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McCutcheon SR, Rohm D, Iglesias N, Gersbach CA. Epigenome editing technologies for discovery and medicine. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-024-02320-1. [PMID: 39075148 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02320-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Epigenome editing has rapidly evolved in recent years, with diverse applications that include elucidating gene regulation mechanisms, annotating coding and noncoding genome functions and programming cell state and lineage specification. Importantly, given the ubiquitous role of epigenetics in complex phenotypes, epigenome editing has unique potential to impact a broad spectrum of diseases. By leveraging powerful DNA-targeting technologies, such as CRISPR, epigenome editing exploits the heritable and reversible mechanisms of epigenetics to alter gene expression without introducing DNA breaks, inducing DNA damage or relying on DNA repair pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R McCutcheon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dahlia Rohm
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nahid Iglesias
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Charles A Gersbach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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2
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Nicolas-Martinez EC, Robinson O, Pflueger C, Gardner A, Corbett MA, Ritchie T, Kroes T, van Eyk CL, Scheffer IE, Hildebrand MS, Barnier JV, Rousseau V, Genevieve D, Haushalter V, Piton A, Denommé-Pichon AS, Bruel AL, Nambot S, Isidor B, Grigg J, Gonzalez T, Ghedia S, Marchant RG, Bournazos A, Wong WK, Webster RI, Evesson FJ, Jones KJ, Cooper ST, Lister R, Gecz J, Jolly LA. RNA variant assessment using transactivation and transdifferentiation. Am J Hum Genet 2024:S0002-9297(24)00224-6. [PMID: 39084224 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the impact of splicing and nonsense variants on RNA is crucial for the resolution of variant classification as well as their suitability for precision medicine interventions. This is primarily enabled through RNA studies involving transcriptomics followed by targeted assays using RNA isolated from clinically accessible tissues (CATs) such as blood or skin of affected individuals. Insufficient disease gene expression in CATs does however pose a major barrier to RNA based investigations, which we show is relevant to 1,436 Mendelian disease genes. We term these "silent" Mendelian genes (SMGs), the largest portion (36%) of which are associated with neurological disorders. We developed two approaches to induce SMG expression in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) to overcome this limitation, including CRISPR-activation-based gene transactivation and fibroblast-to-neuron transdifferentiation. Initial transactivation screens involving 40 SMGs stimulated our development of a highly multiplexed transactivation system culminating in the 6- to 90,000-fold induction of expression of 20/20 (100%) SMGs tested in HDFs. Transdifferentiation of HDFs directly to neurons led to expression of 193/516 (37.4%) of SMGs implicated in neurological disease. The magnitude and isoform diversity of SMG expression following either transactivation or transdifferentiation was comparable to clinically relevant tissues. We apply transdifferentiation and/or gene transactivation combined with short- and long-read RNA sequencing to investigate the impact that variants in USH2A, SCN1A, DMD, and PAK3 have on RNA using HDFs derived from affected individuals. Transactivation and transdifferentiation represent rapid, scalable functional genomic solutions to investigate variants impacting SMGs in the patient cell and genomic context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmylou C Nicolas-Martinez
- The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Olivia Robinson
- The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Christian Pflueger
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Alison Gardner
- The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Mark A Corbett
- The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Tarin Ritchie
- The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Thessa Kroes
- The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Clare L van Eyk
- The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Michael S Hildebrand
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Jean-Vianney Barnier
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, UMR 9197, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Saclay, France
| | - Véronique Rousseau
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, UMR 9197, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Saclay, France
| | - David Genevieve
- Montpellier University, Inserm U1183, Reference Center for Rare Diseases Developmental Anomaly and Malformative Syndromes, Genetics Department, Montpellier Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Virginie Haushalter
- Genetic Diagnosis Laboratory, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Amélie Piton
- Genetic Diagnosis Laboratory, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Denommé-Pichon
- CRMRs "Anomalies du Développement et syndromes malformatifs" et "Déficiences Intellectuelles de causes rares", Centre de Génétique, CHU Dijon, Dijon, France; INSERM UMR1231, GAD "Génétique des Anomalies du Développement," FHU-TRANSLAD, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
| | - Ange-Line Bruel
- CRMRs "Anomalies du Développement et syndromes malformatifs" et "Déficiences Intellectuelles de causes rares", Centre de Génétique, CHU Dijon, Dijon, France; INSERM UMR1231, GAD "Génétique des Anomalies du Développement," FHU-TRANSLAD, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
| | - Sophie Nambot
- CRMRs "Anomalies du Développement et syndromes malformatifs" et "Déficiences Intellectuelles de causes rares", Centre de Génétique, CHU Dijon, Dijon, France; INSERM UMR1231, GAD "Génétique des Anomalies du Développement," FHU-TRANSLAD, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
| | - Bertrand Isidor
- CRMRs "Anomalies du Développement et syndromes malformatifs" et "Déficiences Intellectuelles de causes rares", Centre de Génétique, CHU Dijon, Dijon, France; INSERM UMR1231, GAD "Génétique des Anomalies du Développement," FHU-TRANSLAD, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
| | - John Grigg
- Speciality of Ophthalmology, Save Sight Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Tina Gonzalez
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Sondhya Ghedia
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Rhett G Marchant
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Adam Bournazos
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Wui-Kwan Wong
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Richard I Webster
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Frances J Evesson
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia; Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Kristi J Jones
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Department of Clinical Genetics, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Sandra T Cooper
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia; Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Ryan Lister
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jozef Gecz
- The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
| | - Lachlan A Jolly
- The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
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3
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Ezegbogu M, Wilkinson E, Reid G, Rodger EJ, Brockway B, Russell-Camp T, Kumar R, Chatterjee A. Cell-free DNA methylation in the clinical management of lung cancer. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:499-515. [PMID: 38582623 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
The clinical use of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation in managing lung cancer depends on its ability to differentiate between malignant and healthy cells, assign methylation changes to specific tissue sources, and elucidate opportunities for targeted therapy. From a technical standpoint, cfDNA methylation analysis is primed as a potential clinical tool for lung cancer screening, early diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment, pending the outcome of elaborate validation studies. Here, we discuss the current state of the art in cfDNA methylation analysis, examine the unique features and limitations of these new methods in a clinical context, propose two models for applying cfDNA methylation data for lung cancer screening, and discuss future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Ezegbogu
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | - Emma Wilkinson
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | - Glen Reid
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | - Euan J Rodger
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | - Ben Brockway
- Department of Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | - Takiwai Russell-Camp
- Department of Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | - Rajiv Kumar
- St George's Cancer Care Centre, 131 Leinster Road, Christchurch, 8014, New Zealand
| | - Aniruddha Chatterjee
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand; SoHST Faculty, UPES University, Dehradun 248007, India.
