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Li G, Dong X, Luo J, Yuan T, Li T, Zhao G, Zhang H, Zhou J, Zeng Z, Cui S, Wang H, Wang Y, Yu Y, Yuan Y, Zuo E, Xu C, Huang J, Zhou Y. Engineering TadA ortholog-derived cytosine base editor without motif preference and adenosine activity limitation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8090. [PMID: 39284833 PMCID: PMC11405849 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52485-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The engineered TadA variants used in cytosine base editors (CBEs) present distinctive advantages, including a smaller size and fewer off-target effects compared to cytosine base editors that rely on natural deaminases. However, the current TadA variants demonstrate a preference for base editing in DNA with specific motif sequences and possess dual deaminase activity, acting on both cytosine and adenosine in adjacent positions, limiting their application scope. To address these issues, we employ TadA orthologs screening and multi sequence alignment (MSA)-guided protein engineering techniques to create a highly effective cytosine base editor (aTdCBE) without motif and adenosine deaminase activity limitations. Notably, the delivery of aTdCBE to a humanized mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) mice achieves robust exon 55 skipping and restoration of dystrophin expression. Our advancement in engineering TadA ortholog for cytosine editing enriches the base editing toolkits for gene-editing therapy and other potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoling Li
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Xue Dong
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Jiamin Luo
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Tanglong Yuan
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tong Li
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Guoli Zhao
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Hainan Zhang
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Jingxing Zhou
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Zhenhai Zeng
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Shuna Cui
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Haoqiang Wang
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Yin Wang
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Yuyang Yu
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Erwei Zuo
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
| | | | - Jinhai Huang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Yingsi Zhou
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200131, China.
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Zhang G, Song Z, Huang S, Wang Y, Sun J, Qiao L, Li G, Feng Y, Han W, Tang J, Chen Y, Huang X, Liu F, Wang X, Liu J. nCas9 Engineering for Improved Target Interaction Presents an Effective Strategy to Enhance Base Editing. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2405426. [PMID: 38881503 PMCID: PMC11336945 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202405426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Base editors (BEs) are a recent generation of genome editing tools that couple a cytidine or adenosine deaminase activity to a catalytically impaired Cas9 moiety (nCas9) to enable specific base conversions at the targeted genomic loci. Given their strong application potential, BEs are under active developments toward greater levels of efficiency and safety. Here, a previously overlooked nCas9-centric strategy is explored for enhancement of BE. Based on a cytosine BE (CBE), 20 point mutations associated with nCas9-target interaction are tested. Subsequently, from the initial positive X-to-arginine hits, combinatorial modifications are applied to establish further enhanced CBE variants (1.1-1.3). Parallel nCas9 modifications in other versions of CBEs including A3A-Y130F-BE4max, YEE-BE4max, CGBE, and split-AncBE4max, as well as in the context of two adenine BEs (ABE), likewise enhance their respective activities. The same strategy also substantially improves the efficiencies of high-fidelity nCas9/BEs. Further evidence confirms that the stabilization of nCas9-substrate interactions underlies the enhanced BE activities. In support of their translational potential, the engineered CBE and ABE variants respectively enable 82% and 25% higher rates of editing than the controls in primary human T-cells. This study thus demonstrates a highly adaptable strategy for enhancing BE, and for optimizing other forms of Cas9-derived tools.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ziguo Song
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio‐BreedingMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi ProvinceCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxi712100China
| | | | - Yafeng Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical SchoolNanjing UniversityNanjing210008China
| | - Jiayuan Sun
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio‐BreedingMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi ProvinceCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxi712100China
| | - Lu Qiao
- Zhejiang LabHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Guanglei Li
- Gene Editing CenterSchool of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech University100 Haike Rd., Pudong New AreaShanghai201210China
| | | | - Wei Han
- Zhejiang LabHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Jin Tang
- Zhejiang LabHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Yulin Chen
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio‐BreedingMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi ProvinceCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxi712100China
| | | | - Furui Liu
- Zhejiang LabHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio‐BreedingMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi ProvinceCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxi712100China
| | - Jianghuai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease StudyModel Animal Research Center at Medical School of Nanjing UniversityNanjing210061China
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3
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Tong H, Wang H, Wang X, Liu N, Li G, Wu D, Li Y, Jin M, Li H, Wei Y, Li T, Yuan Y, Shi L, Yao X, Zhou Y, Yang H. Development of deaminase-free T-to-S base editor and C-to-G base editor by engineered human uracil DNA glycosylase. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4897. [PMID: 38851742 PMCID: PMC11162499 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49343-5] [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: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA base editors enable direct editing of adenine (A), cytosine (C), or guanine (G), but there is no base editor for direct thymine (T) editing currently. Here we develop two deaminase-free glycosylase-based base editors for direct T editing (gTBE) and C editing (gCBE) by fusing Cas9 nickase (nCas9) with engineered human uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG) variants. By several rounds of structure-informed rational mutagenesis on UNG in cultured human cells, we obtain gTBE and gCBE with high activity of T-to-S (i.e., T-to-C or T-to-G) and C-to-G conversions, respectively. Furthermore, we conduct parallel comparison of gTBE/gCBE with those recently developed using other protein engineering strategies, and find gTBE/gCBE show the outperformance. Thus, we provide several base editors, gTBEs and gCBEs, with corresponding engineered UNG variants, broadening the targeting scope of base editors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huawei Tong
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China.
| | | | - Xuchen Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nana Liu
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Guoling Li
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Danni Wu
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Li
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Jin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hengbin Li
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Yinghui Wei
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- School of Future Technology on Bio-Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tong Li
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Linyu Shi
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan Yao
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Yingsi Zhou
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China.
| | - Hui Yang
- HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China.
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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4
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Eghbalsaied S, Lawler C, Petersen B, Hajiyev RA, Bischoff SR, Frankenberg S. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated base editors and their prospects for mitochondrial genome engineering. Gene Ther 2024; 31:209-223. [PMID: 38177342 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-023-00434-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Base editors are a type of double-stranded break (DSB)-free gene editing technology that has opened up new possibilities for precise manipulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This includes cytosine and adenosine base editors and more recently guanosine base editors. Because of having low off-target and indel rates, there is a growing interest in developing and evolving this research field. Here, we provide a detailed update on DNA base editors. While base editing has widely been used for nuclear genome engineering, the growing interest in applying this technology to mitochondrial DNA has been faced with several challenges. While Cas9 protein has been shown to enter mitochondria, use of smaller Cas proteins, such as Cas12a, has higher import efficiency. However, sgRNA transfer into mitochondria is the most challenging step. sgRNA structure and ratio of Cas protein to sgRNA are both important factors for efficient sgRNA entry into mitochondria. In conclusion, while there are still several challenges to be addressed, ongoing research in this field holds the potential for new treatments and therapies for mitochondrial disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahin Eghbalsaied
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Animal Science, Isfahan Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Isfahan, Iran.
