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Yang Q, Abebe JS, Mai M, Rudy G, Kim SY, Devinsky O, Long C. T4 DNA polymerase prevents deleterious on-target DNA damage and enhances precise CRISPR editing. EMBO J 2024; 43:3733-3751. [PMID: 39039289 PMCID: PMC11377749 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00158-6] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Unintended on-target chromosomal alterations induced by CRISPR/Cas9 in mammalian cells are common, particularly large deletions and chromosomal translocations, and present a safety challenge for genome editing. Thus, there is still an unmet need to develop safer and more efficient editing tools. We screened diverse DNA polymerases of distinct origins and identified a T4 DNA polymerase derived from phage T4 that strongly prevents undesired on-target damage while increasing the proportion of precise 1- to 2-base-pair insertions generated during CRISPR/Cas9 editing (termed CasPlus). CasPlus induced substantially fewer on-target large deletions while increasing the efficiency of correcting common frameshift mutations in DMD and restored higher level of dystrophin expression than Cas9-alone in human cardiomyocytes. Moreover, CasPlus greatly reduced the frequency of on-target large deletions during mouse germline editing. In multiplexed guide RNAs mediating gene editing, CasPlus repressed chromosomal translocations while maintaining gene disruption efficiency that was higher or comparable to Cas9 in primary human T cells. Therefore, CasPlus offers a safer and more efficient gene editing strategy to treat pathogenic variants or to introduce genetic modifications in human applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyan Yang
- NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan S Abebe
- NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Mai
- NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriella Rudy
- NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sang Y Kim
- Department of Pathology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Orrin Devinsky
- New York University Langone Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chengzu Long
- NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Ferreira da Silva J, Tou CJ, King EM, Eller ML, Rufino-Ramos D, Ma L, Cromwell CR, Metovic J, Benning FMC, Chao LH, Eichler FS, Kleinstiver BP. Click editing enables programmable genome writing using DNA polymerases and HUH endonucleases. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-024-02324-x. [PMID: 39039307 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02324-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Genome editing technologies based on DNA-dependent polymerases (DDPs) could offer several benefits compared with other types of editors to install diverse edits. Here, we develop click editing, a genome writing platform that couples the advantageous properties of DDPs with RNA-programmable nickases to permit the installation of a range of edits, including substitutions, insertions and deletions. Click editors (CEs) leverage the 'click'-like bioconjugation ability of HUH endonucleases with single-stranded DNA substrates to covalently tether 'click DNA' (clkDNA) templates encoding user-specifiable edits at targeted genomic loci. Through iterative optimization of the modular components of CEs and their clkDNAs, we demonstrate the ability to install precise genome edits with minimal indels in diverse immortalized human cell types and primary fibroblasts with precise editing efficiencies of up to ~30%. Editing efficiency can be improved by rapidly screening clkDNA oligonucleotides with various modifications, including repair-evading substitutions. Click editing is a precise and versatile genome editing approach for diverse biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Ferreira da Silva
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Connor J Tou
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Biological Engineering Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Emily M King
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Madeline L Eller
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Rufino-Ramos
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linyuan Ma
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher R Cromwell
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jasna Metovic
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Friederike M C Benning
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luke H Chao
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Florian S Eichler
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin P Kleinstiver
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Gu Y, Fan C, Yang H, Sun H, Wang X, Qiu X, Chen B, Li CM, Guo C. Fluorogenic RNA Aptamer-Based Amplification and Transcription Strategy for Label-free Sensing of Methyltransferase Activity in Complex Matrixes. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300668. [PMID: 38327153 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
DNA methyltransferase is significant in cellular activities and gene expression, and its aberrant expression is closely linked to various cancers during initiation and progression. Currently, there is a great demand for reliable and label-free techniques for DNA methyltransferase evaluation in tumor diagnosis and cancer therapy. Herein, a low-background fluorescent RNA aptamer-based sensing approach for label-free quantification of cytosine-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides methyltransferase (M.SssI) is reported. The fluorogenic light-up RNA aptamers-based strategy exhibits high selectivity via restriction endonuclease, padlock-based recognition, and RNA transcription. By combining rolling circle amplification (RCA), and RNA transcription with fluorescence response of RNA aptamers of Spinach-dye compound, the proposed platform exhibited efficiently ultrahigh sensitivity toward M.SssI. Eventually, the detection can be achieved in a linear range of 0.02-100 U mL-1 with a detection limit of 1.6 × 10-3 U mL-1. Owing to these superior features, the method is further applied in serum samples spiked M.SssI, which delivers a recovery ranging from 92.0 to 107.0% and a relative standard deviation <7.0%, providing a promising and practical tool for determining M.SssI in complex biological matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gu