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4
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Livshits G, Kalinkovich A. Restoration of epigenetic impairment in the skeletal muscle and chronic inflammation resolution as a therapeutic approach in sarcopenia. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 96:102267. [PMID: 38462046 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102267] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Sarcopenia is an age-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, accompanied by severe adverse health outcomes, such as falls and fractures, functional decline, high health costs, and mortality. Hence, its prevention and treatment have become increasingly urgent. However, despite the wide prevalence and extensive research on sarcopenia, no FDA-approved disease-modifying drugs exist. This is probably due to a poor understanding of the mechanisms underlying its pathophysiology. Recent evidence demonstrate that sarcopenia development is characterized by two key elements: (i) epigenetic dysregulation of multiple molecular pathways associated with sarcopenia pathogenesis, such as protein remodeling, insulin resistance, mitochondria impairments, and (ii) the creation of a systemic, chronic, low-grade inflammation (SCLGI). In this review, we focus on the epigenetic regulators that have been implicated in skeletal muscle deterioration, their individual roles, and possible crosstalk. We also discuss epidrugs, which are the pharmaceuticals with the potential to restore the epigenetic mechanisms deregulated in sarcopenia. In addition, we discuss the mechanisms underlying failed SCLGI resolution in sarcopenia and the potential application of pro-resolving molecules, comprising specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) and their stable mimetics and receptor agonists. These compounds, as well as epidrugs, reveal beneficial effects in preclinical studies related to sarcopenia. Based on these encouraging observations, we propose the combination of epidrugs with SCLI-resolving agents as a new therapeutic approach for sarcopenia that can effectively attenuate of its manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Livshits
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel 4077625, Israel; Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6905126, Israel.
| | - Alexander Kalinkovich
- Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6905126, Israel
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5
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Mohamad Zamberi NN, Abuhamad AY, Low TY, Mohtar MA, Syafruddin SE. dCas9 Tells Tales: Probing Gene Function and Transcription Regulation in Cancer. CRISPR J 2024; 7:73-87. [PMID: 38635328 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2023.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based genome editing is evolving into an essential tool in the field of biological and medical research. Notably, the development of catalytically deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) enzyme has substantially broadened its traditional boundaries in gene editing or perturbation. The conjugation of dCas9 with various molecular effectors allows precise control over transcriptional processes, epigenetic modifications, visualization of chromosomal dynamics, and several other applications. This expanded repertoire of CRISPR-Cas9 applications has emerged as an invaluable molecular tool kit that empowers researchers to comprehensively interrogate and gain insights into health and diseases. This review delves into the advancements in Cas9 protein engineering, specifically on the generation of various dCas9 tools that have significantly enhanced the CRISPR-based technology capability and versatility. We subsequently discuss the multifaceted applications of dCas9, especially in interrogating the regulation and function of genes that involve in supporting cancer pathogenesis. In addition, we also delineate the designing and utilization of dCas9-based tools as well as highlighting its current constraints and transformative potentials in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul Nadia Mohamad Zamberi
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Asmaa Y Abuhamad
- Bionanotechnology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Teck Yew Low
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - M Aiman Mohtar
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Saiful Effendi Syafruddin
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
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6
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Yahsi B, Palaz F, Dincer P. Applications of CRISPR Epigenome Editors in Tumor Immunology and Autoimmunity. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:413-427. [PMID: 38298016 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00524] [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: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, CRISPR-Cas systems have become indispensable tools for genetic engineering and have been used in clinical trials for various diseases. Beyond genome editing, CRISPR-Cas systems can also be used for performing programmable epigenetic modifications. Recent efforts in enhancing CRISPR-based epigenome modifiers have yielded potent tools enabling targeted DNA methylation/demethylation capable of sustaining epigenetic memory through numerous cell divisions. Moreover, it has been understood that during chronic inflammatory states, including cancer, T cells encounter a state called T cell exhaustion that involves elevated inhibitory receptors (e.g., LAG-3, TIM3, PD-1, CD39) and reduced effector T cell-related protein levels (IFN-γ, granzyme B, and perforin). Importantly, epigenetic dysregulation has been identified as one of the key drivers of T cell exhaustion, and it remains one of the biggest obstacles in the field of immunotherapy and decreases the efficiency of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy. Similarly, autoimmune diseases exhibit epigenetically dysfunctional regulatory T (Treg) cells. For instance, FOXP3 intronic regions, known as conserved noncoding sequences, display hypomethylation in healthy states but hypermethylation in pathological contexts. Therefore, the reversal of epigenetic dysregulation in cancer and autoimmune diseases using CRISPR-based epigenome modifiers has important therapeutic implications. In this review, we outline the progressive refinement of CRISPR-based epigenome modifiers and explore their potential therapeutic applications in tumor immunology and autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berkay Yahsi
- Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Fahreddin Palaz
- Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Pervin Dincer
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
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Chen Y, Luo X, Kang R, Cui K, Ou J, Zhang X, Liang P. Current therapies for osteoarthritis and prospects of CRISPR-based genome, epigenome, and RNA editing in osteoarthritis treatment. J Genet Genomics 2024; 51:159-183. [PMID: 37516348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases worldwide, causing pain, disability, and decreased quality of life. The balance between regeneration and inflammation-induced degradation results in multiple etiologies and complex pathogenesis of OA. Currently, there is a lack of effective therapeutic strategies for OA treatment. With the development of CRISPR-based genome, epigenome, and RNA editing tools, OA treatment has been improved by targeting genetic risk factors, activating chondrogenic elements, and modulating inflammatory regulators. Supported by cell therapy and in vivo delivery vectors, genome, epigenome, and RNA editing tools may provide a promising approach for personalized OA therapy. This review summarizes CRISPR-based genome, epigenome, and RNA editing tools that can be applied to the treatment of OA and provides insights into the development of CRISPR-based therapeutics for OA treatment. Moreover, in-depth evaluations of the efficacy and safety of these tools in human OA treatment are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Xiao Luo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Rui Kang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Kaixin Cui
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Jianping Ou
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China
| | - Xiya Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China.
| | - Puping Liang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China.