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Clancy Lawler
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Björn Petersen
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Mariensee, Germany
- eGenesis, 2706 HWY E, 53572, Mount Horeb, WI, USA
| | - Raul A Hajiyev
- Department of Genome Engineering, NovoHelix, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Steve R Bischoff
- Department of Genome Engineering, NovoHelix, Miami, FL, USA
- Foundry for Genome Engineering & Reproductive Medicine (FGERM), Miami, FL, USA
| | - Stephen Frankenberg
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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5
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Piñón Hofbauer J, Guttmann-Gruber C, Wally V, Sharma A, Gratz IK, Koller U. Challenges and progress related to gene editing in rare skin diseases. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 208:115294. [PMID: 38527624 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115294] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Genodermatoses represent a large group of inherited skin disorders encompassing clinically-heterogeneous conditions that manifest in the skin and other organs. Depending on disease variant, associated clinical manifestations and secondary complications can severely impact patients' quality of life and currently available treatments are transient and not curative. Multiple emerging approaches using CRISPR-based technologies offer promising prospects for therapy. Here, we explore current advances and challenges related to gene editing in rare skin diseases, including different strategies tailored to mutation type and structural organization of the affected gene, considerations for in vivo and ex vivo applications, the critical issue of delivery into the skin, and immune aspects of therapy. Against the backdrop of a landmark FDA approval for the first re-dosable gene replacement therapy for a rare genetic skin disorder, gene editing approaches are inching closer to the clinics and the possibility of a local permanent cure for patients affected by these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefina Piñón Hofbauer
- 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
| | - Christina Guttmann-Gruber
- 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
| | - Verena Wally
- 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
| | - Anshu Sharma
- 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; Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Iris K Gratz
- 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; Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology, 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.
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6
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He Y, Zhou X, Chang C, Chen G, Liu W, Li G, Fan X, Sun M, Miao C, Huang Q, Ma Y, Yuan F, Chang X. Protein language models-assisted optimization of a uracil-N-glycosylase variant enables programmable T-to-G and T-to-C base editing. Mol Cell 2024; 84:1257-1270.e6. [PMID: 38377993 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.01.021] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Current base editors (BEs) use DNA deaminases, including cytidine deaminase in cytidine BE (CBE) or adenine deaminase in adenine BE (ABE), to facilitate transition nucleotide substitutions. Combining CBE or ABE with glycosylase enzymes can induce limited transversion mutations. Nonetheless, a critical demand remains for BEs capable of generating alternative mutation types, such as T>G corrections. In this study, we leveraged pre-trained protein language models to optimize a uracil-N-glycosylase (UNG) variant with altered specificity for thymines (eTDG). Notably, after two rounds of testing fewer than 50 top-ranking variants, more than 50% exhibited over 1.5-fold enhancement in enzymatic activities. When eTDG was fused with nCas9, it induced programmable T-to-S (G/C) substitutions and corrected db/db diabetic mutation in mice (up to 55%). Our findings not only establish orthogonal strategies for developing novel BEs but also demonstrate the capacities of protein language models for optimizing enzymes without extensive task-specific training data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan He
- Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai 200433, China; School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Xibin Zhou
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Chong Chang
- School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Ge Chen
- School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Weikuan Liu
- Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai 200433, China; School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Geng Li
- School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Xiaoqi Fan
- School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Mingsun Sun
- School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Chensi Miao
- School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Qianyue Huang
- School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Yunqing Ma
- School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Fajie Yuan
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China.
| | - Xing Chang
- School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Research Center for Industries of the Future (RCIF), Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Westlake Center for Genome Editing, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China.
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7
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Bamidele N, Zhang H, Dong X, Cheng H, Gaston N, Feinzig H, Cao H, Kelly K, Watts JK, Xie J, Gao G, Sontheimer EJ. Domain-inlaid Nme2Cas9 adenine base editors with improved activity and targeting scope. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1458. [PMID: 38368418 PMCID: PMC10874451 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45763-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Nme2Cas9 has been established as a genome editing platform with compact size, high accuracy, and broad targeting range, including single-AAV-deliverable adenine base editors. Here, we engineer Nme2Cas9 to further increase the activity and targeting scope of compact Nme2Cas9 base editors. We first use domain insertion to position the deaminase domain nearer the displaced DNA strand in the target-bound complex. These domain-inlaid Nme2Cas9 variants exhibit shifted editing windows and increased activity in comparison to the N-terminally fused Nme2-ABE. We next expand the editing scope by swapping the Nme2Cas9 PAM-interacting domain with that of SmuCas9, which we had previously defined as recognizing a single-cytidine PAM. We then use these enhancements to introduce therapeutically relevant edits in a variety of cell types. Finally, we validate domain-inlaid Nme2-ABEs for single-AAV delivery in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Bamidele
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Han Zhang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | | | - Haoyang Cheng
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Nicholas Gaston
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Hailey Feinzig
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Hanbing Cao
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan K Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Massachusetts, MA, 01605, USA.
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8
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Lee JM, Zeng J, Liu P, Nguyen MA, Loustaunau DS, Bauer DE, Yilmaz NK, Wolfe SA, Schiffer CA. Direct delivery of stabilized Cas-embedded base editors achieves efficient and accurate editing of clinically relevant targets. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.08.579528. [PMID: 38370706 PMCID: PMC10871342 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.08.579528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Over the last 5 years, cytosine base editors (CBEs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic tool for specific editing of single nucleotide variants and disrupting specific genes associated with disease. Despite this promise, the currently available CBE's have the significant liabilities of off-target and bystander editing activities, in part due to the mechanism by which they are delivered, causing limitations in their potential applications. In this study we engineeredhighly stabilized Cas-embedded CBEs (sCE_CBEs) that integrate several recent advances, andthat are highly expressible and soluble for direct delivery into cells as ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. Our resulting sCE_CBE RNP complexes efficiently and specifically target TC dinucleotides with minimal off-target or bystander mutations. Additional uracil glycosylase inhibitor (UGI) protein in trans further increased C-to-T editing efficiency and target purity in a dose-dependent manner, minimizing indel formation to untreated levels. A single electroporation was sufficient to effectively edit the therapeutically relevant locus for sickle cell disease in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) in a dose dependent manner without cellular toxicity. Significantly, these sCE_CBE RNPs permitted for the transplantation of edited HSPCs confirming highly efficient editing in engrafting hematopoietic stem cells in mice. The success of the designed sCBE editors, with improved solubility and enhanced on-target editing, demonstrates promising agents for cytosine base editing at other disease-related sites in HSPCs and other cell types.
