lin SG, Zhang Y, Guo C, Dai HQ, Ba Z, Alt FW. Contribution of the IGCR1 regulatory element and the 3 'Igh CBEs to Regulation of Igh V(D)J Recombination. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.21.537836. [PMID: 37163018 PMCID: PMC10168220 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.21.537836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region exons are assembled in progenitor-B cells, from V H , D, and J H gene segments located in separate clusters across the Igh locus. RAG endonuclease initiates V(D)J recombination from a J H -based recombination center (RC). Cohesin-mediated extrusion of upstream chromatin past RC-bound RAG presents Ds for joining to J H s to form a DJ H -RC. Igh has a provocative number and organization of CTCF-binding-elements (CBEs) that can impede loop extrusion. Thus, Igh has two divergently oriented CBEs (CBE1 and CBE2) in the IGCR1 element between the V H and D/J H domains, over 100 CBEs across the V H domain convergent to CBE1, and 10 clustered 3' Igh -CBEs convergent to CBE2 and V H CBEs. IGCR1 CBEs segregate D/J H and V H domains by impeding loop extrusion-mediated RAG-scanning. Down-regulation of WAPL, a cohesin unloader, in progenitor-B cells neutralizes CBEs, allowing DJ H -RC-bound RAG to scan the VH domain and perform VH-to-DJH rearrangements. To elucidate potential roles of IGCR1-based CBEs and 3' Igh -CBEs in regulating RAG-scanning and elucidate the mechanism of the "ordered" transition from D-to-J H to V H -to-DJ H recombination, we tested effects of deleting or inverting IGCR1 or 3' Igh -CBEs in mice and/or progenitor-B cell lines. These studies revealed that normal IGCR1 CBE orientation augments RAG-scanning impediment activity and suggest that 3' Igh -CBEs reinforce ability of the RC to function as a dynamic loop extrusion impediment to promote optimal RAG scanning activity. Finally, our findings indicate that ordered V(D)J recombination can be explained by a gradual WAPL down-regulation mechanism in progenitor B cells as opposed to a strict developmental switch. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To counteract diverse pathogens, vertebrates evolved adaptive immunity to generate diverse antibody repertoires through a B lymphocyte-specific somatic gene rearrangement process termed V(D)J recombination. Tight regulation of the V(D)J recombination process is vital to generating antibody diversity and preventing off-target activities that can predispose the oncogenic translocations. Recent studies have demonstrated V(D)J rearrangement is driven by cohesin-mediated chromatin loop extrusion, a process that establishes genomic loop domains by extruding chromatin, predominantly, between convergently-oriented CTCF looping factor-binding elements (CBEs). By deleting and inverting CBEs within a critical antibody heavy chain gene locus developmental control region and a loop extrusion chromatin-anchor at the downstream end of this locus, we reveal how these elements developmentally contribute to generation of diverse antibody repertoires.
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48
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Kraus C, Sontheimer EJ. Applications of Anti-CRISPR Proteins in Genome Editing and Biotechnology. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168120. [PMID: 37100169 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
In the ten years since the discovery of the first anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins, the number of validated Acrs has expanded rapidly, as has our understanding of the diverse mechanisms they employ to suppress natural CRISPR-Cas immunity. Many, though not all, function via direct, specific interaction with Cas protein effectors. The abilities of Acr proteins to modulate the activities and properties of CRISPR-Cas effectors have been exploited for an ever-increasing spectrum of biotechnological uses, most of which involve the establishment of control over genome editing systems. This control can be used to minimize off-target editing, restrict editing based on spatial, temporal, or conditional cues, limit the spread of gene drive systems, and select for genome-edited bacteriophages. Anti-CRISPRs have also been developed to overcome bacterial immunity, facilitate viral vector production, control synthetic gene circuits, and other purposes. The impressive and ever-growing diversity of Acr inhibitory mechanisms will continue to allow the tailored applications of Acrs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute; Program in Molecular Medicine, and; Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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49
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Wang Z, Han D, Wang H, Zheng M, Xu Y, Zhang H. Organic Semiconducting Nanoparticles for Biosensor: A Review. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13040494. [PMID: 37185569 PMCID: PMC10136359 DOI: 10.3390/bios13040494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Highly bio-compatible organic semiconductors are widely used as biosensors, but their long-term stability can be compromised due to photo-degradation and structural instability. To address this issue, scientists have developed organic semiconductor nanoparticles (OSNs) by incorporating organic semiconductors into a stable framework or self-assembled structure. OSNs have shown excellent performance and can be used as high-resolution biosensors in modern medical and biological research. They have been used for a wide range of applications, such as detecting small biological molecules, nucleic acids, and enzyme levels, as well as vascular imaging, tumor localization, and more. In particular, OSNs can simulate fine particulate matters (PM2.5, indicating particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm) and can be used to study the biodistribution, clearance pathways, and health effects of such particles. However, there are still some problems that need to be solved, such as toxicity, metabolic mechanism, and fluorescence intensity. In this review, based on the structure and design strategies of OSNs, we introduce various types of OSNs-based biosensors with functional groups used as biosensors and discuss their applications in both in vitro and in vivo tracking. Finally, we also discuss the design strategies and potential future trends of OSNs-based biosensors. This review provides a theoretical scaffold for the design of high-performance OSNs-based biosensors and highlights important trends and future directions for their development and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics of Ministry of Education/Shandong Province (QUST), School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 53-Zhengzhou Road, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Dongyang Han
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hongzhen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics of Ministry of Education/Shandong Province (QUST), School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 53-Zhengzhou Road, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Meng Zheng
- R&D Center of Polymer Materials, Qingdao Haiwan Science and Technology Industry Research Institute Co., Ltd. (HWSTI), Qingdao Haiwan Chemistry Co., Ltd. (QHCC), Qingdao, 266061, China
| | - Yanyi Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Haichang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics of Ministry of Education/Shandong Province (QUST), School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 53-Zhengzhou Road, Qingdao 266042, China
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50
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Marinov GK, Kim SH, Bagdatli ST, Higashino SI, Trevino AE, Tycko J, Wu T, Bintu L, Bassik MC, He C, Kundaje A, Greenleaf WJ. CasKAS: direct profiling of genome-wide dCas9 and Cas9 specificity using ssDNA mapping. Genome Biol 2023; 24:85. [PMID: 37085898 PMCID: PMC10120127 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02930-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Detecting and mitigating off-target activity is critical to the practical application of CRISPR-mediated genome and epigenome editing. While numerous methods have been developed to map Cas9 binding specificity genome-wide, they are generally time-consuming and/or expensive, and not applicable to catalytically dead CRISPR enzymes. We have developed CasKAS, a rapid, inexpensive, and facile assay for identifying off-target CRISPR enzyme binding and cleavage by chemically mapping the unwound single-stranded DNA structures formed upon binding of a sgRNA-loaded Cas9 protein. We demonstrate this method in both in vitro and in vivo contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgi K Marinov
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Samuel H Kim
- Cancer Biology Program, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - S Tansu Bagdatli
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Soon Il Higashino
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Alexandro E Trevino
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Josh Tycko
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Tong Wu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Lacramioara Bintu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Michael C Bassik
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Chemistry, Engineering, and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Chuan He
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Anshul Kundaje
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - William J Greenleaf
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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