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Seem K, Kaur S, Kumar S, Mohapatra T. Epigenome editing for targeted DNA (de)methylation: a new perspective in modulating gene expression. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 59:69-98. [PMID: 38440883 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2024.2320659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Traditionally, it has been believed that inheritance is driven as phenotypic variations resulting from changes in DNA sequence. However, this paradigm has been challenged and redefined in the contemporary era of epigenetics. The changes in DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNA biogenesis, and chromatin remodeling play crucial roles in genomic functions and regulation of gene expression. More importantly, some of these changes are inherited to the next generations as a part of epigenetic memory and play significant roles in gene expression. The sum total of all changes in DNA bases, histone proteins, and ncRNA biogenesis constitutes the epigenome. Continuous progress in deciphering epigenetic regulations and the existence of heritable epigenetic/epiallelic variations associated with trait of interest enables to deploy epigenome editing tools to modulate gene expression. DNA methylation marks can be utilized in epigenome editing for the manipulation of gene expression. Initially, genome/epigenome editing technologies relied on zinc-finger protein or transcriptional activator-like effector protein. However, the discovery of clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats CRISPR)/deadCRISPR-associated protein 9 (dCas9) enabled epigenome editing to be more specific/efficient for targeted DNA (de)methylation. One of the major concerns has been the off-target effects, wherein epigenome editing may unintentionally modify gene/regulatory element which may cause unintended change/harmful effects. Moreover, epigenome editing of germline cell raises several ethical/safety issues. This review focuses on the recent developments in epigenome editing tools/techniques, technological limitations, and future perspectives of this emerging technology in therapeutics for human diseases as well as plant improvement to achieve sustainable developmental goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karishma Seem
- Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Simardeep Kaur
- Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Suresh Kumar
- Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Trilochan Mohapatra
- Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, New Delhi, India
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9
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Zhu C, Hao Z, Liu D. Reshaping the Landscape of the Genome: Toolkits for Precise DNA Methylation Manipulation and Beyond. JACS AU 2024; 4:40-57. [PMID: 38274248 PMCID: PMC10806789 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
DNA methylation plays a pivotal role in various biological processes and is highly related to multiple diseases. The exact functions of DNA methylation are still puzzling due to its uneven distribution, dynamic conversion, and complex interactions with other substances. Current methods such as chemical- and enzyme-based sequencing techniques have enabled us to pinpoint DNA methylation at single-base resolution, which necessitated the manipulation of DNA methylation at comparable resolution to precisely illustrate the correlations and causal relationships between the functions of DNA methylation and its spatiotemporal patterns. Here a perspective on the past, recent process, and future of precise DNA methylation tools is provided. Specifically, genome-wide and site-specific manipulation of DNA methylation methods is discussed, with an emphasis on their principles, limitations, applications, and future developmental directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyou Zhu
- Engineering
Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, Ministry of Education,
Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ziyang Hao
- School
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical
University, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Dongsheng Liu
- Engineering
Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, Ministry of Education,
Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Swain T, Pflueger C, Freytag S, Poppe D, Pflueger J, Nguyen T, Li J, Lister R. A modular dCas9-based recruitment platform for combinatorial epigenome editing. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:474-491. [PMID: 38000387 PMCID: PMC10783489 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1108] [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: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted epigenome editing tools allow precise manipulation and investigation of genome modifications, however they often display high context dependency and variable efficacy between target genes and cell types. While systems that simultaneously recruit multiple distinct 'effector' chromatin regulators can improve efficacy, they generally lack control over effector composition and spatial organisation. To overcome this we have created a modular combinatorial epigenome editing platform, called SSSavi. This system is an interchangeable and reconfigurable docking platform fused to dCas9 that enables simultaneous recruitment of up to four different effectors, allowing precise control of effector composition and spatial ordering. We demonstrate the activity and specificity of the SSSavi system and, by testing it against existing multi-effector targeting systems, demonstrate its comparable efficacy. Furthermore, we demonstrate the importance of the spatial ordering of the recruited effectors for effective transcriptional regulation. Together, the SSSavi system enables exploration of combinatorial effector co-recruitment to enhance manipulation of chromatin contexts previously resistant to targeted editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Swain
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Christian Pflueger
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Saskia Freytag
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Daniel Poppe
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jahnvi Pflueger
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Trung Viet Nguyen
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Ji Kevin Li
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Ryan Lister
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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11
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Albrecht C, Rajaram N, Broche J, Bashtrykov P, Jeltsch A. Locus-Specific and Stable DNA Demethylation at the H19/ IGF2 ICR1 by Epigenome Editing Using a dCas9-SunTag System and the Catalytic Domain of TET1. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:80. [PMID: 38254969 PMCID: PMC10815749 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is critically involved in the regulation of chromatin states and cell-type-specific gene expression. The exclusive expression of imprinted genes from either the maternal or the paternal allele is regulated by allele-specific DNA methylation at imprinting control regions (ICRs). Aberrant DNA hyper- or hypomethylation at the ICR1 of the H19/IGF2 imprinting locus is characteristic for the imprinting disorders Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS), respectively. In this paper, we performed epigenome editing to induce targeted DNA demethylation at ICR1 in HEK293 cells using dCas9-SunTag and the catalytic domain of TET1. 5-methylcytosine (5mC) levels at the target locus were reduced up to 90% and, 27 days after transient transfection, >60% demethylation was still observed. Consistent with the stable demethylation of CTCF-binding sites within the ICR1, the occupancy of the DNA methylation-sensitive insulator CTCF protein increased by >2-fold throughout the 27 days. Additionally, the H19 expression was increased by 2-fold stably, while IGF2 was repressed though only transiently. Our data illustrate the ability of epigenome editing to implement long-term changes in DNA methylation at imprinting control regions after a single transient treatment, potentially paving the way for therapeutic epigenome editing approaches in the treatment of imprinting disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Albert Jeltsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; (C.A.)