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9
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Sun Y, Chen Q, Cheng Y, Wang X, Deng Z, Zhou F, Sun Y. Design and Engineering of Light-Induced Base Editors Facilitating Genome Editing with Enhanced Fidelity. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2305311. [PMID: 38039441 PMCID: PMC10837352 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Base editors, which enable targeted locus nucleotide conversion in genomic DNA without double-stranded breaks, have been engineered as powerful tools for biotechnological and clinical applications. However, the application of base editors is limited by their off-target effects. Continuously expressed deaminases used for gene editing may lead to unwanted base alterations at unpredictable genomic locations. In the present study, blue-light-activated base editors (BLBEs) are engineered based on the distinct photoswitches magnets that can switch from a monomer to dimerization state in response to blue light. By fusing the N- and C-termini of split DNA deaminases with photoswitches Magnets, efficient A-to-G and C-to-T base editing is achieved in response to blue light in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, the results showed that BLBEs can realize precise blue light-induced gene editing across broad genomic loci with low off-target activity at the DNA- and RNA-level. Collectively, these findings suggest that the optogenetic utilization of base editing and optical base editors may provide powerful tools to promote the development of optogenetic genome engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangning Sun
- Department of HematologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education)Wuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of HematologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education)Wuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Yanbing Cheng
- Department of HematologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education)Wuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of HematologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education)Wuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Zixin Deng
- Department of HematologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education)Wuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Fuling Zhou
- Department of HematologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Yuhui Sun
- Department of HematologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education)Wuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
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10
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Tang N, Wu Z, Gao Y, Chen W, Wang Z, Su M, Ji W, Ji Q. Molecular Basis and Genome Editing Applications of a Compact Eubacterium ventriosum CRISPR-Cas9 System. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:269-281. [PMID: 38061052 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00501] [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] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 systems have been widely harnessed for diverse genome editing applications because of their ease of use and high efficiency. However, the large molecular sizes and strict PAM requirements of commonly used CRISPR-Cas9 systems restrict their broad applications in therapeutics. Here, we report the molecular basis and genome editing applications of a novel compact type II-A Eubacterium ventriosum CRISPR-Cas9 system (EvCas9) with 1107 residues and distinct 5'-NNGDGN-3' (where D represents A, T, or G) PAM specificity. We determine the cryo-EM structure of EvCas9 in a complex with an sgRNA and a target DNA, revealing the detailed PAM recognition and sgRNA and target DNA association mechanisms. Additionally, we demonstrate the robust genome editing capacity of EvCas9 in bacteria and human cells with superior fidelity compared to SaCas9 and SpCas9, and we engineer it to be efficient base editors by fusing a cytidine or adenosine deaminase. Collectively, our results facilitate further understanding of CRISPR-Cas9 working mechanisms and expand the compact CRISPR-Cas9 toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Tang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zhaowei Wu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Weizhong Chen
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zixiao Wang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Mengjiao Su
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Wenxin Ji
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Quanjiang Ji
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai 201210, China
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11
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Li WK, Zhang SQ, Peng WL, Shi YH, Yuan B, Yuan YT, Xue ZY, Wang JC, Han WJ, Chen ZF, Shan SF, Xue BQ, Chen JL, Zhang C, Zhu SJ, Tai YL, Cheng TL, Qiu ZL. Whole-brain in vivo base editing reverses behavioral changes in Mef2c-mutant mice. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:116-128. [PMID: 38012399 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01499-x] [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: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Whole-brain genome editing to correct single-base mutations and reduce or reverse behavioral changes in animal models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has not yet been achieved. We developed an apolipoprotein B messenger RNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-embedded cytosine base editor (AeCBE) system for converting C·G to T·A base pairs. We demonstrate its effectiveness by targeting AeCBE to an ASD-associated mutation of the MEF2C gene (c.104T>C, p.L35P) in vivo in mice. We first constructed Mef2cL35P heterozygous mice. Male heterozygous mice exhibited hyperactivity, repetitive behavior and social abnormalities. We then programmed AeCBE to edit the mutated C·G base pairs of Mef2c in the mouse brain through the intravenous injection of blood-brain barrier-crossing adeno-associated virus. This treatment successfully restored Mef2c protein levels in several brain regions and reversed the behavioral abnormalities in Mef2c-mutant mice. Our work presents an in vivo base-editing paradigm that could potentially correct single-base genetic mutations in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ke Li
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital & MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Qian Zhang
- Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wan-Ling Peng
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Han Shi
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Yuan
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Ting Yuan
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital & MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Xue
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-Cheng Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Jian Han
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital & MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Fang Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shi-Fang Shan
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Bi-Qing Xue
- Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-Long Chen
- Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Jia Zhu
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Lin Tai
- Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tian-Lin Cheng
- Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zi-Long Qiu
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital & MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Clinical Neuroscience Center, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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12
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Gebhardt CM, Niopek D. Anti-CRISPR Proteins and Their Application to Control CRISPR Effectors in Mammalian Systems. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2774:205-231. [PMID: 38441767 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3718-0_14] [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] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas effectors are powerful tools for genome and transcriptome targeting and editing. Naturally, these protein-RNA complexes are part of the microbial innate immune system, which emerged from the evolutionary arms race between microbes and phages. This coevolution has also given rise to so-called anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins that counteract the CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity. Acrs constitutively block cognate CRISPR-Cas effectors, e.g., by interfering with guide RNA binding, target DNA/RNA recognition, or target cleavage. In addition to their important role in microbiology and evolution, Acrs have recently gained particular attention for being useful tools and switches to regulate or fine-tune the activity of CRISPR-Cas effectors. Due to their commonly small size, high inhibition potency, and structural and mechanistic versatility, Acrs offer a wide range of potential applications for controlling CRISPR effectors in heterologous systems, including mammalian cells.Here, we review the diverse applications of Acrs in mammalian cells and organisms and discuss the underlying engineering strategies. These applications include (i) persistent blockage of CRISPR-Cas function to create write-protected cells, (ii) reduction of CRISPR-Cas off-target editing, (iii) focusing CRISPR-Cas activity to specific cell types and tissues, (iv) spatiotemporal control of CRISPR effectors based on engineered, opto-, or chemogenetic Acrs, and (v) the use of Acrs for selective binding and detection of CRISPR-Cas effectors in complex samples. We will also highlight potential future applications of Acrs in a biomedical context and point out present challenges that need to be overcome on the way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Maja Gebhardt
- Centre for Synthetic Biology, Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Dominik Niopek
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB), Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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13
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Han W, Qiu HY, Sun S, Fu ZC, Wang GQ, Qian X, Wang L, Zhai X, Wei J, Wang Y, Guo YL, Cao GH, Ji RJ, Zhang YZ, Ma H, Wang H, Zhao M, Wu J, Bi L, Chen QB, Li Z, Yu L, Mou X, Yin H, Yang L, Chen J, Yang B, Zhang Y. Base editing of the HBG promoter induces potent fetal hemoglobin expression with no detectable off-target mutations in human HSCs. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:1624-1639.e8. [PMID: 37989316 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.10.007] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Reactivating silenced γ-globin expression through the disruption of repressive regulatory domains offers a therapeutic strategy for treating β-hemoglobinopathies. Here, we used transformer base editor (tBE), a recently developed cytosine base editor with no detectable off-target mutations, to disrupt transcription-factor-binding motifs in hematopoietic stem cells. By performing functional screening of six motifs with tBE, we found that directly disrupting the BCL11A-binding motif in HBG1/2 promoters triggered the highest γ-globin expression. Via a side-by-side comparison with other clinical and preclinical strategies using Cas9 nuclease or conventional BEs (ABE8e and hA3A-BE3), we found that tBE-mediated disruption of the BCL11A-binding motif at the HBG1/2 promoters triggered the highest fetal hemoglobin in healthy and β-thalassemia patient hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells while exhibiting no detectable DNA or RNA off-target mutations. Durable therapeutic editing by tBE persisted in repopulating hematopoietic stem cells, demonstrating that tBE-mediated editing in HBG1/2 promoters is a safe and effective strategy for treating β-hemoglobinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Han
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hou-Yuan Qiu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Shangwu Sun
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zhi-Can Fu
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Center for Molecular Medicine, Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Guo-Quan Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xiaowen Qian
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Lijie Wang
- CorrectSequence Therapeutics, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiaowen Zhai
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Jia Wei
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yichuan Wang
- CorrectSequence Therapeutics, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yi-Lin Guo
