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Muñoz-Miranda LA, Zepeda-Peña AC, Casas-Godoy L, Pereira-Santana A, Méndez-Zamora A, Barrera-Martínez I, Rodríguez-Zapata L, Gschaedler-Mathis AC, Figueroa-Yáñez LJ. CRISPRi-induced transcriptional regulation of IAH1 gene and its influence on volatile compounds profile in Kluyveromyces marxianus DU3. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:121. [PMID: 38441729 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03811-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Mezcal is a traditional Mexican distilled beverage, known for its marked organoleptic profile, which is influenced by several factors, such as the fermentation process, where a wide variety of microorganisms are present. Kluyveromyces marxianus is one of the main yeasts isolated from mezcal fermentations and has been associated with ester synthesis, contributing to the flavors and aromas of the beverage. In this study, we employed CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) technology, using dCas9 fused to the Mxi1 repressor factor domain, to down-regulate the expression of the IAH1 gene, encoding for an isoamyl acetate-hydrolyzing esterase, in K. marxianus strain DU3. The constructed CRISPRi plasmid successfully targeted the IAH1 gene, allowing for specific gene expression modulation. Through gene expression analysis, we assessed the impact of IAH1 down-regulation on the metabolic profile of volatile compounds. We also measured the expression of other genes involved in volatile compound biosynthesis, including ATF1, EAT1, ADH1, and ZWF1 by RT-qPCR. Results demonstrated successful down-regulation of IAH1 expression in K. marxianus strain DU3 using the CRISPRi system. The modulation of IAH1 gene expression resulted in alterations in the production of volatile compounds, specifically ethyl acetate, which are important contributors to the beverage's aroma. Changes in the expression levels of other genes involved in ester biosynthesis, suggesting that the knockdown of IAH1 may generate intracellular alterations in the balance of these metabolites, triggering a regulatory response. The application of CRISPRi technology in K. marxianus opens the possibility of targeted modulation of gene expression, metabolic engineering strategies, and synthetic biology in this yeast strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A Muñoz-Miranda
- Unidad de Biotecnología Industrial, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A.C. (CIATEJ), Subsede Zapopan, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| | - Andrea Catalina Zepeda-Peña
- Unidad de Biotecnología Industrial, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A.C. (CIATEJ), Subsede Zapopan, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| | - Leticia Casas-Godoy
- CONAHCYT-Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A.C., Subsede Zapopan, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| | - Alejandro Pereira-Santana
- CONAHCYT-Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco. Subsede Sureste, Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Andrés Méndez-Zamora
- Unidad de Biotecnología Industrial, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A.C. (CIATEJ), Subsede Zapopan, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| | - Iliana Barrera-Martínez
- CONAHCYT-Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A.C., Subsede Zapopan, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| | - Luis Rodríguez-Zapata
- Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Unidad de Biotecnología, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Anne Christine Gschaedler-Mathis
- Unidad de Biotecnología Industrial, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A.C. (CIATEJ), Subsede Zapopan, Zapopan, Jalisco, México.
| | - Luis J Figueroa-Yáñez
- Unidad de Biotecnología Industrial, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A.C. (CIATEJ), Subsede Zapopan, Zapopan, Jalisco, México.
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2
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Liang Y, Gao S, Qi X, Valentovich LN, An Y. Progress in Gene Editing and Metabolic Regulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with CRISPR/Cas9 Tools. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:428-448. [PMID: 38326929 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00685] [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: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 systems have been developed as tools for genetic engineering and metabolic engineering in various organisms. In this review, various aspects of CRISPR/Cas9 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, from basic principles to practical applications, have been summarized. First, a comprehensive review has been conducted on the history of CRISPR/Cas9, successful cases of gene disruptions, and efficiencies of multiple DNA fragment insertions. Such advanced systems have accelerated the development of microbial engineering by reducing time and labor, and have enhanced the understanding of molecular genetics. Furthermore, the research progress of the CRISPR/Cas9-based systems in the production of high-value-added chemicals and the improvement of stress tolerance in S. cerevisiae have been summarized, which should have an important reference value for genetic and synthetic biology studies based on S. cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaokun Liang
- College of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110065, China
| | - Song Gao
- College of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110065, China
| | - Xianghui Qi
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangdong 511370, China
| | - Leonid N Valentovich
- Institute of Microbiology, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk 220072, Belarus
| | - Yingfeng An
- College of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110065, China
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3
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Teng Y, Jiang T, Yan Y. The expanded CRISPR toolbox for constructing microbial cell factories. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:104-118. [PMID: 37500408 PMCID: PMC10808275 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Microbial cell factories (MCFs) convert low-cost carbon sources into valuable compounds. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has revolutionized MCF construction as a remarkable genome editing tool with unprecedented programmability. Recently, the CRISPR toolbox has been significantly expanded through the exploration of new CRISPR systems, the engineering of Cas effectors, and the incorporation of other effectors, enabling multi-level regulation and gene editing free of double-strand breaks. This expanded CRISPR toolbox powerfully promotes MCF construction by facilitating pathway construction, enzyme engineering, flux redistribution, and metabolic burden control. In this article, we summarize different CRISPR tool designs and their applications in MCF construction for gene editing, transcriptional regulation, and enzyme modulation. Finally, we also discuss future perspectives for the development and application of the CRISPR toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Teng