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12
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Zapanta Rinonos S, Li T, Pianka ST, Prins TJ, Eldred BSC, Kevan BM, Liau LM, Nghiemphu PL, Cloughesy TF, Lai A. dCas9/CRISPR-based methylation of O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase enhances chemosensitivity to temozolomide in malignant glioma. J Neurooncol 2024; 166:129-142. [PMID: 38224404 PMCID: PMC10824881 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-023-04531-z] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant glioma carries a poor prognosis despite current therapeutic modalities. Standard of care therapy consists of surgical resection, fractionated radiotherapy concurrently administered with temozolomide (TMZ), a DNA-alkylating chemotherapeutic agent, followed by adjuvant TMZ. O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), a DNA repair enzyme, removes alkylated lesions from tumor DNA, thereby promoting chemoresistance. MGMT promoter methylation status predicts responsiveness to TMZ; patients harboring unmethylated MGMT (~60% of glioblastoma) have a poorer prognosis with limited treatment benefits from TMZ. METHODS Via lentiviral-mediated delivery into LN18 glioma cells, we employed deactivated Cas9-CRISPR technology to target the MGMT promoter and enhancer regions for methylation, as mediated by the catalytic domain of the methylation enzyme DNMT3A. Methylation patterns were examined at a clonal level in regions containing Differentially Methylation Regions (DMR1, DMR2) and the Methylation Specific PCR (MSP) region used for clinical assessment of MGMT methylation status. Correlative studies of genomic and transcriptomic effects of dCas9/CRISPR-based methylation were performed via Illumina 850K methylation array platform and bulk RNA-Seq analysis. RESULTS We used the dCas9/DNMT3A catalytic domain to achieve targeted MGMT methylation at specific CpG clusters in the vicinity of promoter, enhancer, DMRs and MSP regions. Consequently, we observed MGMT downregulation and enhanced glioma chemosensitivity in survival assays in vitro, with minimal off-target effects. CONCLUSION dCas9/CRISPR is a viable method of epigenetic editing, using the DNMT3A catalytic domain. This study provides initial proof-of-principle for CRISPR technology applications in malignant glioma, laying groundwork for subsequent translational studies, with implications for future epigenetic editing-based clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serendipity Zapanta Rinonos
- Department of Neurosurgery, Adam Michael Rosen Neuro-Oncology Laboratories, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tie Li
- Department of Neurology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Terry J Prins
- Department of Neurology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Bryan M Kevan
- Department of Neurology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Linda M Liau
- Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Albert Lai
- Department of Neurology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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13
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Song MK, Kim YS. Targeted Modification of Epigenetic Marks Using CRISPR/dCas9-SunTag-Based Modular Epigenetic Toolkit. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2761:81-91. [PMID: 38427231 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3662-6_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The epigenome, consisting of chemical modifications to DNA and histone proteins, can alter gene expression. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/dead CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/dCas9) systems enable precise target gene-specific gene modulation by attaching different "effector" domains to the dCas9 protein to activate or repress specific genes. CRISPR/dCas9-SunTag is an improved system version, allowing more efficient and precise gene activation or repression by recruiting multiple copies of the protein of interest. A CRISPR/dCas9-SunTag-based modular epigenetic toolkit was developed, enabling gene-specific epigenetic architecture modulation. This protocol generated a stable SH-SY5Y cell line expressing the CRISPR/dCas9-SunTag-JARID1A system to study H3K4Me3-mediated promoter regulation at a 200-400 bp of fine resolution. The procedure involved designing sgRNAs, subcloning dCas9-5XGCN4 into pLvx-DsRed, validating epigenetic mark changes with ChIP, and validating gene expression changes with RT-qPCR. This epigenetic toolkit is valuable for researchers to understand the relationship between gene-specific epigenetic modifications and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Kyung Song
- RWJMS Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon-Seong Kim
- RWJMS Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
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14
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Sekita Y, Kimura T. Protocol for DNA Methylation Editing of Imprinted Loci and Assessment of the Effects. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2842:167-178. [PMID: 39012595 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4051-7_8] [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: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
In this chapter, we present an experimental protocol to conduct DNA methylation editing experiments, that is, to induce loss or gain of DNA methylation, targeting Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted domain, a well-studied imprinted locus, in ES cells. In this protocol, plasmid vectors expressing the DNA methylation editing tools, combining the CRISPR/dCas9 system and the SunTag system coupled to a DNA methyltransferase or a TET enzyme, are introduced into cells for transient expression. By employing this strategy, researchers can effectively investigate a distinct DNA methylation signature that has an impact on the imprinting status, including gene expression and histone modifications, across the entire domain. We also describe strategies for allele-specific quantitative analyses of DNA methylation, gene expression, and histone modifications and binding protein levels for assessing the imprinting state of the locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoichi Sekita
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Tohru Kimura
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
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15
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Rajaram N, Bashtrykov P, Jeltsch A. Protocol for Allele-Specific Epigenome Editing Using CRISPR/dCas9. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2842:179-192. [PMID: 39012596 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4051-7_9] [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: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The discovery and adaptation of CRISPR/Cas systema for epigenome editing has allowed for a straightforward design of targeting modules that can direct epigenome editors to virtually any genomic site. This advancement in DNA-targeting technology brings allele-specific epigenome editing into reach, a "super-specific" variation of epigenome editing whose goal is an alteration of chromatin marks at only one selected allele of the genomic target locus. This technology could be useful for the treatment of diseases caused by a mutant allele with a dominant effect, because allele-specific epigenome editing allows the specific silencing of the mutated allele leaving the healthy counterpart expressed. Moreover, it may allow the direct correction of aberrant imprints in imprinting disorders where editing of DNA methylation is required exclusively in a single allele. Here, we describe a basic protocol for the design and application of allele-specific epigenome editing systems using allele-specific DNA methylation at the NARF gene in HEK293 cells as an example. An sgRNA/dCas9 unit is used for allele-specific binding to the target locus containing a SNP in the seed region of the sgRNA or the PAM region. The dCas9 protein is connected to a SunTag allowing to recruit up to 10 DNMT3A/3L units fused to a single-chain Fv fragment, which specifically binds to the SunTag peptide sequence. The plasmids expressing dCas9-10x SunTag, scFv-DNMT3A/3L, and sgRNA, each of them co-expressing a fluorophore, are introduced into cells by co-transfection. Cells containing all three plasmids are enriched by FACS, cultivated, and later the genomic DNA and RNA can be retrieved for DNA methylation and gene expression analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nivethika Rajaram
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Pavel Bashtrykov
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
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16
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Tompkins JD. Transgenerational Epigenetic DNA Methylation Editing and Human Disease. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1684. [PMID: 38136557 PMCID: PMC10742326 DOI: 10.3390/biom13121684] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
During gestation, maternal (F0), embryonic (F1), and migrating primordial germ cell (F2) genomes can be simultaneously exposed to environmental influences. Accumulating evidence suggests that operating epi- or above the genetic DNA sequence, covalent DNA methylation (DNAme) can be recorded onto DNA in response to environmental insults, some sites which escape normal germline erasure. These appear to intrinsically regulate future disease propensity, even transgenerationally. Thus, an organism's genome can undergo epigenetic adjustment based on environmental influences experienced by prior generations. During the earliest stages of mammalian development, the three-dimensional presentation of the genome is dramatically changed, and DNAme is removed genome wide. Why, then, do some pathological DNAme patterns appear to be heritable? Are these correctable? In the following sections, I review concepts of transgenerational epigenetics and recent work towards programming transgenerational DNAme. A framework for editing heritable DNAme and challenges are discussed, and ethics in human research is introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Tompkins
- Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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17
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Tyumentseva M, Tyumentsev A, Akimkin V. CRISPR/Cas9 Landscape: Current State and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16077. [PMID: 38003266 PMCID: PMC10671331 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216077] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 is a unique genome editing tool that can be easily used in a wide range of applications, including functional genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetics, biotechnology, plant engineering, livestock breeding, gene therapy, diagnostics, and so on. This review is focused on the current CRISPR/Cas9 landscape, e.g., on Cas9 variants with improved properties, on Cas9-derived and fusion proteins, on Cas9 delivery methods, on pre-existing immunity against CRISPR/Cas9 proteins, anti-CRISPR proteins, and their possible roles in CRISPR/Cas9 function improvement. Moreover, this review presents a detailed outline of CRISPR/Cas9-based diagnostics and therapeutic approaches. Finally, the review addresses the future expansion of genome editors' toolbox with Cas9 orthologs and other CRISPR/Cas proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Tyumentseva
- Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Novogireevskaya Str., 3a, 111123 Moscow, Russia; (A.T.); (V.A.)
