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Cooper S, Obolenski S, Waters AJ, Bassett AR, Coelho MA. Analyzing the functional effects of DNA variants with gene editing. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2024; 4:100776. [PMID: 38744287 PMCID: PMC11133854 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Continual advancements in genomics have led to an ever-widening disparity between the rate of discovery of genetic variants and our current understanding of their functions and potential roles in disease. Systematic methods for phenotyping DNA variants are required to effectively translate genomics data into improved outcomes for patients with genetic diseases. To make the biggest impact, these approaches must be scalable and accurate, faithfully reflect disease biology, and define complex disease mechanisms. We compare current methods to analyze the function of variants in their endogenous DNA context using genome editing strategies, such as saturation genome editing, base editing and prime editing. We discuss how these technologies can be linked to high-content readouts to gain deep mechanistic insights into variant effects. Finally, we highlight key challenges that need to be addressed to bridge the genotype to phenotype gap, and ultimately improve the diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Cooper
- Cellular and Gene Editing Research, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Sofia Obolenski
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Andrew J Waters
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Andrew R Bassett
- Cellular and Gene Editing Research, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
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Cooper S, Schwartzentruber J, Coomber EL, Wu Q, Bassett A. Screening for functional regulatory variants in open chromatin using GenIE-ATAC. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:e64. [PMID: 37125635 PMCID: PMC10287956 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the effects of genetic variation in gene regulatory elements is crucial to interpreting genome function. This is particularly pertinent for the hundreds of thousands of disease-associated variants identified by GWAS, which frequently sit within gene regulatory elements but whose functional effects are often unknown. Current methods are limited in their scalability and ability to assay regulatory variants in their endogenous context, independently of other tightly linked variants. Here, we present a new medium-throughput screening system: genome engineering based interrogation of enhancers assay for transposase accessible chromatin (GenIE-ATAC), that measures the effect of individual variants on chromatin accessibility in their endogenous genomic and chromatin context. We employ this assay to screen for the effects of regulatory variants in human induced pluripotent stem cells, validating a subset of causal variants, and extend our software package (rgenie) to analyse these new data. We demonstrate that this methodology can be used to understand the impact of defined deletions and point mutations within transcription factor binding sites. We thus establish GenIE-ATAC as a method to screen for the effect of gene regulatory element variation, allowing identification and prioritisation of causal variants from GWAS for functional follow-up and understanding the mechanisms of regulatory element function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Cooper
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
- OpenTargets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jeremy Schwartzentruber
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
- OpenTargets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Eve L Coomber
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Qianxin Wu
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Andrew Bassett
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
- OpenTargets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
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The application of genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens to dissect the molecular mechanisms of toxins. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:5076-5084. [PMID: 36187925 PMCID: PMC9489804 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Many toxins are life-threatening to both animals and humans. However, specific antidotes are not available for most of those toxins. The molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicology of well-known toxins are not yet fully characterized. Recently, the advance in CRISPR-Cas9 technologies has greatly accelerated the process of revealing the toxic mechanisms of some common toxins on hosts from a genome-wide perspective. The high-throughput CRISPR screen has made it feasible to untangle complicated interactions between a particular toxin and its corresponding targeting tissue(s). In this review, we present an overview of recent advances in molecular dissection of toxins’ cytotoxicity by using genome-wide CRISPR screens, summarize the components essential for toxin-specific CRISPR screens, and propose new strategies for future research.