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Guo-Hua Cao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Rui-Jin Ji
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yi-Zhou Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hongxia Ma
- CorrectSequence Therapeutics, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hongsheng Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Mingli Zhao
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Lili Bi
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Qiu-Bing Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zifeng Li
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Ling Yu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Xiaodun Mou
- CorrectSequence Therapeutics, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hao Yin
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Pathology and Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; TaiKang Centre for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Yang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Jia Chen
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Biomacromolecules and Precision Medicine, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Bei Yang
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Biomacromolecules and Precision Medicine, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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14
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Zhang M, Zhu Z, Xun G, Zhao H. To Cut or not to Cut: Next-generation Genome Editors for Precision Genome Engineering. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2023; 28:100489. [PMID: 37593347 PMCID: PMC10430874 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2023.100489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Since the original report of repurposing the CRISPR/Cas9 system for genome engineering, the past decade has witnessed profound improvement in our ability to efficiently manipulate the mammalian genome. However, significant challenges lie ahead that hinder the translation of CRISPR-based gene editing technologies into safe and effective therapeutics. The CRISPR systems often have a limited target scope due to PAM restrictions, and the off-target activity also poses serious risks for therapeutic applications. Moreover, the first-generation genome editors typically achieve desired genomic modifications by inducing double-strand breaks (DSBs) at target site(s). Despite being highly efficient, this "cut and fix" strategy is less favorable in clinical settings due to drawbacks associated with the nuclease-induced DSBs. In this review, we focus on recent advances that help address these challenges, including the engineering and discovery of novel CRISPR/Cas systems with improved functionalities and the development of DSB-free genome editors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Zhixin Zhu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Guanhua Xun
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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15
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Yuan B, Zhang S, Song L, Chen J, Cao J, Qiu J, Qiu Z, Chen J, Zhao XM, Cheng TL. Engineering of cytosine base editors with DNA damage minimization and editing scope diversification. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:e105. [PMID: 37843111 PMCID: PMC10639057 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad855] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytosine base editors (CBEs), which enable precise C-to-T substitutions, have been restricted by potential safety risks, including DNA off-target edits, RNA off-target edits and additional genotoxicity such as DNA damages induced by double-strand breaks (DSBs). Though DNA and RNA off-target edits have been ameliorated via various strategies, evaluation and minimization of DSB-associated DNA damage risks for most CBEs remain to be resolved. Here we demonstrate that YE1, an engineered CBE variant with minimized DNA and RNA off-target edits, could induce prominent DSB-associated DNA damage risks, manifested as γH2AX accumulation in human cells. We then perform deaminase engineering for two deaminases lamprey LjCDA1 and human APOBEC3A, and generate divergent CBE variants with eliminated DSB-associated DNA damage risks, in addition to minimized DNA/RNA off-target edits. Furthermore, the editing scopes and sequence preferences of APOBEC3A-derived CBEs could be further diversified by internal fusion strategy. Taken together, this study provides updated evaluation platform for DSB-associated DNA damage risks of CBEs and further generates a series of safer toolkits with diversified editing signatures to expand their applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yuan
- Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Shuqian Zhang
- Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji’nan 250012, China
| | - Liting Song
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Jinlong Chen
- Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jixin Cao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jiayi Qiu
- Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zilong Qiu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
- Songjiang Hospital, Songjiang Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingqi Chen
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xing-Ming Zhao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tian-Lin Cheng
- Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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16
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Xiong X, Liu K, Li Z, Xia FN, Ruan XM, He X, Li JF. Split complementation of base editors to minimize off-target edits. NATURE PLANTS 2023; 9:1832-1847. [PMID: 37845337 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01540-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Base editors (BEs) empower the efficient installation of beneficial or corrective point mutations in crop and human genomes. However, conventional BEs can induce unpredictable guide RNA (gRNA)-independent off-target edits in the genome and transcriptome due to spurious activities of BE-enclosing deaminases, and current improvements mostly rely on deaminase-specific mutagenesis or exogenous regulators. Here we developed a split deaminase for safe editing (SAFE) system applicable to BEs containing distinct cytidine or adenosine deaminases, with no need of external regulators. In SAFE, a BE was properly split at a deaminase domain embedded inside a Cas9 nickase, simultaneously fragmenting and deactivating both the deaminase and the Cas9 nickase. The gRNA-conditioned BE reassembly conferred robust on-target editing in plant, human and yeast cells, while minimizing both gRNA-independent and gRNA-dependent off-target DNA/RNA edits. SAFE also substantially increased product purity by eliminating indels. Altogether, SAFE provides a generalizable solution for BEs to suppress off-target editing and improve on-target performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kehui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhenxiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan-Nv Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xue-Ming Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xionglei He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Feng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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17
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Lyons DE, Kumar P, Roan NR, Defechereux PA, Feschotte C, Lange UC, Murthy N, Sameshima P, Verdin E, Ake JA, Parsons MS, Nath A, Gianella S, Smith DM, Kallas EG, Villa TJ, Strange R, Mwesigwa B, Furler O’Brien RL, Nixon DF, Ndhlovu LC, Valente ST, Ott M. HIV-1 Remission: Accelerating the Path to Permanent HIV-1 Silencing. Viruses 2023; 15:2171. [PMID: 38005849 PMCID: PMC10674359 DOI: 10.3390/v15112171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite remarkable progress, a cure for HIV-1 infection remains elusive. Rebound competent latent and transcriptionally active reservoir cells persevere despite antiretroviral therapy and rekindle infection due to inefficient proviral silencing. We propose a novel "block-lock-stop" approach, entailing long term durable silencing of viral expression towards an irreversible transcriptionally inactive latent provirus to achieve long term antiretroviral free control of the virus. A graded transformation of remnant HIV-1 in PLWH from persistent into silent to permanently defective proviruses is proposed, emulating and accelerating the natural path that human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) take over millions of years. This hypothesis was based on research into delineating the mechanisms of HIV-1 latency, lessons from latency reversing agents and advances of Tat inhibitors, as well as expertise in the biology of HERVs. Insights from elite controllers and the availability of advanced genome engineering technologies for the direct excision of remnant virus set the stage for a rapid path to an HIV-1 cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E. Lyons
- Gladstone Institute of Virology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Priti Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA;
| | - Nadia R. Roan
- Gladstone Institute of Virology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Patricia A. Defechereux
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Cedric Feschotte
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | | | - Niren Murthy
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Pauline Sameshima
- Faculty of Education, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada;
| | - Eric Verdin
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Julie A. Ake
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA (M.S.P.)
| | - Matthew S. Parsons
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA (M.S.P.)
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
- Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Avindra Nath
- Section of Infections of the Nervous System, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20824, USA;
| | - Sara Gianella
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Davey M. Smith
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Esper G. Kallas
- Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo 04023-900, Brazil
| | - Thomas J. Villa
- HOPE Martin Delaney Collaboratory for HIV Cure Research Community Engagement Ambassador, Washinton, DC 20004, USA (R.S.)
- National HIV & Aging Advocacy Network, Washington, DC 20004, USA
| | - Richard Strange
- HOPE Martin Delaney Collaboratory for HIV Cure Research Community Engagement Ambassador, Washinton, DC 20004, USA (R.S.)
| | - Betty Mwesigwa
- Research Department, Makerere University Walter Reed Project, Kampala P.O Box 7062, Uganda
| | - Robert L. Furler O’Brien
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Douglas F. Nixon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Susana T. Valente
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Melanie Ott
- Gladstone Institute of Virology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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18
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Zhang Z, Bao X, Lin CP. Progress and Prospects of Gene Editing in Pluripotent Stem Cells. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2168. [PMID: 37626665 PMCID: PMC10452926 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082168] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Applying programmable nucleases in gene editing has greatly shaped current research in basic biology and clinical translation. Gene editing in human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), is highly relevant to clinical cell therapy and thus should be examined with particular caution. First, since all mutations in PSCs will be carried to all their progenies, off-target edits of editors will be amplified. Second, due to the hypersensitivity of PSCs to DNA damage, double-strand breaks (DSBs) made by gene editing could lead to low editing efficiency and the enrichment of cell populations with defective genomic safeguards. In this regard, DSB-independent gene editing tools, such as base editors and prime editors, are favored due to their nature to avoid these consequences. With more understanding of the microbial world, new systems, such as Cas-related nucleases, transposons, and recombinases, are also expanding the toolbox for gene editing. In this review, we discuss current applications of programmable nucleases in PSCs for gene editing, the efforts researchers have made to optimize these systems, as well as new tools that can be potentially employed for differentiation modeling and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chao-Po Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; (Z.Z.); (X.B.)