- School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Tian Jiang
- School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Yajun Yan
- School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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4
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Yang EJ, Nemhauser JL. Building a pipeline to identify and engineer constitutive and repressible promoters. QUANTITATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 4:e12. [PMID: 37901686 PMCID: PMC10600573 DOI: 10.1017/qpb.2023.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
To support the increasingly complex circuits needed for plant synthetic biology applications, additional constitutive promoters are essential. Reusing promoter parts can lead to difficulty in cloning, increased heterogeneity between transformants, transgene silencing and trait instability. We have developed a pipeline to identify genes that have stable expression across a wide range of Arabidopsis tissues at different developmental stages and have identified a number of promoters that are well expressed in both transient (Nicotiana benthamiana) and stable (Arabidopsis) transformation assays. We have also introduced two genome-orthogonal gRNA target sites in a subset of the screened promoters, converting them into NOR logic gates. The work here establishes a pipeline to screen for additional constitutive promoters and can form the basis of constructing more complex information processing circuits in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J.Y. Yang
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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5
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Gervais NC, La Bella AA, Wensing LF, Sharma J, Acquaviva V, Best M, Cadena López RO, Fogal M, Uthayakumar D, Chavez A, Santiago-Tirado F, Flores-Mireles AL, Shapiro RS. Development and applications of a CRISPR activation system for facile genetic overexpression in Candida albicans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkac301. [PMID: 36450451 PMCID: PMC9911074 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
For the fungal pathogen Candida albicans, genetic overexpression readily occurs via a diversity of genomic alterations, such as aneuploidy and gain-of-function mutations, with important consequences for host adaptation, virulence, and evolution of antifungal drug resistance. Given the important role of overexpression on C. albicans biology, it is critical to develop and harness tools that enable the analysis of genes expressed at high levels in the fungal cell. Here, we describe the development, optimization, and application of a novel, single-plasmid-based CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) platform for targeted genetic overexpression in C. albicans, which employs a guide RNA to target an activator complex to the promoter region of a gene of interest, thus driving transcriptional expression of that gene. Using this system, we demonstrate the ability of CRISPRa to drive high levels of gene expression in C. albicans, and we assess optimal guide RNA targeting for robust and constitutive overexpression. We further demonstrate the specificity of the system via RNA sequencing. We highlight the application of CRISPR activation to overexpress genes involved in pathogenesis and drug susceptibility, and contribute toward the identification of novel phenotypes. Consequently, this tool will facilitate a broad range of applications for the study of C. albicans genetic overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C Gervais
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Alyssa A La Bella
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Lauren F Wensing
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Jehoshua Sharma
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Victoria Acquaviva
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Madison Best
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1H 5N4, Canada
| | | | - Meea Fogal
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Deeva Uthayakumar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1H 5N4, Canada
- Present address: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alejandro Chavez
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | - Ana L Flores-Mireles
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Rebecca S Shapiro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1H 5N4, Canada
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6
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Woodcraft C, Chooi YH, Roux I. The expanding CRISPR toolbox for natural product discovery and engineering in filamentous fungi. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:158-173. [PMID: 36205232 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00055e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to May 2022Fungal genetics has transformed natural product research by enabling the elucidation of cryptic metabolites and biosynthetic steps. The enhanced capability to add, subtract, modulate, and rewrite genes via CRISPR/Cas technologies has opened up avenues for the manipulation of biosynthetic gene clusters across diverse filamentous fungi. This review discusses the innovative and diverse strategies for fungal natural product discovery and engineering made possible by CRISPR/Cas-based tools. We also provide a guide into multiple angles of CRISPR/Cas experiment design, and discuss current gaps in genetic tool development for filamentous fungi and the promising opportunities for natural product research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Woodcraft
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Yit-Heng Chooi
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Indra Roux
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
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7
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García-Huerta E, Espinoza-Corona S, Lagunas-Rangel FA, Bazan-Tejeda ML, Vazquez-Cobix Y, Ortega-Pierres MG, Bermúdez-Cruz RM. Implementation of a tunable t-CRISPRi system for gene regulation in Giardia duodenalis. Plasmid 2022; 122:102641. [PMID: 35952970 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2022.102641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Giardia duodenalis, is a binuclear and microaerophilic protozoan that causes giardiasis. Up to date, several molecular approaches have been taken to understand the molecular mechanisms of diverse cellular processes in this parasitic protozoan. However, the role of many genes involved in these processes needs further analysis. The CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system has been widely used, as a constitutive expression system for gene silencing purposes in several parasites, including Giardia. The aim of this work was to implement a tunable t-CRISPRi system in Giardia to silence abundant, moderately and low expressed genes, by constructing an optimized and inducible plasmid for the expression of both gRNA and dCas9. A doxycycline inducible pRan promoter was used to express dCas9 and each gRNA, consistently dCas9 expression and nuclear localization were confirmed by Western-blot and immunofluorescence in transfected trophozoites. The transcriptional repression was performed on α-tubulin (high expression), giardipain-1 (moderate expression) and Sir2 and Sir4 (low expression) genes. The α-tubulin gene knock-down caused by dCas9 doxycycline-induction was confirmed by a decrease in its protein expression which was of 50% and 60% at 24 and 48 h, respectively. This induced morphological alterations in flagella. The giardipain-1 knock down, showed a decrease in protein expression of 40 and 50% at 12 and 24 h, respectively, without affecting trophozoites viability, consistent with this a zymogram analysis on giardipain-1 knock down revealed a decrease in giardipain-1 protease activity. When repressing sirtuins expression, a total repression was obtained but trophozoites viability was compromised. This approach provides a molecular tool for a tailored repression to produce specific gene knockdowns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo García-Huerta