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18
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Fadul SM, Arshad A, Mehmood R. CRISPR-based epigenome editing: mechanisms and applications. Epigenomics 2023; 15:1137-1155. [PMID: 37990877 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenomic anomalies contribute significantly to the development of numerous human disorders. The development of epigenetic research tools is essential for understanding how epigenetic marks contribute to gene expression. A gene-editing technique known as CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) typically targets a particular DNA sequence using a guide RNA (gRNA). CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been remodeled for epigenome editing by generating a 'dead' Cas9 protein (dCas9) that lacks nuclease activity and juxtaposing it with an epigenetic effector domain. Based on fusion partners of dCas9, a specific epigenetic state can be achieved. CRISPR-based epigenome editing has widespread application in drug screening, cancer treatment and regenerative medicine. This paper discusses the tools developed for CRISPR-based epigenome editing and their applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaima M Fadul
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science & General Studies, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, 11533, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Aleeza Arshad
- Medical Teaching Insitute, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, 22020, Pakistan
| | - Rashid Mehmood
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science & General Studies, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, 11533, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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19
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Rajaram N, Kouroukli AG, Bens S, Bashtrykov P, Jeltsch A. Development of super-specific epigenome editing by targeted allele-specific DNA methylation. Epigenetics Chromatin 2023; 16:41. [PMID: 37864244 PMCID: PMC10589950 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-023-00515-5] [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: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenome editing refers to the targeted reprogramming of genomic loci using an EpiEditor which may consist of an sgRNA/dCas9 complex that recruits DNMT3A/3L to the target locus. Methylation of the locus can lead to a modulation of gene expression. Allele-specific DNA methylation (ASM) refers to the targeted methylation delivery only to one allele of a locus. In the context of diseases caused by a dominant mutation, the selective DNA methylation of the mutant allele could be used to repress its expression but retain the functionality of the normal gene. RESULTS To set up allele-specific targeted DNA methylation, target regions were selected from hypomethylated CGIs bearing a heterozygous SNP in their promoters in the HEK293 cell line. We aimed at delivering maximum DNA methylation with highest allelic specificity in the targeted regions. Placing SNPs in the PAM or seed regions of the sgRNA, we designed 24 different sgRNAs targeting single alleles in 14 different gene loci. We achieved efficient ASM in multiple cases, such as ISG15, MSH6, GPD1L, MRPL52, PDE8A, NARF, DAP3, and GSPT1, which in best cases led to five to tenfold stronger average DNA methylation at the on-target allele and absolute differences in the DNA methylation gain at on- and off-target alleles of > 50%. In general, loci with the allele discriminatory SNP positioned in the PAM region showed higher success rate of ASM and better specificity. Highest DNA methylation was observed on day 3 after transfection followed by a gradual decline. In selected cases, ASM was stable up to 11 days in HEK293 cells and it led up to a 3.6-fold change in allelic expression ratios. CONCLUSIONS We successfully delivered ASM at multiple genomic loci with high specificity, efficiency and stability. This form of super-specific epigenome editing could find applications in the treatment of diseases caused by dominant mutations, because it allows silencing of the mutant allele without repression of the expression of the normal allele thereby minimizing potential side-effects of the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nivethika Rajaram
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Alexandra G Kouroukli
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Ulm and Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Susanne Bens
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Ulm and Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Pavel Bashtrykov
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
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20
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Cai R, Lv R, Shi X, Yang G, Jin J. CRISPR/dCas9 Tools: Epigenetic Mechanism and Application in Gene Transcriptional Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14865. [PMID: 37834313 PMCID: PMC10573330 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage of DNA, which depends on the endonuclease activity of Cas9, has been widely used for gene editing due to its excellent programmability and specificity. However, the changes to the DNA sequence that are mediated by CRISPR/Cas9 affect the structures and stability of the genome, which may affect the accuracy of results. Mutations in the RuvC and HNH regions of the Cas9 protein lead to the inactivation of Cas9 into dCas9 with no endonuclease activity. Despite the loss of endonuclease activity, dCas9 can still bind the DNA strand using guide RNA. Recently, proteins with active/inhibitory effects have been linked to the end of the dCas9 protein to form fusion proteins with transcriptional active/inhibitory effects, named CRISPRa and CRISPRi, respectively. These CRISPR tools mediate the transcription activity of protein-coding and non-coding genes by regulating the chromosomal modification states of target gene promoters, enhancers, and other functional elements. Here, we highlight the epigenetic mechanisms and applications of the common CRISPR/dCas9 tools, by which we hope to provide a reference for future related gene regulation, gene function, high-throughput target gene screening, and disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijie Cai
- Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition and Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Runyu Lv
- Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition and Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xin'e Shi
- Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition and Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Gongshe Yang
- Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition and Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jianjun Jin
- Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition and Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
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21
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Griazeva ED, Fedoseeva DM, Radion EI, Ershov PV, Meshkov IO, Semyanihina AV, Makarova AS, Makarov VV, Yudin VS, Keskinov AA, Kraevoy SA. Current Approaches to Epigenetic Therapy. EPIGENOMES 2023; 7:23. [PMID: 37873808 PMCID: PMC10594535 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes7040023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic therapy is a promising tool for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Several fundamental epigenetic approaches have been proposed. Firstly, the use of small molecules as epigenetic effectors, as the most developed pharmacological method, has contributed to the introduction of a number of drugs into clinical practice. Secondly, various innovative epigenetic approaches based on dCas9 and the use of small non-coding RNAs as therapeutic agents are also under extensive research. In this review, we present the current state of research in the field of epigenetic therapy, considering the prospects for its application and possible limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina D. Griazeva
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Daria M. Fedoseeva
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Elizaveta I. Radion
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Pavel V. Ershov
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Ivan O. Meshkov
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Alexandra V. Semyanihina
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
- Federal State Budgetary Institution “N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (N.N. Blokhin NMRCO), Kashirskoe Shosse, 24, Moscow 115478, Russia
- Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution, Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Moskvorechye, 1, Moscow 115522, Russia
| | - Anna S. Makarova
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Valentin V. Makarov
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Vladimir S. Yudin
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Anton A. Keskinov
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Sergey A. Kraevoy
- Federal State Budgetary Institution, Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Pogodinskaya Str., 10, Building 1, Moscow 119121, Russia
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22
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Tabassum T, Pietrogrande G, Healy M, Wolvetang EJ. CRISPR-Cas9 Direct Fusions for Improved Genome Editing via Enhanced Homologous Recombination. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14701. [PMID: 37834150 PMCID: PMC10572186 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA repair in mammalian cells involves the coordinated action of a range of complex cellular repair machinery. Our understanding of these DNA repair processes has advanced to the extent that they can be leveraged to improve the efficacy and precision of Cas9-assisted genome editing tools. Here, we review how the fusion of CRISPR-Cas9 to functional domains of proteins that directly or indirectly impact the DNA repair process can enhance genome editing. Such studies have allowed the development of diverse technologies that promote efficient gene knock-in for safer genome engineering practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahmina Tabassum
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (T.T.); (G.P.)