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19
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Song Z, Zhang G, Huang S, Liu Y, Li G, Zhou X, Sun J, Gao P, Chen Y, Huang X, Liu J, Wang X. PE-STOP: A versatile tool for installing nonsense substitutions amenable for precise reversion. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104942. [PMID: 37343700 PMCID: PMC10365944 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104942] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid advances in genome editing technologies have revolutionized the study of gene functions in cell or animal models. The recent generation of double-stranded DNA cleavage-independent base editors has been suitably adapted for interrogation of protein-coding genes on the basis of introducing premature stop codons or disabling the start codons. However, such versions of stop/start codon-oriented genetic tools still present limitations on their versatility, base-level precision, and target specificity. Here, we exploit a newly developed prime editor (PE) that differs from base editors by its adoption of a reverse transcriptase activity, which enables incorporation of various types of precise edits templated by a specialized prime editing guide RNA. Based on such a versatile platform, we established a prime editing-empowered method (PE-STOP) for installation of nonsense substitutions, providing a complementary approach to the present gene-targeting tools. PE-STOP is bioinformatically predicted to feature substantially expanded coverage in the genome space. In practice, PE-STOP introduces stop codons with good efficiencies in human embryonic kidney 293T and N2a cells (with medians of 29% [ten sites] and 25% [four sites] editing efficiencies, respectively), while exhibiting minimal off-target effects and high on-target precision. Furthermore, given the fact that PE installs prime editing guide RNA-templated mutations, we introduce a unique strategy for precise genetic rescue of PE-STOP-dependent nonsense mutation via the same PE platform. Altogether, the present work demonstrates a versatile and specific tool for gene inactivation and for functional interrogation of nonsense mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziguo Song
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guiquan Zhang
- Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center at Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuhong Huang
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yao Liu
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guanglei Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianhui Zhou
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jiayuan Sun
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Pengfei Gao
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yulin Chen
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianghuai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center at Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
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20
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Bamidele N, Zhang H, Dong X, Gaston N, Cheng H, Kelly K, Watts JK, Xie J, Gao G, Sontheimer EJ. Engineering Nme2Cas9 Adenine Base Editors with Improved Activity and Targeting Scope. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.14.536905. [PMID: 37131611 PMCID: PMC10153126 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.14.536905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Nme2Cas9 has been established as a genome editing platform with compact size, high accuracy, and broad targeting range, including single-AAV-deliverable adenine base editors. Here, we have engineered Nme2Cas9 to further increase the activity and targeting scope of compact Nme2Cas9 base editors. We first used domain insertion to position the deaminase domain nearer the displaced DNA strand in the target-bound complex. These domain-inlaid Nme2Cas9 variants exhibited shifted editing windows and increased activity in comparison to the N-terminally fused Nme2-ABE. We next expanded the editing scope by swapping the Nme2Cas9 PAM-interacting domain with that of SmuCas9, which we had previously defined as recognizing a single-cytidine PAM. We used these enhancements to correct two common MECP2 mutations associated with Rett syndrome with little or no bystander editing. Finally, we validated domain-inlaid Nme2-ABEs for single-AAV delivery in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Bamidele
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Han Zhang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | | | - Nicholas Gaston
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Haoyang Cheng
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Erik J. Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
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21
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Sinclair F, Begum AA, Dai CC, Toth I, Moyle PM. Recent advances in the delivery and applications of nonviral CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2023; 13:1500-1519. [PMID: 36988873 PMCID: PMC10052255 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01320-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
The CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 genome editing system has been a major technological breakthrough that has brought revolutionary changes to genome editing for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes and precision medicine. With the advent of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, one of the critical limiting factors has been the safe and efficient delivery of this system to cells or tissues of interest. Several approaches have been investigated to find delivery systems that can attain tissue-targeted delivery, lowering the chances of off-target editing. While viral vectors have shown promise for in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo delivery of CRISPR/Cas9, their further clinical applications have been restricted due to shortcomings including limited cargo packaging capacity, difficulties with large-scale production, immunogenicity and insertional mutagenesis. Rapid progress in nonviral delivery vectors, including the use of lipid, polymer, peptides, and inorganic nanoparticle-based delivery systems, has established nonviral delivery approaches as a viable alternative to viral vectors. This review will introduce the molecular mechanisms of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system, current strategies for delivering CRISPR/Cas9-based tools, an overview of strategies for overcoming off-target genome editing, and approaches for improving genome targeting and tissue targeting. We will also highlight current developments and recent clinical trials for the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9. Finally, future directions for overcoming the limitations and adaptation of this technology for clinical trials will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frazer Sinclair
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Anjuman A Begum
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia.
| | - Charles C Dai
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Istvan Toth
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Peter M Moyle
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia.
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22
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Zhang S, Song L, Yuan B, Zhang C, Cao J, Chen J, Qiu J, Tai Y, Chen J, Qiu Z, Zhao XM, Cheng TL. TadA reprogramming to generate potent miniature base editors with high precision. Nat Commun 2023; 14:413. [PMID: 36702845 PMCID: PMC9879996 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36004-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Although miniature CRISPR-Cas12f systems were recently developed, the editing efficacy and targeting range of derived miniature cytosine and adenine base editors (miniCBEs and miniABEs) have not been comprehensively addressed. Moreover, functional miniCBEs have not yet be established. Here we generate various Cas12f-derived miniCBEs and miniABEs with improved editing activities and diversified targeting scopes. We reveal that miniCBEs generated with traditional cytidine deaminases exhibit wide editing windows and high off-targeting effects. To improve the editing signatures of classical CBEs and derived miniCBEs, we engineer TadA deaminase with mutagenesis screening to generate potent miniCBEs with high precision and minimized off-target effects. We show that newly designed miniCBEs and miniABEs are able to correct pathogenic mutations in cell lines and introduce genetic mutations efficiently via adeno-associated virus delivery in the brain in vivo. Together, this study provides alternative strategies for CBE development, expands the toolkits of miniCBEs and miniABEs and offers promising therapeutic tools for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqian Zhang
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, 250012, China
| | - Liting Song
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Yuan
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jixin Cao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinlong Chen
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayi Qiu
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yilin Tai
- Institutes of Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jingqi Chen
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zilong Qiu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hopsital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Songjiang Hospital, Songjiang Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xing-Ming Zhao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Tian-Lin Cheng
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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23
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Zhang S, Yuan B, Cao J, Song L, Chen J, Qiu J, Qiu Z, Zhao XM, Chen J, Cheng TL. TadA orthologs enable both cytosine and adenine editing of base editors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:414. [PMID: 36702837 PMCID: PMC9880001 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytidine and adenosine deaminases are required for cytosine and adenine editing of base editors respectively, and no single deaminase could enable concurrent and comparable cytosine and adenine editing. Additionally, distinct properties of cytidine and adenosine deaminases lead to various types of off-target effects, including Cas9-indendepent DNA off-target effects for cytosine base editors (CBEs) and RNA off-target effects particularly severe for adenine base editors (ABEs). Here we demonstrate that 25 TadA orthologs could be engineered to generate functional ABEs, CBEs or ACBEs via single or double mutations, which display minimized Cas9-independent DNA off-target effects and genotoxicity, with orthologs B5ZCW4, Q57LE3, E8WVH3, Q13XZ4 and B3PCY2 as promising candidates for further engineering. Furthermore, RNA off-target effects of TadA ortholog-derived base editors could be further reduced or even eliminated by additional single mutation. Taken together, our work expands the base editing toolkits, and also provides important clues for the potential evolutionary process of deaminases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqian Zhang
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, 250012, China
| | - Bo Yuan
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Jixin Cao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liting Song
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinlong Chen
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayi Qiu
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zilong Qiu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hopsital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Songjiang Hospital, Songjiang Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xing-Ming Zhao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingqi Chen
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tian-Lin Cheng
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Tao J, Bauer DE, Chiarle R. Assessing and advancing the safety of CRISPR-Cas tools: from DNA to RNA editing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:212. [PMID: 36639728 PMCID: PMC9838544 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35886-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas gene editing has revolutionized experimental molecular biology over the past decade and holds great promise for the treatment of human genetic diseases. Here we review the development of CRISPR-Cas9/Cas12/Cas13 nucleases, DNA base editors, prime editors, and RNA base editors, focusing on the assessment and improvement of their editing precision and safety, pushing the limit of editing specificity and efficiency. We summarize the capabilities and limitations of each CRISPR tool from DNA editing to RNA editing, and highlight the opportunities for future improvements and applications in basic research, as well as the therapeutic and clinical considerations for their use in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianli Tao
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Daniel E Bauer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Broad Institute, Department of Pediatrics, 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.