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Ave. IPN #2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sara Espinoza-Corona
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Ave. IPN #2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Francisco Alejandro Lagunas-Rangel
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Ave. IPN #2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Maria Luisa Bazan-Tejeda
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Ave. IPN #2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yessica Vazquez-Cobix
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Ave. IPN #2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Maria Guadalupe Ortega-Pierres
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Ave. IPN #2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosa Maria Bermúdez-Cruz
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Ave. IPN #2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360 Mexico City, Mexico.
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8
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Engineering of Synthetic Transcriptional Switches in Yeast. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12040557. [PMID: 35455048 PMCID: PMC9030632 DOI: 10.3390/life12040557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional switches can be utilized for many purposes in synthetic biology, including the assembly of complex genetic circuits to achieve sophisticated cellular systems and the construction of biosensors for real-time monitoring of intracellular metabolite concentrations. Although to date such switches have mainly been developed in prokaryotes, those for eukaryotes are increasingly being reported as both rational and random engineering technologies mature. In this review, we describe yeast transcriptional switches with different modes of action and how to alter their properties. We also discuss directed evolution technologies for the rapid and robust construction of yeast transcriptional switches.
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9
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Liao B, Chen X, Zhou X, Zhou Y, Shi Y, Ye X, Liao M, Zhou Z, Cheng L, Ren B. Applications of CRISPR/Cas gene-editing technology in yeast and fungi. Arch Microbiol 2021; 204:79. [DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02723-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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10
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Bergenholm D, Dabirian Y, Ferreira R, Siewers V, David F, Nielsen J. Rational gRNA design based on transcription factor binding data. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2021; 6:ysab014. [PMID: 34712839 PMCID: PMC8546606 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system has become a standard tool in many genome engineering endeavors. The endonuclease-deficient version of Cas9 (dCas9) is also a powerful programmable tool for gene regulation. In this study, we made use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor (TF) binding data to obtain a better understanding of the interplay between TF binding and binding of dCas9 fused to an activator domain, VPR. More specifically, we targeted dCas9–VPR toward binding sites of Gcr1–Gcr2 and Tye7 present in several promoters of genes encoding enzymes engaged in the central carbon metabolism. From our data, we observed an upregulation of gene expression when dCas9–VPR was targeted next to a TF binding motif, whereas a downregulation or no change was observed when dCas9 was bound on a TF motif. This suggests a steric competition between dCas9 and the specific TF. Integrating TF binding data, therefore, proved to be useful for designing guide RNAs for CRISPR interference or CRISPR activation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bergenholm
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yasaman Dabirian
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Raphael Ferreira
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Verena Siewers
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Florian David
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jens Nielsen
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
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11
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Hunt C, Hartford SA, White D, Pefanis E, Hanna T, Herman C, Wiley J, Brown H, Su Q, Xin Y, Voronin D, Nguyen H, Altarejos J, Crosby K, Haines J, Cancelarich S, Drummond M, Moller-Tank S, Malpass R, Buckley J, Del Pilar Molina-Portela M, Droguett G, Frendewey D, Chiao E, Zambrowicz B, Gong G. Tissue-specific activation of gene expression by the Synergistic Activation Mediator (SAM) CRISPRa system in mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2770. [PMID: 33986266 PMCID: PMC8119962 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22932-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-based transcriptional activation is a powerful tool for functional gene interrogation; however, delivery difficulties have limited its applications in vivo. Here, we created a mouse model expressing all components of the CRISPR-Cas9 guide RNA-directed Synergistic Activation Mediator (SAM) from a single transcript that is capable of activating target genes in a tissue-specific manner. We optimized Lipid Nanoparticles and Adeno-Associated Virus guide RNA delivery approaches to achieve expression modulation of one or more genes in vivo. We utilized the SAM mouse model to generate a hypercholesteremia disease state that we could bidirectionally modulate with various guide RNAs. Additionally, we applied SAM to optimize gene expression in a humanized Transthyretin mouse model to recapitulate human expression levels. These results demonstrate that the SAM gene activation platform can facilitate in vivo research and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Derek White
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Qi Su
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Yurong Xin
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | - Hien Nguyen
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | - Keith Crosby
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Ryan Malpass
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Eric Chiao
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | - Guochun Gong
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA.