- Institute for Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, P.R. China
| | - Cunxia Fan
- Institute for Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, P.R. China
| | - Hongbin Yang
- Institute for Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, P.R. China
| | - Huiping Sun
- Institute for Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, P.R. China
| | - Xiaobao Wang
- Institute for Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, P.R. China
| | - Xingchen Qiu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, P.R. China
| | - Bo Chen
- Institute for Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, P.R. China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, Department of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, P. R. China
| | - Chang-Ming Li
- Institute for Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, P.R. China
| | - Chunxian Guo
- Institute for Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, P.R. China
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Waldo JJ, Halmai JANM, Fink KD. Epigenetic editing for autosomal dominant neurological disorders. Front Genome Ed 2024; 6:1304110. [PMID: 38510848 PMCID: PMC10950933 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2024.1304110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics refers to the molecules and mechanisms that modify gene expression states without changing the nucleotide context. These modifications are what encode the cell state during differentiation or epigenetic memory in mitosis. Epigenetic modifications can alter gene expression by changing the chromatin architecture by altering the affinity for DNA to wrap around histone octamers, forming nucleosomes. The higher affinity the DNA has for the histones, the tighter it will wrap and therefore induce a heterochromatin state, silencing gene expression. Several groups have shown the ability to harness the cell's natural epigenetic modification pathways to engineer proteins that can induce changes in epigenetics and consequently regulate gene expression. Therefore, epigenetic modification can be used to target and treat disorders through the modification of endogenous gene expression. The use of epigenetic modifications may prove an effective path towards regulating gene expression to potentially correct or cure genetic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kyle D. Fink
- Neurology Department, Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, MIND Institute, UC Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA, United States
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Mehryar MM, Shi X, Li J, Wu Q. DNA polymerases in precise and predictable CRISPR/Cas9-mediated chromosomal rearrangements. BMC Biol 2023; 21:288. [PMID: 38066536 PMCID: PMC10709867 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01784-y] [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: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that, owning to its cohesive cleavage, Cas9-mediated CRISPR gene editing outcomes at junctions of chromosomal rearrangements or DNA-fragment editing are precise and predictable; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood due to lack of suitable assay system and analysis tool. RESULTS Here we developed a customized computer program to take account of staggered or cohesive Cas9 cleavage and to rapidly process large volumes of junctional sequencing reads from chromosomal rearrangements or DNA-fragment editing, including DNA-fragment inversions, duplications, and deletions. We also established a sensitive assay system using HPRT1 and DCK as reporters for cell growth during DNA-fragment editing by Cas9 with dual sgRNAs and found prominent large resections or long deletions at junctions of chromosomal rearrangements. In addition, we found that knockdown of PolQ (encoding Polθ polymerase), which has a prominent role in theta-mediated end joining (TMEJ) or microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ), results in increased large resections but decreased small deletions. We also found that the mechanisms for generating small deletions of 1bp and >1bp during DNA-fragment editing are different with regard to their opposite dependencies on Polθ and Polλ (encoded by the PolL gene). Specifically, Polθ suppresses 1bp deletions but promotes >1bp deletions, whereas Polλ promotes 1bp deletions but suppresses >1bp deletions. Finally, we found that Polλ is the main DNA polymerase responsible for fill-in of the 5' overhangs of staggered Cas9 cleavage ends. CONCLUSIONS These findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated DNA-fragment editing and have important implications for controllable, precise, and predictable gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza M Mehryar
- Center for Comparative Biomedicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- WLA Laboratories, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xin Shi
- Center for Comparative Biomedicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- WLA Laboratories, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jingwei Li
- Center for Comparative Biomedicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- WLA Laboratories, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qiang Wu