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25
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Tan J, Forner J, Karcher D, Bock R. DNA base editing in nuclear and organellar genomes. Trends Genet 2022; 38:1147-1169. [PMID: 35853769 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Genome editing continues to revolutionize biological research. Due to its simplicity and flexibility, CRISPR/Cas-based editing has become the preferred technology in most systems. Cas nucleases tolerate fusion to large protein domains, thus allowing combination of their DNA recognition properties with new enzymatic activities. Fusion to nucleoside deaminase or reverse transcriptase domains has produced base editors and prime editors that, instead of generating double-strand breaks in the target sequence, induce site-specific alterations of single (or a few adjacent) nucleotides. The availability of protein-only genome editing reagents based on transcription activator-like effectors has enabled the extension of base editing to the genomes of chloroplasts and mitochondria. In this review, we summarize currently available base editing methods for nuclear and organellar genomes. We highlight recent advances with improving precision, specificity, and efficiency and discuss current limitations and future challenges. We also provide a brief overview of applications in agricultural biotechnology and gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Innovation Center for Genome Editing and Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Joachim Forner
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Daniel Karcher
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Ralph Bock
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
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26
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Zhang Z, Tao W, Huang S, Sun W, Wang Y, Jiang W, Huang X, Lin CP. Engineering an adenine base editor in human embryonic stem cells with minimal DNA and RNA off-target activities. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 29:502-510. [PMID: 35991312 PMCID: PMC9375152 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Genome editing in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) using CRISPR technology holds great promise for therapeutic applications. Yet, it has been reported that Cas9-mediated cleavage could cause large deletions or rearrangements of DNA, and the selection of edited PSCs could acquire p53 mutations. Adenine base editors (ABEs) do not introduce DNA double-strand breaks and thus have been proposed as alternatives to circumvent those problems, but their off-target effects still limit their applications. Here, we tested different combinations of off-target reduction methods to further diminish off-target effects of ABEs without compromising their on-target editing efficiencies. We subsequently chose the best editor, CE-8e-dV, which contains V106W substitution, R153 deletion, and Cas-embedding strategy, to establish a single-cell-derived human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line expressing tetracycline-inducible CE-8e-dV. By performing RNA and whole-genome sequencing, we demonstrated that the expression of CE-8e-dV did not produce nearly any DNA or RNA off-target effects in hESCs. Our results provide stringent proof of the safety of ABEs in PSCs and suggest that CE-8e-dV could be suitable for related therapeutic strategies, such as generation of engineered stem cells in vitro and gene therapy in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenwu Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Wanyu Tao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shisheng Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Wenjun Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yue Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Hematology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
- Corresponding author Xingxu Huang, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
| | - Chao-Po Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Corresponding author Chao-Po Lin, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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27
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Multiplex base editing to convert TAG into TAA codons in the human genome. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4482. [PMID: 35918324 PMCID: PMC9345975 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31927-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole-genome recoding has been shown to enable nonstandard amino acids, biocontainment and viral resistance in bacteria. Here we take the first steps to extend this to human cells demonstrating exceptional base editing to convert TAG to TAA for 33 essential genes via a single transfection, and examine base-editing genome-wide (observing ~40 C-to-T off-target events in essential gene exons). We also introduce GRIT, a computational tool for recoding. This demonstrates the feasibility of recoding, and highly multiplex editing in mammalian cells. Whole-genome recoding has been shown to enable nonstandard amino acids, biocontainment and viral resistance in bacteria. Here the authors extend this to human cells using base editing to convert TAG to TAA for 33 essential genes via a single transfection followed by examining base-editing genome-wide.
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28
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Zhang H, Bamidele N, Liu P, Ojelabi O, Gao XD, Rodriguez T, Cheng H, Kelly K, Watts JK, Xie J, Gao G, Wolfe SA, Xue W, Sontheimer EJ. Adenine Base Editing In Vivo with a Single Adeno-Associated Virus Vector. GEN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 1:285-299. [PMID: 35811581 PMCID: PMC9258002 DOI: 10.1089/genbio.2022.0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Base editors (BEs) have opened new avenues for the treatment of genetic diseases. However, advances in delivery approaches are needed to enable disease targeting of a broad range of tissues and cell types. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors remain one of the most promising delivery vehicles for gene therapies. Currently, most BE/guide combinations and their promoters exceed the packaging limit (∼5 kb) of AAVs. Dual-AAV delivery strategies often require high viral doses that impose safety concerns. In this study, we engineered an adenine base editor (ABE) using a compact Cas9 from Neisseria meningitidis (Nme2Cas9). Compared with the well-characterized Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9-containing ABEs, ABEs using Nme2Cas9 (Nme2-ABE) possess a distinct protospacer adjacent motif (N4CC) and editing window, exhibit fewer off-target effects, and can efficiently install therapeutically relevant mutations in both human and mouse genomes. Importantly, we show that in vivo delivery of Nme2-ABE and its guide RNA by a single AAV vector can efficiently edit mouse genomic loci and revert the disease mutation and phenotype in an adult mouse model of tyrosinemia. We anticipate that Nme2-ABE, by virtue of its compact size and broad targeting range, will enable a range of therapeutic applications with improved safety and efficacy due in part to packaging in a single-vector system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nathan Bamidele
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pengpeng Liu
- Departments of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ogooluwa Ojelabi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xin D. Gao
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tomás Rodriguez
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Haoyang Cheng
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Departments of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Departments of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Scot A. Wolfe
- Departments of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wen Xue
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Departments of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Erik J. Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Address correspondence to: Erik J. Sontheimer, RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, AS5-2051, Worcester, MA 01605, USA,
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29
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Cao X, Guo J, Huang S, Yu W, Li G, An L, Li X, Tao W, Liu Q, Huang X, Jin X, Ma X. Engineering of near-PAMless adenine base editor with enhanced editing activity and reduced off-target. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 28:732-742. [PMID: 35664696 PMCID: PMC9126838 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
About 47% of pathogenic point mutations could be corrected by ABE-induced A·T-to-G·C conversions. However, the applications of ABEs are still hindered by undesired editing efficiency, limited editing scopes, and off-targeting effects. Here, we develop a new adenine base editor, by embedding TadA-8e monomer into SpRY-nCas9, named as CE-8e-SpRY, which exhibits higher activity at NRN than NYN PAMs favored by SpRY nuclease. CE-8e-SpRY could target nearly all genomic sites in principle and induces the highest targeting efficiency among tested SpRY-based ABEs. In addition, CE-8e-SpRY also shows reduced RNA and DNA off-targeting activities. With optimized sgRNAs, CE-8e-SpRY induces efficient or desired target editing at some disease-relevant loci where conventional ABEs were unable to induce precise and satisfied editing. Taken together, our CE-8e-SpRY could broaden the applicability of ABEs in correcting or introducing pathogenic point mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Cao
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Junfan Guo
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shisheng Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenxia Yu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guanglei Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Lisha An
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing 100081, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiangyang Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wanyu Tao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiaohua Jin
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing 102206, China
- Corresponding author Xiaohua Jin, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Xu Ma
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing 102206, China
- Corresponding author Xu Ma, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing 100081, China.