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12
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David F, Davis AM, Gossing M, Hayes MA, Romero E, Scott LH, Wigglesworth MJ. A Perspective on Synthetic Biology in Drug Discovery and Development-Current Impact and Future Opportunities. SLAS DISCOVERY 2021; 26:581-603. [PMID: 33834873 DOI: 10.1177/24725552211000669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The global impact of synthetic biology has been accelerating, because of the plummeting cost of DNA synthesis, advances in genetic engineering, growing understanding of genome organization, and explosion in data science. However, much of the discipline's application in the pharmaceutical industry remains enigmatic. In this review, we highlight recent examples of the impact of synthetic biology on target validation, assay development, hit finding, lead optimization, and chemical synthesis, through to the development of cellular therapeutics. We also highlight the availability of tools and technologies driving the discipline. Synthetic biology is certainly impacting all stages of drug discovery and development, and the recognition of the discipline's contribution can further enhance the opportunities for the drug discovery and development value chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian David
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Division of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andrew M Davis
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceutical R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael Gossing
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Martin A Hayes
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elvira Romero
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Louis H Scott
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
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13
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McGlincy NJ, Meacham ZA, Reynaud KK, Muller R, Baum R, Ingolia NT. A genome-scale CRISPR interference guide library enables comprehensive phenotypic profiling in yeast. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:205. [PMID: 33757429 PMCID: PMC7986282 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07518-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transcriptional interference (CRISPRi) enables programmable gene knock-down, yielding loss-of-function phenotypes for nearly any gene. Effective, inducible CRISPRi has been demonstrated in budding yeast, and genome-scale guide libraries enable systematic, genome-wide genetic analysis. RESULTS We present a comprehensive yeast CRISPRi library, based on empirical design rules, containing 10 distinct guides for most genes. Competitive growth after pooled transformation revealed strong fitness defects for most essential genes, verifying that the library provides comprehensive genome coverage. We used the relative growth defects caused by different guides targeting essential genes to further refine yeast CRISPRi design rules. In order to obtain more accurate and robust guide abundance measurements in pooled screens, we link guides with random nucleotide barcodes and carry out linear amplification by in vitro transcription. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, we demonstrate a broadly useful platform for comprehensive, high-precision CRISPRi screening in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zuriah A Meacham
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Kendra K Reynaud
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ryan Muller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Rachel Baum
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Nicholas T Ingolia
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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14
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Jiang C, Lv G, Tu Y, Cheng X, Duan Y, Zeng B, He B. Applications of CRISPR/Cas9 in the Synthesis of Secondary Metabolites in Filamentous Fungi. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:638096. [PMID: 33643273 PMCID: PMC7905030 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.638096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi possess the capacity to produce a wide array of secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities and structures, such as lovastatin and swainsonine. With the advent of the post-genomic era, increasing amounts of cryptic or uncharacterized secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters are continually being discovered. However, owing to the longstanding lack of versatile, comparatively simple, and highly efficient genetic manipulation techniques, the broader exploration of industrially important secondary metabolites has been hampered thus far. With the emergence of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing technology, this dilemma may be alleviated, as this advanced technique has revolutionized genetic research and enabled the exploitation and discovery of new bioactive compounds from filamentous fungi. In this review, we introduce the CRISPR/Cas9 system in detail and summarize the latest applications of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in filamentous fungi. We also briefly introduce the specific applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and CRISPRa in the improvement of secondary metabolite contents and discovery of novel biologically active compounds in filamentous fungi, with specific examples noted. Additionally, we highlight and discuss some of the challenges and deficiencies of using the CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing technology in research on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites as well as future application of CRISPR/Cas9 strategy in filamentous fungi are highlighted and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmiao Jiang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering and Co-Innovation Center for In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents and Devices of Jiangxi Province, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Gongbo Lv
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering and Co-Innovation Center for In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents and Devices of Jiangxi Province, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yayi Tu
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering and Co-Innovation Center for In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents and Devices of Jiangxi Province, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaojie Cheng
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yitian Duan
- School of Information, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Zeng
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering and Co-Innovation Center for In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents and Devices of Jiangxi Province, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China.,College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bin He
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering and Co-Innovation Center for In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents and Devices of Jiangxi Province, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
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15