| | - Giovanni Pietrogrande
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (T.T.); (G.P.)
| | - Michael Healy
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Ernst J. Wolvetang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (T.T.); (G.P.)
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23
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Wei A, Zhang H, Qiu Q, Fabyanic EB, Hu P, Wu H. 5-hydroxymethylcytosines regulate gene expression as a passive DNA demethylation resisting epigenetic mark in proliferative somatic cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.26.559662. [PMID: 37808741 PMCID: PMC10557716 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.26.559662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Enzymatic erasure of DNA methylation in mammals involves iterative 5-methylcytosine (5mC) oxidation by the ten-eleven translocation (TET) family of DNA dioxygenase proteins. As the most abundant form of oxidized 5mC, the prevailing model considers 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) as a key nexus in active DNA demethylation that can either indirectly facilitate replication-dependent depletion of 5mC by inhibiting maintenance DNA methylation machinery (UHRF1/DNMT1), or directly be iteratively oxidized to 5-formylcytosine (5fC) and 5-carboxycytosine (5caC) and restored to cytosine (C) through thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG)-mediated 5fC/5caC excision repair. In proliferative somatic cells, to what extent TET-dependent removal of 5mC entails indirect DNA demethylation via 5hmC-induced replication-dependent dilution or direct iterative conversion of 5hmC to 5fC/5caC is unclear. Here we leverage a catalytic processivity stalling variant of human TET1 (TET1.var: T1662E) to decouple the stepwise generation of 5hmC from subsequent 5fC/5caC generation, excision and repair. By using a CRISPR/dCas9-based epigenome-editing platform, we demonstrate that 5fC/5caC excision repair (by wild-type TET1, TET1.wt), but not 5hmC generation alone (by TET1.var), is requisite for robust restoration of unmodified cytosines and reversal of somatic silencing of the methylation-sensitive, germline-specific RHOXF2B gene promoter. Furthermore, integrated whole-genome multi-modal epigenetic sequencing reveals that hemi-hydroxymethylated CpG dyads predominantly resist replication-dependent depletion of 5mC on the opposing strand in TET1.var-expressing cells. Notably, TET1.var-mediated 5hmC generation is sufficient to induce similar levels of differential gene expression (compared to TET1.wt) without inducing major changes in unmodified cytosine profiles across the genome. Our study suggests 5hmC alone plays a limited role in driving replication-dependent DNA demethylation in the presence of functional DNMT1/UHRF1 mechanisms, but can regulate gene expression as a bona fide epigenetic mark in proliferative somatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Wei
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Qi Qiu
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Emily B. Fabyanic
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Peng Hu
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Present address: College Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Lead contact
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24
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Saunderson EA, Encabo HH, Devis J, Rouault-Pierre K, Piganeau M, Bell CG, Gribben JG, Bonnet D, Ficz G. CRISPR/dCas9 DNA methylation editing is heritable during human hematopoiesis and shapes immune progeny. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300224120. [PMID: 37579157 PMCID: PMC10450654 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300224120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with an abnormal increase in DNA methylation (DNAm) in human gene promoters, including in bone marrow stem cells. DNAm patterns are further perturbed in hematological malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia but the physiological significance of such epigenetic changes is unknown. Using epigenetic editing of human stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), we show that p15 methylation affects hematopoiesis in vivo. We edited the CDKN2B (p15) promoter and ARF (p14) using dCas9-3A3L and observed DNAm spreading beyond the gRNA location. We find that despite a transient delivery system, DNAm is maintained during myeloid differentiation in vitro, and hypermethylation of the p15 promoter reduces gene expression. In vivo, edited human HSPCs can engraft the bone marrow of mice and targeted DNAm is maintained in HSPCs long term. Moreover, epigenetic changes are conserved and inherited in both myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Although the proportion of myeloid (CD33+) and lymphoid (CD19+) cells is unaffected, monocyte (CD14+) populations decreased and granulocytes (CD66b+) increased in mice engrafted with p15 hypermethylated HSPCs. Monocytes derived from p15 hypermethylated HSPCs appear to be activated and show increased inflammatory transcriptional programs. We believe these findings have clinical relevance since we found p15 promoter methylation in the peripheral blood of patients with clonal hematopoiesis. Our study shows DNAm can be targeted and maintained in human HSPCs and demonstrated functional relevance of aberrant DNAm on the p15 locus. As such, other aging-associated aberrant DNAm may impact hematopoiesis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. Saunderson
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, Queen Mary University of London, LondonEC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom
| | - Hector Huerga Encabo
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, LondonNW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Julie Devis
- Group of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels1200, Belgium
| | - Kevin Rouault-Pierre
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, Queen Mary University of London, LondonEC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom
| | - Marion Piganeau
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, LondonNW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher G. Bell
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, LondonEC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom
| | - John G. Gribben
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, Queen Mary University of London, LondonEC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom
| | - Dominique Bonnet
- Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, LondonNW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriella Ficz
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, Queen Mary University of London, LondonEC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom
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25
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Wang SE, Jiang YH. Novel epigenetic molecular therapies for imprinting disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3182-3193. [PMID: 37626134 PMCID: PMC10618104 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02208-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting disorders are caused by the disruption of genomic imprinting processes leading to a deficit or increase of an active allele. Their unique molecular mechanisms underlying imprinted genes offer an opportunity to investigate epigenetic-based therapy for reactivation of an inactive allele or reduction of an active allele. Current treatments are based on managing symptoms, not targeting the molecular mechanisms underlying imprinting disorders. Here, we highlight molecular approaches of therapeutic candidates in preclinical and clinical studies for individual imprinting disorders. These include the significant progress of discovery and testing of small molecules, antisense oligonucleotides, and CRISPR mediated genome editing approaches as new therapeutic strategies. We discuss the significant challenges of translating these promising therapies from the preclinical stage to the clinic, especially for genome editing based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Eun Wang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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26