- Center for Comparative Biomedicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- WLA Laboratories, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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da Silva JF, Tou CJ, King EM, Eller ML, Ma L, Rufino-Ramos D, Kleinstiver BP. Click editing enables programmable genome writing using DNA polymerases and HUH endonucleases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.12.557440. [PMID: 37745481 PMCID: PMC10515857 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.12.557440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Genome editing technologies that install diverse edits can widely enable genetic studies and new therapeutics. Here we develop click editing, a genome writing platform that couples the advantageous properties of DNA-dependent DNA polymerases with RNA-programmable nickases (e.g. CRISPR-Cas) to permit the installation of a range of edits including substitutions, insertions, and deletions. Click editors (CEs) leverage the "click"-like bioconjugation ability of HUH endonucleases (HUHes) with single stranded DNA substrates to covalently tether "click DNA" (clkDNA) templates encoding user-specifiable edits at targeted genomic loci. Through iterative optimization of the modular components of CEs (DNA polymerase and HUHe orthologs, architectural modifications, etc.) and their clkDNAs (template configurations, repair evading substitutions, etc.), we demonstrate the ability to install precise genome edits with minimal indels and no unwanted byproduct insertions. Since clkDNAs can be ordered as simple DNA oligonucleotides for cents per base, it is possible to screen many different clkDNA parameters rapidly and inexpensively to maximize edit efficiency. Together, click editing is a precise and highly versatile platform for modifying genomes with a simple workflow and broad utility across diverse biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Ferreira da Silva
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Connor J. Tou
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Biological Engineering Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Emily M. King
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Madeline L. Eller
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Linyuan Ma
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - David Rufino-Ramos
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Benjamin P. Kleinstiver
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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7
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Guo T, Wei Q. Cell Reprogramming Techniques: Contributions to Cancer Therapy. Cell Reprogram 2023; 25:142-153. [PMID: 37530737 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2023.0011] [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: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The reprogramming of terminally differentiated cells over the past few years has become important for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in the field of regenerative medicine and disease drug modeling. At the same time, iPSCs have also played an important role in human cancer research. iPSCs derived from cancer patients can be used to simulate the early progression of cancer, for drug testing, and to study the molecular mechanism of cancer occurrence. In recent years, with the application of cellular immunotherapy in cancer therapy, patient-derived iPSC-induced immune cells (T, natural killer, and macrophage cells) solve the problem of immune rejection and have higher immunogenicity, which greatly improves the therapeutic efficiency of immune cell therapy. With the continuous progress of cancer differentiation therapy, iPSC technology can reprogram cancer cells to a more primitive pluripotent undifferentiated state, and successfully reverse cancer cells to a benign phenotype by changing the epigenetic inheritance of cancer cells. This article reviews the recent progress of cell reprogramming technology in human cancer research, focuses on the application of reprogramming technology in cancer immunotherapy and the problems solved, and summarizes the malignant phenotype changes of cancer cells in the process of reprogramming and subsequent differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongtong Guo
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qi Wei
- Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
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Hunt JMT, Samson CA, Rand AD, Sheppard HM. Unintended CRISPR-Cas9 editing outcomes: a review of the detection and prevalence of structural variants generated by gene-editing in human cells. Hum Genet 2023; 142:705-720. [PMID: 37093294 PMCID: PMC10182114 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02561-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Genome editing using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) gene-editing system (CRISPR-Cas) is a valuable tool for fundamental and applied research applications. Significant improvements in editing efficacy have advanced genome editing strategies into phase 3 human clinical trials. However, recent studies suggest that our understanding of editing outcomes has lagged behind the developments made in generating the edits themselves. While many researchers have analyzed on- and off-target events through the lens of small insertions or deletions at predicted sites, screens for larger structural variants (SVs) and chromosomal abnormalities are not routinely performed. Full and comprehensive validation of on- and off-target effects is required to ensure reproducibility and to accurately assess the safety of future editing applications. Here we review SVs associated with CRISPR-editing in cells of human origin and highlight the methods used to detect and avoid them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alex du Rand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Hilary M Sheppard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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