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30
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Volke DC, Martino RA, Kozaeva E, Smania AM, Nikel PI. Modular (de)construction of complex bacterial phenotypes by CRISPR/nCas9-assisted, multiplex cytidine base-editing. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3026. [PMID: 35641501 PMCID: PMC9156665 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30780-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas technologies constitute a powerful tool for genome engineering, yet their use in non-traditional bacteria depends on host factors or exogenous recombinases, which limits both efficiency and throughput. Here we mitigate these practical constraints by developing a widely-applicable genome engineering toolset for Gram-negative bacteria. The challenge is addressed by tailoring a CRISPR base editor that enables single-nucleotide resolution manipulations (C·G → T·A) with >90% efficiency. Furthermore, incorporating Cas6-mediated processing of guide RNAs in a streamlined protocol for plasmid assembly supports multiplex base editing with >85% efficiency. The toolset is adopted to construct and deconstruct complex phenotypes in the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida. Single-step engineering of an aromatic-compound production phenotype and multi-step deconstruction of the intricate redox metabolism illustrate the versatility of multiplex base editing afforded by our toolbox. Hence, this approach overcomes typical limitations of previous technologies and empowers engineering programs in Gram-negative bacteria that were out of reach thus far. Rapid engineering of bacterial genomes is a requisite for both fundamental and applied studies. Here the authors develop an enhanced, broad-host-range cytidine base editor that enables multiplexed and efficient genome editing of Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Volke
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Román A Martino
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ekaterina Kozaeva
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andrea M Smania
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Pablo I Nikel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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31
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Hua K, Han P, Zhu JK. Improvement of base editors and prime editors advances precision genome engineering in plants. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 188:1795-1810. [PMID: 34962995 PMCID: PMC8968349 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein (Cas)-mediated gene disruption has revolutionized biomedical research as well as plant and animal breeding. However, most disease-causing mutations and agronomically important genetic variations are single base polymorphisms (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) that require precision genome editing tools for correction of the sequences. Although homology-directed repair of double-stranded breaks (DSBs) can introduce precise changes, such repairs are inefficient in differentiated animal and plant cells. Base editing and prime editing are two recently developed genome engineering approaches that can efficiently introduce precise edits into target sites without requirement of DSB formation or donor DNA templates. They have been applied in several plant species with promising results. Here, we review the extensive literature on improving the efficiency, target scope, and specificity of base editors and prime editors in plants. We also highlight recent progress on base editing in plant organellar genomes and discuss how these precision genome editing tools are advancing basic plant research and crop breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Hua
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Peijin Han
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jian-Kang Zhu
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
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32
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Lo N, Xu X, Soares F, He HH. The Basis and Promise of Programmable RNA Editing and Modification. Front Genet 2022; 13:834413. [PMID: 35154288 PMCID: PMC8831800 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.834413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One key advantage of RNA over genomic editing is its temporary effects. Aside from current use of DNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas9, the more recently discovered CRISPR-Cas13 has been explored as a means of editing due to its RNA-targeting capabilities. Specifically, there has been a recent interest in identifying and functionally characterizing biochemical RNA modifications, which has spurred a new field of research known as "epitranscriptomics". As one of the most frequently occurring transcriptome modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has generated much interest. The presence of m6A modifications is under the tight control of a series of regulators, and the ability of fusing these proteins or demethylases to catalytically inactive CRISPR proteins have resulted in a new wave of programmable RNA methylation tools. In addition, studies have been conducted to develop different CRISPR/Cas and base editor systems capable of more efficient editing, and some have explored the effects of in vivo editing for certain diseases. As well, the application of CRISPR and base editors for screening shows promise in revealing the phenotypic outcomes from m6A modification, many of which are linked to physiological, and pathological effects. Thus, the therapeutic potential of CRISPR/Cas and base editors for not only m6A related, but other RNA and DNA related disease has also garnered insight. In this review, we summarize/discuss the recent findings on RNA editing with CRISPR, base editors and non-CRISPR related tools and offer a perspective regarding future applications for basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Lo
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xin Xu
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Fraser Soares
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Housheng Hansen He
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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33
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Taha EA, Lee J, Hotta A. Delivery of CRISPR-Cas tools for in vivo genome editing therapy: Trends and challenges. J Control Release 2022; 342:345-361. [PMID: 35026352 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genome editing technology opened the door to provide a versatile approach for treating multiple diseases. Promising results have been shown in numerous pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. However, a safe and effective method to deliver genome-editing components is still a key challenge for in vivo genome editing therapy. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is one of the most commonly used vector systems to date, but immunogenicity against capsid, liver toxicity at high dose, and potential genotoxicity caused by off-target mutagenesis and genomic integration remain unsolved. Recently developed transient delivery systems, such as virus-like particle (VLP) and lipid nanoparticle (LNP), may solve some of the issues. This review summarizes existing in vivo delivery systems and possible solutions to overcome their limitations. Also, we highlight the ongoing clinical trials for in vivo genome editing therapy and recently developed genome editing tools for their potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman A Taha
- Center for iPS cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Biochemistry, Ain Shams University Faculty of Science, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Joseph Lee
- Center for iPS cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Akitsu Hotta
- Center for iPS cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Takeda-CiRA Joint Program (T-CiRA), Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-8555, Japan.