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Lek A, Ma K, Woodman KG, Lek M. Nuclease-Deficient Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat-Based Approaches for In Vitro and In Vivo Gene Activation. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:260-274. [PMID: 33446040 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based technology has been adapted to achieve a wide range of genome modifications, including transcription regulation. The focus of this review is on the application of CRISPR-based platforms such as nuclease-deficient Cas9 and Cas12a, to achieve targeted gene activation. We review studies to date that have used CRISPR-based activation technology for the elucidation of biological mechanism and disease correction, as well as its application in genetic screens as a powerful tool for high-throughput genotype-phenotype mapping. In addition to our synthesis and critical analysis of published studies, we explore key considerations for the potential clinical translation of CRISPR-based activation technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kaiyue Ma
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Keryn G Woodman
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Monkol Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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16
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Utomo JC, Hodgins CL, Ro DK. Multiplex Genome Editing in Yeast by CRISPR/Cas9 - A Potent and Agile Tool to Reconstruct Complex Metabolic Pathways. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:719148. [PMID: 34421973 PMCID: PMC8374951 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.719148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Numerous important pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals originate from plant specialized metabolites, most of which are synthesized via complex biosynthetic pathways. The elucidation of these pathways is critical for the applicable uses of these compounds. Although the rapid progress of the omics technology has revolutionized the identification of candidate genes involved in these pathways, the functional characterization of these genes remains a major bottleneck. Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been used as a microbial platform for characterizing newly discovered metabolic genes in plant specialized metabolism. Using yeast for the investigation of numerous plant enzymes is a streamlined process because of yeast's efficient transformation, limited endogenous specialized metabolism, partially sharing its primary metabolism with plants, and its capability of post-translational modification. Despite these advantages, reconstructing complex plant biosynthetic pathways in yeast can be time intensive. Since its discovery, CRISPR/Cas9 has greatly stimulated metabolic engineering in yeast. Yeast is a popular system for genome editing due to its efficient homology-directed repair mechanism, which allows precise integration of heterologous genes into its genome. One practical use of CRISPR/Cas9 in yeast is multiplex genome editing aimed at reconstructing complex metabolic pathways. This system has the capability of integrating multiple genes of interest in a single transformation, simplifying the reconstruction of complex pathways. As plant specialized metabolites usually have complex multigene biosynthetic pathways, the multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 system in yeast is suited well for functional genomics research in plant specialized metabolism. Here, we review the most advanced methods to achieve efficient multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 editing in yeast. We will also discuss how this powerful tool has been applied to benefit the study of plant specialized metabolism.
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17
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Liu H, Robinson DS, Wu ZY, Kuo R, Yoshikuni Y, Blaby IK, Cheng JF. Bacterial genome editing by coupling Cre-lox and CRISPR-Cas9 systems. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241867. [PMID: 33147260 PMCID: PMC7641437 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The past decade has been a golden age for microbiology, marked by the discovery of an unprecedented increase in the number of novel bacterial species. Yet gaining biological knowledge of those organisms has not kept pace with sequencing efforts. To unlock this genetic potential there is an urgent need for generic (i.e. non-species specific) genetic toolboxes. Recently, we developed a method, termed chassis-independent recombinase-assisted genome engineering (CRAGE), enabling the integration and expression of large complex gene clusters directly into the chromosomes of diverse bacteria. Here we expand upon this technology by incorporating CRISPR-Cas9 allowing precise genome editing across multiple bacterial species. To do that we have developed a landing pad that carries one wild-type and two mutant lox sites to allow integration of foreign DNA at two locations through Cre-lox recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE). The first RMCE event is to integrate the Cas9 and the DNA repair protein genes RecET, and the second RMCE event enables the integration of customized sgRNA and a repair template. Following this workflow, we achieved precise genome editing in four different gammaproteobacterial species. We also show that the inserted landing pad and the entire editing machinery can be removed scarlessly after editing. We report here the construction of a single landing pad transposon and demonstrate its functionality across multiple species. The modular design of the landing pad and accessory vectors allows design and assembly of genome editing platforms for other organisms in a similar way. We believe this approach will greatly expand the list of bacteria amenable to genetic manipulation and provides the means to advance our understanding of the microbial world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hualan Liu
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - David S. Robinson
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Zong-Yen Wu
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Rita Kuo
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Yasuo Yoshikuni
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Ian K. Blaby
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Jan-Fang Cheng
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Cámara E, Lenitz I, Nygård Y. A CRISPR activation and interference toolkit for industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain KE6-12. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14605. [PMID: 32884066 PMCID: PMC7471924 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71648-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in CRISPR/Cas9 based genome editing have considerably advanced genetic engineering of industrial yeast strains. In this study, we report the construction and characterization of a toolkit for CRISPR activation and interference (CRISPRa/i) for a polyploid industrial yeast strain. In the CRISPRa/i plasmids that are available in high and low copy variants, dCas9 is expressed alone, or as a fusion with an activation or repression domain; VP64, VPR or Mxi1. The sgRNA is introduced to the CRISPRa/i plasmids from a double stranded oligonucleotide by in vivo homology-directed repair, allowing rapid transcriptional modulation of new target genes without cloning. The CRISPRa/i toolkit was characterized by alteration of expression of fluorescent protein-encoding genes under two different promoters allowing expression alterations up to ~ 2.5-fold. Furthermore, we demonstrated the usability of the CRISPRa/i toolkit by improving the tolerance towards wheat straw hydrolysate of our industrial production strain. We anticipate that our CRISPRa/i toolkit can be widely used to assess novel targets for strain improvement and thus accelerate the design-build-test cycle for developing various industrial production strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Cámara
- Division of Industrial Biotechnology, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ibai Lenitz
- Division of Industrial Biotechnology, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yvonne Nygård
- Division of Industrial Biotechnology, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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19