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Abstract
DNA-editing enzymes perform chemical reactions on DNA nucleobases. These reactions can change the genetic identity of the modified base or modulate gene expression. Interest in DNA-editing enzymes has burgeoned in recent years due to the advent of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated (CRISPR-Cas) systems, which can be used to direct their DNA-editing activity to specific genomic loci of interest. In this review, we showcase DNA-editing enzymes that have been repurposed or redesigned and developed into programmable base editors. These include deaminases, glycosylases, methyltransferases, and demethylases. We highlight the astounding degree to which these enzymes have been redesigned, evolved, and refined and present these collective engineering efforts as a paragon for future efforts to repurpose and engineer other families of enzymes. Collectively, base editors derived from these DNA-editing enzymes facilitate programmable point mutation introduction and gene expression modulation by targeted chemical modification of nucleobases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik L Rallapalli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA;
| | - Alexis C Komor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA;
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27
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Sapozhnikov DM, Szyf M. Increasing Specificity of Targeted DNA Methylation Editing by Non-Enzymatic CRISPR/dCas9-Based Steric Hindrance. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11051238. [PMID: 37238909 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
As advances in genome engineering inch the technology towards wider clinical use-slowed by technical and ethical hurdles-a newer offshoot, termed "epigenome engineering", offers the ability to correct disease-causing changes in the DNA without changing its sequence and, thus, without some of the unfavorable correlates of doing so. In this review, we note some of the shortcomings of epigenetic editing technology-specifically the risks involved in the introduction of epigenetic enzymes-and highlight an alternative epigenetic editing strategy using physical occlusion to modify epigenetic marks at target sites without a requirement for any epigenetic enzyme. This may prove to be a safer alternative for more specific epigenetic editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Sapozhnikov
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Moshe Szyf
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
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28
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Toward the Development of Epigenome Editing-Based Therapeutics: Potentials and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054778. [PMID: 36902207 PMCID: PMC10003136 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The advancement in epigenetics research over the past several decades has led to the potential application of epigenome-editing technologies for the treatment of various diseases. In particular, epigenome editing is potentially useful in the treatment of genetic and other related diseases, including rare imprinted diseases, as it can regulate the expression of the epigenome of the target region, and thereby the causative gene, with minimal or no modification of the genomic DNA. Various efforts are underway to successfully apply epigenome editing in vivo, such as improving target specificity, enzymatic activity, and drug delivery for the development of reliable therapeutics. In this review, we introduce the latest findings, summarize the current limitations and future challenges in the practical application of epigenome editing for disease therapy, and introduce important factors to consider, such as chromatin plasticity, for a more effective epigenome editing-based therapy.
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29
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Carroll MS, Giacca M. CRISPR activation and interference as investigative tools in the cardiovascular system. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2023; 155:106348. [PMID: 36563996 PMCID: PMC10265131 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2022.106348] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR activation and interference (CRISPRa/i) technology offers the unprecedented possibility of achieving regulated gene expression both in vitro and in vivo. The DNA pairing specificity of a nuclease dead Cas9 (dCas9) is exploited to precisely target a transcriptional activator or repressor in proximity to a gene promoter. This permits both the study of phenotypes arising from gene modulation for investigative purposes, and the development of potential therapeutics. As with virtually all other organ systems, the cardiovascular system can deeply benefit from a broader utilisation of CRISPRa/i. However, application of this technology is still in its infancy. Significant areas for improvement include the identification of novel and more effective transcriptional regulators that can be docked to dCas9, and the development of more efficient methods for their delivery and expression in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa S Carroll
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences and British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, King's College London, London UK
| | - Mauro Giacca
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences and British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, King's College London, London UK.
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30
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Chen R, Cao Y, Liu Y, Zhao D, Li J, Cheng Z, Bi C, Zhang X. Enhancement of a prime editing system via optimal recruitment of the pioneer transcription factor P65. Nat Commun 2023; 14:257. [PMID: 36650182 PMCID: PMC9845348 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35919-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Prime editing is a versatile gene editing tool that enables precise sequence changes of all types in the genome, but its application is rather limited by the editing efficiency. Here, we first apply the Suntag system to recruit the transcription factor P65 and enhance the desired editing outcomes in the prime editing system. Next, MS2 hairpins are used to recruit MS2-fused P65 and confirmed that the recruitment of the P65 protein could effectively improve the prime editing efficiency in both the PE3 and PE5 systems. Moreover, this suggests the increased editing efficiency is most likely associated with the induction of chromatin accessibility change by P65. In conclusion, we apply different systems to recruit P65 and enhance the prime editing efficiency of various PE systems. Furthermore, our work provides a variety of methods to work as protein scaffolds for screening target factors and thus supports further optimization of prime editing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronghao Chen
- College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China.,National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Yu Cao
- College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China.,National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Yajing Liu
- College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China.,National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Dongdong Zhao
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China.,National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Ju Li
- College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhihui Cheng
- College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Changhao Bi
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China. .,National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China.
| | - Xueli Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China. .,National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China.