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Guo H, Liu L, Nishiga M, Cong L, Wu JC. Deciphering pathogenicity of variants of uncertain significance with CRISPR-edited iPSCs. Trends Genet 2021; 37:1109-1123. [PMID: 34509299 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Genetic variants play an important role in conferring risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). With the rapid development of next-generation sequencing (NGS), thousands of genetic variants associated with CVDs have been identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), but the function of more than 40% of genetic variants is still unknown. This gap of knowledge is a barrier to the clinical application of the genetic information. However, determining the pathogenicity of a variant of uncertain significance (VUS) is challenging due to the lack of suitable model systems and accessible technologies. By combining clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), unprecedented advances are now possible in determining the pathogenicity of VUS in CVDs. Here, we summarize recent progress and new strategies in deciphering pathogenic variants for CVDs using CRISPR-edited human iPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongchao Guo
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lichao Liu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Masataka Nishiga
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Le Cong
- Department of Pathology and Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Heilbron K, Mozaffari SV, Vacic V, Yue P, Wang W, Shi J, Jubb AM, Pitts SJ, Wang X. Advancing drug discovery using the power of the human genome. J Pathol 2021; 254:418-429. [PMID: 33748968 PMCID: PMC8251523 DOI: 10.1002/path.5664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Human genetics plays an increasingly important role in drug development and population health. Here we review the history of human genetics in the context of accelerating the discovery of therapies, present examples of how human genetics evidence supports successful drug targets, and discuss how polygenic risk scores could be beneficial in various clinical settings. We highlight the value of direct-to-consumer platforms in the era of fast-paced big data biotechnology, and how diverse genetic and health data can benefit society. © 2021 23andMe, Inc. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Lu H, Zhang J, Chen YE, Garcia-Barrio MT. Integration of Transformative Platforms for the Discovery of Causative Genes in Cardiovascular Diseases. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2021; 35:637-654. [PMID: 33856594 DOI: 10.1007/s10557-021-07175-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are powerful epidemiological tools to find genes and variants associated with cardiovascular diseases while follow-up biological studies allow to better understand the etiology and mechanisms of disease and assign causality. Improved methodologies and reduced costs have allowed wider use of bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, human-induced pluripotent stem cells, organoids, metabolomics, epigenomics, and novel animal models in conjunction with GWAS. In this review, we feature recent advancements relevant to cardiovascular diseases arising from the integration of genetic findings with multiple enabling technologies within multidisciplinary teams to highlight the solidifying transformative potential of this approach. Well-designed workflows integrating different platforms are greatly improving and accelerating the unraveling and understanding of complex disease processes while promoting an effective way to find better drug targets, improve drug design and repurposing, and provide insight towards a more personalized clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haocheng Lu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2800, USA
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2800, USA.,Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2800, USA. .,Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Minerva T Garcia-Barrio
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2800, USA.
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Castells-Roca L, Tejero E, Rodríguez-Santiago B, Surrallés J. CRISPR Screens in Synthetic Lethality and Combinatorial Therapies for Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1591. [PMID: 33808217 PMCID: PMC8037779 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease resulting from the accumulation of genetic dysfunctions. Tumor heterogeneity causes the molecular variety that divergently controls responses to chemotherapy, leading to the recurrent problem of cancer reappearance. For many decades, efforts have focused on identifying essential tumoral genes and cancer driver mutations. More recently, prompted by the clinical success of the synthetic lethality (SL)-based therapy of the PARP inhibitors in homologous recombinant deficient tumors, scientists have centered their novel research on SL interactions (SLI). The state of the art to find new genetic interactions are currently large-scale forward genetic CRISPR screens. CRISPR technology has rapidly evolved to be a common tool in the vast majority of laboratories, as tools to implement CRISPR screen protocols are available to all researchers. Taking advantage of SLI, combinatorial therapies have become the ultimate model to treat cancer with lower toxicity, and therefore better efficiency. This review explores the CRISPR screen methodology, integrates the up-to-date published findings on CRISPR screens in the cancer field and proposes future directions to uncover cancer regulation and individual responses to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Castells-Roca
- Genome Instability and DNA Repair Syndromes Group, Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau) and Join Unit UAB-IR Sant Pau on Genomic Medicine, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Genetics Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain;
- Genetics and Microbiology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Eudald Tejero
- Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Benjamín Rodríguez-Santiago
- Genetics Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain;
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER) and Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Surrallés
- Genome Instability and DNA Repair Syndromes Group, Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau) and Join Unit UAB-IR Sant Pau on Genomic Medicine, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Genetics Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain;
- Genetics and Microbiology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER) and Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
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