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Zhao Y, Boeke JD. CRISPR-Cas12a system in fission yeast for multiplex genomic editing and CRISPR interference. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:5788-5798. [PMID: 32374858 PMCID: PMC7261154 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR–Cas12a is a class II, type V clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) system with both RNase and DNase activity. Compared to the CRISPR–Cas9 system, it recognizes T-rich PAM sequences and has the advantage of multiplex genomic editing. Here, in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, we successfully implemented the CRISPR–Cas12a system for versatile genomic editing and manipulation. In addition to the rrk1 promoter, we used new pol II promoters from endogenous coding genes to express crRNA for Cas12a and obtained a much higher editing efficiency. This new design expands the promoter choices for potential applications in fission yeast and other organisms. In addition, we expressed a gRNA array using a strong constitutive pol II promoter. The array transcript is processed by Cas12a itself to release multiple mature crRNAs. With this construct, multiplex genomic editing of up to three loci was achieved from a single yeast transformation. We also built a CRISPR interference system using a DNase-dead Cas12a to significantly repress endogenous gene expression. Our study provides the first CRISPR-Cas12a toolkit for efficient and rapid genomic gene editing and regulation in fission yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhao
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Jef D Boeke
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
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20
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Roux I, Woodcraft C, Hu J, Wolters R, Gilchrist CLM, Chooi YH. CRISPR-Mediated Activation of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters for Bioactive Molecule Discovery in Filamentous Fungi. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1843-1854. [PMID: 32526136 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Accessing the full biosynthetic potential encoded in the genomes of fungi is limited by the low expression of most biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) under common laboratory culture conditions. CRISPR-mediated transcriptional activation (CRISPRa) of fungal BGCs could accelerate genomics-driven bioactive secondary metabolite discovery. In this work, we established the first CRISPRa system for filamentous fungi. First, we constructed a CRISPR/dLbCas12a-VPR-based system and demonstrated the activation of a fluorescent reporter in Aspergillus nidulans. Then, we targeted the native nonribosomal peptide synthetase-like (NRPS-like) gene micA in both chromosomal and episomal contexts, achieving increased production of the compound microperfuranone. Finally, multigene CRISPRa led to the discovery of the mic cluster product as dehydromicroperfuranone. Additionally, we demonstrated the utility of the variant dLbCas12aD156R-VPR for CRISPRa at room temperature culture conditions. Different aspects that influence the efficiency of CRISPRa in fungi were investigated, providing a framework for the further development of fungal artificial transcription factors based on CRISPR/Cas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indra Roux
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Clara Woodcraft
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jinyu Hu
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Rebecca Wolters
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Cameron L M Gilchrist
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Yit-Heng Chooi
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
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21
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Adiego-Pérez B, Randazzo P, Daran JM, Verwaal R, Roubos JA, Daran-Lapujade P, van der Oost J. Multiplex genome editing of microorganisms using CRISPR-Cas. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 366:5489186. [PMID: 31087001 PMCID: PMC6522427 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnz086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial production of chemical compounds often requires highly engineered microbial cell factories. During the last years, CRISPR-Cas nucleases have been repurposed as powerful tools for genome editing. Here, we briefly review the most frequently used CRISPR-Cas tools and describe some of their applications. We describe the progress made with respect to CRISPR-based multiplex genome editing of industrial bacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms. We also review the state of the art in terms of gene expression regulation using CRISPRi and CRISPRa. Finally, we summarize the pillars for efficient multiplexed genome editing and present our view on future developments and applications of CRISPR-Cas tools for multiplex genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Adiego-Pérez
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paola Randazzo
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jean Marc Daran
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - René Verwaal
- DSM Biotechnology Center, Alexander Fleminglaan 1, 2613 AX Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes A Roubos
- DSM Biotechnology Center, Alexander Fleminglaan 1, 2613 AX Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Pascale Daran-Lapujade
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
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22
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Payen C, Thompson D. The renaissance of yeasts as microbial factories in the modern age of biomanufacturing. Yeast 2019; 36:685-700. [DOI: 10.1002/yea.3439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Celia Payen
- DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences Wilmington Delaware
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23
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Advances in Sphingolipidoses: CRISPR-Cas9 Editing as an Option for Modelling and Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20235897. [PMID: 31771289 PMCID: PMC6928934 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20235897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipidoses are inherited genetic diseases characterized by the accumulation of glycosphingolipids. Sphingolipidoses (SP), which usually involve the loss of sphingolipid hydrolase function, are of lysosomal origin, and represent an important group of rare diseases among lysosomal storage disorders. Initial treatments consisted of enzyme replacement therapy, but, in recent decades, various therapeutic approaches have been developed. However, these commonly used treatments for SP fail to be fully effective and do not penetrate the blood-brain barrier. New approaches, such as genome editing, have great potential for both the treatment and study of sphingolipidoses. Here, we review the most recent advances in the treatment and modelling of SP through the application of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. CRISPR-Cas9 is currently the most widely used method for genome editing. This technique is versatile; it can be used for altering the regulation of genes involved in sphingolipid degradation and synthesis pathways, interrogating gene function, generating knock out models, or knocking in mutations. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing is being used as an approach to disease treatment, but more frequently it is utilized to create models of disease. New CRISPR-Cas9-based tools of gene editing with diminished off-targeting effects are evolving and seem to be more promising for the correction of individual mutations. Emerging Prime results and CRISPR-Cas9 difficulties are also discussed.