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34
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Dang L, Zhou X, Zhong X, Yu W, Huang S, Liu H, Chen Y, Zhang W, Yuan L, Li L, Huang X, Li G, Liu J, Tong G. Correction of the pathogenic mutation in TGM1 gene by adenine base editing in mutant embryos. Mol Ther 2022; 30:175-183. [PMID: 33974999 PMCID: PMC8753292 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A couple diagnosed as carriers for lamellar ichthyosis, an autosomal recessive rare disease, encountered two pregnancy losses. Their blood samples showed the same heterozygous c.607C>T mutation in the TGM1 gene. However, we found that about 98.4% of the sperm had mutations, suggesting possible de novo germline mutation. To explore the probability of correcting this mutation, we used two different adenine base editors (ABEs) combined with related truncated single guide RNA (sgRNA) to repair the pathogenic mutation in mutant zygotes. Our results showed that the editing efficiency was 73.8% for ABEmax-NG combined with 20-bp-length sgRNA and 78.7% for Sc-ABEmax combined with 19-bp-length sgRNA. The whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and deep sequencing analysis demonstrated precise DNA editing. This study reveals the possibility of correcting the genetic mutation in embryos with the ABE system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Dang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xueliang Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiufang Zhong
- Department of Reproductive Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wenxia Yu
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Shisheng Huang
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hanyan Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- Department of Reproductive Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wuwen Zhang
- Department of Reproductive Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lihua Yuan
- Department of Reproductive Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Guanglei Li
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
| | - Jianqiao Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Guoqing Tong
- Department of Reproductive Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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35
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Wang Y, Wang H, Jian Y, Luo Z, Shao H, Zhang W. Strategies for optimization of the CRISPR-based genome editing system for enhanced editing specificity. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 33:358-370. [PMID: 34963339 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system is inarguably the most valuable gene editing tool ever discovered. Currently, three classes of CRISPR-based genome editing systems have been developed for gene editing, including CRISPR/Cas nucleases, base editors (BEs) and prime editors (PEs). Ever-evolving CRISPR technology plays an important role in medicine; however, the biggest obstacle to its use in clinical practice is the induction of off-target effects (OTEs) during targeted editing. Therefore, continuous improvement and optimization of the CRISPR system for reduction of OTEs is a major focus in the field of CRISPR research. This review aims to provide a comprehensive guide for optimization of the CRISPR-based genome editing system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangmin Wang
- Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 71237, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
| | - Haozheng Wang
- Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 71237, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
| | - Yingzhen Jian
- Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 71237, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
| | - Zhongtao Luo
- Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 71237, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
| | - Hongwei Shao
- Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 71237, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
| | - Wenfeng Zhang
- Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 71237, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics , 28 E. Rd outside the City of Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China, 510006;
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Tao W, Liu Q, Huang S, Wang X, Qu S, Guo J, Ou D, Li G, Zhang Y, Xu X, Huang X. CABE-RY: A PAM-flexible dual-mutation base editor for reliable modeling of multi-nucleotide variants. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 26:114-121. [PMID: 34513298 PMCID: PMC8413891 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Multi-nucleotide variants (MNVs) represent an important type of genetic variation and have biological and clinical significance. To simulate MNVs, we designed four dual-mutation base editors combining hA3A(Y130F), TadA8e(V106W), and protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)-flexible SpRY and selected cytosine and adenine base editor-SpRY (CABE-RY), which had the best editing performance, for further study. Characterization and comparison showed that CABE-RY had a smaller DNA editing window and lower RNA off-target edits than the corresponding single base editors. Thus, we have established a versatile tool to efficiently simulate MNVs over the genome, which could be very useful for functional studies on MNVs in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyu Tao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Shisheng Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xin Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shiyuan Qu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Junfan Guo
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Danfeng Ou
- International Academy of Optoelectronics at Zhaoqing, South China Normal University, Zhaoqing 526238, China
| | - Guanglei Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiangmin Xu
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.,Guangdong Genetic Testing Engineering Research Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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37
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Lee K, Park OS, Go JY, Yu J, Han JH, Kim J, Bae S, Jung YJ, Seo PJ. Arabidopsis ATXR2 represses de novo shoot organogenesis in the transition from callus to shoot formation. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109980. [PMID: 34758306 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants exhibit high regenerative capacity, which is controlled by various genetic factors. Here, we report that ARABIDOPSIS TRITHORAX-RELATED 2 (ATXR2) controls de novo shoot organogenesis by regulating auxin-cytokinin interaction. The auxin-inducible ATXR2 Trithorax Group (TrxG) protein temporally interacts with the cytokinin-responsive type-B ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATOR 1 (ARR1) at early stages of shoot regeneration. The ATXR2-ARR1 complex binds to and deposits the H3K36me3 mark in the promoters of a subset of type-A ARR genes, ARR5 and ARR7, thus activating their expression. Consequently, the ATXR2/ARR1-type-A ARR module transiently represses cytokinin signaling and thereby de novo shoot regeneration. The atxr2-1 mutant calli exhibit enhanced shoot regeneration with low expression of ARR5 and ARR7, which ultimately upregulates WUSCHEL (WUS) expression. Thus, ATXR2 regulates cytokinin signaling and prevents premature WUS activation to ensure proper cell fate transition, and the auxin-cytokinin interaction underlies the initial specification of shoot meristem in callus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyounghee Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Ok-Sun Park
- Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Ji Yun Go
- Division of Horticultural Biotechnology, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Korea
| | - Jihyeon Yu
- Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Jun Hee Han
- Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Jungmook Kim
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology and Department of Integrative Food, Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Sangsu Bae
- Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Yu Jin Jung
- Division of Horticultural Biotechnology, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Korea
| | - Pil Joon Seo
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
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38
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Abstract
CRISPR-based genome editing holds promise for genome engineering and other applications in diverse organisms. Defining and improving the genome-wide and transcriptome-wide specificities of these editing tools are essential for realizing their full potential in basic research and biomedical therapeutics. This review provides an overview of CRISPR-based DNA- and RNA-editing technologies, methods to quantify their specificities, and key solutions to reduce off-target effects for research and improve therapeutic applications. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genetics, Volume 55 is November 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hainan Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China;
| | - Tong Li
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yidi Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China;
| | - Hui Yang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China;
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Sipe CJ, Claudio Vázquez PN, Skeate JG, McIvor RS, Moriarity BS. Targeted genome editing for the correction or alleviation of primary Immunodeficiencies. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 182:111-151. [PMID: 34175040 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) are a growing list of unique disorders that result in a failure of the innate/adaptive immune systems to fully respond to disease or infection. PIDs are classified into five broad categories; B cell disorders, combined B and T cell disorders, phagocytic disorders, complement disorders, and disorders with recurrent fevers and inflammation. Many of these disorders, such as X-SCID, WAS, and CGD lead to early death in children if intervention is not implemented. At present, the predominant method of curative therapy remains an allogeneic transplant from a healthy donor, however many complications and limitations exist with his therapy such as availability of donors, graft vs host disease, graft rejection, and infection. More recently, gene therapy using viral based complementation vectors have successfully been implemented to functionally correct patient cells in an autologous transplant, but these methods carry significant risks, including insertional mutagenesis, and provide non-physiological gene expression. For these reasons, gene-editing reagents such as targeted nucleases, base editors (BE), and prime editors (PE) are being explored. The BE and PE tools, sometimes referred to as digital editors, are of very high interest as they provide both enhanced molecular specificity and do not rely on DNA repair pathways after DSBs to change individual base pairs or directly replace DNA sequences responsible for pathogenic phenotypes. With this in mind the purpose of this chapter is to highlight some of the most common PIDs found within the human population, discuss successes and shortcomings of previous intervention strategies, and highlight how the next generation of gene-editing tools may be deployed to directly repair the underlying genetic causes of this class of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Sipe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Patricia N Claudio Vázquez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Joseph G Skeate
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - R Scott McIvor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Branden S Moriarity
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
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Chu SH, Packer M, Rees H, Lam D, Yu Y, Marshall J, Cheng LI, Lam D, Olins J, Ran FA, Liquori A, Gantzer B, Decker J, Born D, Barrera L, Hartigan A, Gaudelli N, Ciaramella G, Slaymaker IM. Rationally Designed Base Editors for Precise Editing of the Sickle Cell Disease Mutation. CRISPR J 2021; 4:169-177. [PMID: 33876959 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2020.0144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Base editors are fusions of a deaminase and CRISPR-Cas ribonucleoprotein that allow programmable installment of transition mutations without double-strand DNA break intermediates. The breadth of potential base editing targets is frequently limited by the requirement of a suitably positioned Cas9 protospacer adjacent motif. To address this, we used structures of Cas9 and TadA to design a set of inlaid base editors (IBEs), in which deaminase domains are internal to Cas9. Several of these IBEs exhibit shifted editing windows and greater editing efficiency, enabling editing of targets outside the canonical editing window with reduced DNA and RNA off-target editing frequency. Finally, we show that IBEs enable conversion of the pathogenic sickle cell hemoglobin allele to the naturally occurring HbG-Makassar variant in patient-derived hematopoietic stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yi Yu
- Beam Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Daisy Lam
- Beam Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA
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