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24
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Ferreira R, Skrekas C, Hedin A, Sánchez BJ, Siewers V, Nielsen J, David F. Model-Assisted Fine-Tuning of Central Carbon Metabolism in Yeast through dCas9-Based Regulation. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:2457-2463. [PMID: 31577419 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae for industrial-scale production of valuable chemicals involves extensive modulation of its metabolism. Here, we identified novel gene expression fine-tuning set-ups to enhance endogenous metabolic fluxes toward increasing levels of acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA. dCas9-based transcriptional regulation was combined together with a malonyl-CoA responsive intracellular biosensor to select for beneficial set-ups. The candidate genes for screening were predicted using a genome-scale metabolic model, and a gRNA library targeting a total of 168 selected genes was designed. After multiple rounds of fluorescence-activated cell sorting and library sequencing, the gRNAs that were functional and increased flux toward malonyl-CoA were assessed for their efficiency to enhance 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) production. 3-HP production was significantly improved upon fine-tuning genes involved in providing malonyl-CoA precursors, cofactor supply, as well as chromatin remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Ferreira
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Christos Skrekas
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Alex Hedin
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Benjamín J Sánchez
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Verena Siewers
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Jens Nielsen
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability , Technical University of Denmark , DK2800 Kgs . Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Florian David
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability , Chalmers University of Technology , SE412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden
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25
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Geller SH, Antwi EB, Di Ventura B, McClean MN. Optogenetic Repressors of Gene Expression in Yeasts Using Light-Controlled Nuclear Localization. Cell Mol Bioeng 2019; 12:511-528. [PMID: 31719930 PMCID: PMC6816687 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-019-00598-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Controlling gene expression is a fundamental goal of basic and synthetic biology because it allows insight into cellular function and control of cellular activity. We explored the possibility of generating an optogenetic repressor of gene expression in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae by using light to control the nuclear localization of nuclease-dead Cas9, dCas9. METHODS The dCas9 protein acts as a repressor for a gene of interest when localized to the nucleus in the presence of an appropriate guide RNA (sgRNA). We engineered dCas9, the mammalian transcriptional repressor Mxi1, and an optogenetic tool to control nuclear localization (LINuS) as parts in an existing yeast optogenetic toolkit. This allowed expression cassettes containing novel dCas9 repressor configurations and guide RNAs to be rapidly constructed and integrated into yeast. RESULTS Our library of repressors displays a range of basal repression without the need for inducers or promoter modification. Populations of cells containing these repressors can be combined to generate a heterogeneous population of yeast with a 100-fold expression range. We find that repression can be dialed modestly in a light dose- and intensity-dependent manner. We used this library to repress expression of the lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase Erg11, generating yeast with a range of sensitivity to the important antifungal drug fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS This toolkit will be useful for spatiotemporal perturbation of gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Additionally, we believe that the simplicity of our scheme will allow these repressors to be easily modified to control gene expression in medically relevant fungi, such as pathogenic yeasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie H. Geller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1525 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Enoch B. Antwi
- Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School (HBIGS), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Barbara Di Ventura
- Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Megan N. McClean
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
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26
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Shen BA, Landick R. Transcription of Bacterial Chromatin. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:4040-4066. [PMID: 31153903 PMCID: PMC7248592 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Decades of research have probed the interplay between chromatin (genomic DNA associated with proteins and RNAs) and transcription by RNA polymerase (RNAP) in all domains of life. In bacteria, chromatin is compacted into a membrane-free region known as the nucleoid that changes shape and composition depending on the bacterial state. Transcription plays a key role in both shaping the nucleoid and organizing it into domains. At the same time, chromatin impacts transcription by at least five distinct mechanisms: (i) occlusion of RNAP binding; (ii) roadblocking RNAP progression; (iii) constraining DNA topology; (iv) RNA-mediated interactions; and (v) macromolecular demixing and heterogeneity, which may generate phase-separated condensates. These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive and, in combination, mediate gene regulation. Here, we review the current understanding of these mechanisms with a focus on gene silencing by H-NS, transcription coordination by HU, and potential phase separation by Dps. The myriad questions about transcription of bacterial chromatin are increasingly answerable due to methodological advances, enabling a needed paradigm shift in the field of bacterial transcription to focus on regulation of genes in their native state. We can anticipate answers that will define how bacterial chromatin helps coordinate and dynamically regulate gene expression in changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A Shen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Robert Landick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States; Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States.
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27
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Lauer S, Gresham D. An evolving view of copy number variants. Curr Genet 2019; 65:1287-1295. [PMID: 31076843 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-019-00980-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Copy number variants (CNVs) are regions of the genome that vary in integer copy number. CNVs, which comprise both amplifications and deletions of DNA sequence, have been identified across all domains of life, from bacteria and archaea to plants and animals. CNVs are an important source of genetic diversity, and can drive rapid adaptive evolution and progression of heritable and somatic human diseases, such as cancer. However, despite their evolutionary importance and clinical relevance, CNVs remain understudied compared to single-nucleotide variants (SNVs). This is a consequence of the inherent difficulties in detecting CNVs at low-to-intermediate frequencies in heterogeneous populations of cells. Here, we discuss molecular methods used to detect CNVs, the limitations associated with using these techniques, and the application of new and emerging technologies that present solutions to these challenges. The goal of this short review and perspective is to highlight aspects of CNV biology that are understudied and define avenues for further research that address specific gaps in our knowledge of these complex alleles. We describe our recently developed method for CNV detection in which a fluorescent gene functions as a single-cell CNV reporter and present key findings from our evolution experiments in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using a CNV reporter, we found that CNVs are generated at a high rate and undergo selection with predictable dynamics across independently evolving replicate populations. Many CNVs appear to be generated through DNA replication-based processes that are mediated by the presence of short, interrupted, inverted-repeat sequences. Our results have important implications for the role of CNVs in evolutionary processes and the molecular mechanisms that underlie CNV formation. We discuss the possible extension of our method to other applications, including tracking the dynamics of CNVs in models of human tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Lauer
- Institute for Systems Genetics, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Gresham
- Center for Genomics and System Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
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Martinez-Redondo P, Izpisua Belmonte JC. Tailored chromatin modulation to promote tissue regeneration. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2019; 97:3-15. [PMID: 31028854 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is fundamental in the maintenance of cellular identity and the regulation of cellular plasticity during tissue repair. In fact, epigenetic modulation is associated with the processes of cellular de-differentiation, proliferation, and re-differentiation that takes place during tissue regeneration. In here we explore the epigenetic events that coordinate tissue repair in lower vertebrates with high regenerative capacity, and in mammalian adult stem cells, which are responsible for the homeostasis maintenance of most of our tissues. Finally we summarize promising CRISPR-based editing technologies developed during the last years, which look as promising tools to not only study but also promote specific events during tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paloma Martinez-Redondo
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, United States
| | - Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, United States.
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Wan X, Marsafari M, Xu P. Engineering metabolite-responsive transcriptional factors to sense small molecules in eukaryotes: current state and perspectives. Microb Cell Fact 2019; 18:61. [PMID: 30914048 PMCID: PMC6434827 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-019-1111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nature has evolved exquisite sensing mechanisms to detect cellular and environmental signals surrounding living organisms. These biosensors have been widely used to sense small molecules, detect environmental cues and diagnose disease markers. Metabolic engineers and synthetic biologists have been able to exploit metabolites-responsive transcriptional factors (MRTFs) as basic tools to rewire cell metabolism, reprogram cellular activity as well as boost cell’s productivity. This is commonly achieved by integrating sensor-actuator systems with biocatalytic functions and dynamically allocating cellular resources to drive carbon flux toward the target pathway. Up to date, most of identified MRTFs are derived from bacteria. As an endeavor to advance intelligent biomanufacturing in yeast cell factory, we will summarize the opportunities and challenges to transfer the bacteria-derived MRTFs to expand the small-molecule sensing capability in eukaryotic cells. We will discuss the design principles underlying MRTF-based biosensors in eukaryotic cells, including the choice of reliable reporters and the characterization tools to minimize background noise, strategies to tune the sensor dynamic range, sensitivity and specificity, as well as the criteria to engineer activator and repressor-based biosensors. Due to the physical separation of transcription and protein expression in eukaryotes, we argue that nuclear import/export mechanism of MRTFs across the nuclear membrane plays a critical role in regulating the MRTF sensor dynamics. Precisely-controlled MRTF response will allow us to repurpose the vast majority of transcriptional factors as molecular switches to achieve temporal or spatial gene expression in eukaryotes. Uncovering this knowledge will inform us fundamental design principles to deliver robust cell factories and enable the design of reprogrammable and predictable biological systems for intelligent biomanufacturing, smart therapeutics or precision medicine in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wan
- Department of Chemical Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430062, Hubei, China
| | - Monireh Marsafari
- Department of Chemical Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA.,Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, University of Guilan, Rasht, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Chemical Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA.
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