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31
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Fukushima HS, Takeda H, Nakamura R. Targeted Manipulation of Histone Modification in Medaka Embryos. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2577:279-293. [PMID: 36173581 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2724-2_20] [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: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent development of targeted manipulation of histone modification enables us to experimentally and directly test the functional relevance of histone modifications accumulated at specific genomic regions. In particular, dCas9 epigenome editing has been widely used for site-specific manipulation of epigenetic modification. Here, we describe how to apply dCas9 epigenome editing in fish (medaka, Oryzias latipes) embryos and how to analyze induced changes in histone modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroto S Fukushima
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Takeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryohei Nakamura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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32
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Wei A, Wu H. Mammalian DNA methylome dynamics: mechanisms, functions and new frontiers. Development 2022; 149:dev182683. [PMID: 36519514 PMCID: PMC10108609 DOI: 10.1242/dev.182683] [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] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a highly conserved epigenetic modification that plays essential roles in mammalian gene regulation, genome stability and development. Despite being primarily considered a stable and heritable epigenetic silencing mechanism at heterochromatic and repetitive regions, whole genome methylome analysis reveals that DNA methylation can be highly cell-type specific and dynamic within proximal and distal gene regulatory elements during early embryonic development, stem cell differentiation and reprogramming, and tissue maturation. In this Review, we focus on the mechanisms and functions of regulated DNA methylation and demethylation, highlighting how these dynamics, together with crosstalk between DNA methylation and histone modifications at distinct regulatory regions, contribute to mammalian development and tissue maturation. We also discuss how recent technological advances in single-cell and long-read methylome sequencing, along with targeted epigenome-editing, are enabling unprecedented high-resolution and mechanistic dissection of DNA methylome dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Wei
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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33
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Feng Y, Wang P, Cai L, Zhan M, He F, Wang J, Li Y, Gega E, Zhang W, Zhao W, Xin Y, Chen X, Ruan Y, Lu L. 3D-Epigenomic Regulation of Gene Transcription in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. ADVANCED GENETICS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2022; 3:2100010. [PMID: 36911294 PMCID: PMC9993472 DOI: 10.1002/ggn2.202100010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The fundamental cause of transcription dysregulation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, comprehensive 3D-epigenomic analyses are performed in cellular models of THLE2 (a normal hepatocytes cell line) and HepG2 (a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line) using integrative approaches for chromatin topology, genomic and epigenomic variation, and transcriptional output. Comparing the 3D-epigenomes in THLE2 and HepG2 reveal that most HCC-associated genes are organized in complex chromatin interactions mediated by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). Incorporation of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data enables the identification of non-coding genetic variants that are enriched in distal enhancers connecting to the promoters of HCC-associated genes via long-range chromatin interactions, highlighting their functional roles. Interestingly, CTCF binding and looping proximal to HCC-associated genes appear to form chromatin architectures that overarch RNAPII-mediated chromatin interactions. It is further demonstrated that epigenetic variants by DNA hypomethylation at a subset of CTCF motifs proximal to HCC-associated genes can modify chromatin topological configuration, which in turn alter RNAPII-mediated chromatin interactions and lead to dysregulation of transcription. Together, the 3D-epigenomic analyses provide novel insights of multifaceted interplays involving genetics, epigenetics, and chromatin topology in HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliang Feng
- Zhuhai Precision Medical Center Zhuhai People's Hospital Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University Zhuhai Guangdong 519000 P. R. China.,The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine Farmington CT 06032 USA
| | - Ping Wang
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine Farmington CT 06032 USA
| | - Liuyang Cai
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine Farmington CT 06032 USA
| | - Meixiao Zhan
- Zhuhai Precision Medical Center Zhuhai People's Hospital Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University Zhuhai Guangdong 519000 P. R. China
| | - Fan He
- Department of Interventional Radiology Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology) Shenzhen Guangdong 518020 P. R. China
| | - Jiahui Wang
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine Farmington CT 06032 USA
| | - Yong Li
- Zhuhai Precision Medical Center Zhuhai People's Hospital Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University Zhuhai Guangdong 519000 P. R. China
| | - Eva Gega
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine Farmington CT 06032 USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology) Shenzhen Guangdong 518020 P. R. China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Zhuhai Precision Medical Center Zhuhai People's Hospital Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University Zhuhai Guangdong 519000 P. R. China
| | - Yongjie Xin
- Zhuhai Precision Medical Center Zhuhai People's Hospital Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University Zhuhai Guangdong 519000 P. R. China
| | - Xudong Chen
- Department of Interventional Radiology Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology) Shenzhen Guangdong 518020 P. R. China
| | - Yijun Ruan
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine Farmington CT 06032 USA
| | - Ligong Lu
- Zhuhai Precision Medical Center Zhuhai People's Hospital Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University Zhuhai Guangdong 519000 P. R. China
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34
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Sapozhnikov DM, Szyf M. Enzyme-free targeted DNA demethylation using CRISPR-dCas9-based steric hindrance to identify DNA methylation marks causal to altered gene expression. Nat Protoc 2022; 17:2840-2881. [PMID: 36207463 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00741-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation involves the enzymatic addition of a methyl group primarily to cytosine residues in DNA. This protocol describes how to produce complete and minimally confounded DNA demethylation of specific sites in the genome of cultured cells by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-dCas9 and without the involvement of an epigenetic-modifying enzyme, the purpose of which is the evaluation of the functional (i.e., gene expression or phenotypic) consequences of DNA demethylation of specific sites that have been previously implicated in particular pathological or physiological contexts. This protocol maximizes the ability of the easily reprogrammable CRISPR-dCas9 system to assess the impact of DNA methylation from a causal rather than correlational perspective: alternative protocols for CRISPR-dCas9-based site-specific DNA methylation or demethylation rely on the recruitment of epigenetic enzymes that exhibit additional nonspecific activities at both the targeted site and throughout the genome, confounding conclusions of causality of DNA methylation. Inhibition or loss of DNA methylation is accomplished by three consecutive lentiviral transductions. The first two lentiviruses establish stable expression of dCas9 and a guide RNA, which will physically obstruct either maintenance or de novo DNA methyltransferase activity at the guide RNA target site. A third lentivirus introduces Cre recombinase to delete the dCas9 transgene, which leads to loss of dCas9 from the target site, allowing transcription factors and/or the transcription machinery to interact with the demethylated target site. This protocol requires 3-8 months to complete owing to prolonged cell passaging times, but there is little hands-on time, and no specific skills beyond basic molecular biology techniques are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Sapozhnikov
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Moshe Szyf
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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35
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Rittiner J, Cumaran M, Malhotra S, Kantor B. Therapeutic modulation of gene expression in the disease state: Treatment strategies and approaches for the development of next-generation of the epigenetic drugs. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1035543. [PMID: 36324900 PMCID: PMC9620476 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1035543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic dysregulation is an important determinant of many pathological conditions and diseases. Designer molecules that can specifically target endogenous DNA sequences provide a means to therapeutically modulate gene function. The prokaryote-derived CRISPR/Cas editing systems have transformed our ability to manipulate the expression program of genes through specific DNA and RNA targeting in living cells and tissues. The simplicity, utility, and robustness of this technology have revolutionized epigenome editing for research and translational medicine. Initial success has inspired efforts to discover new systems for targeting and manipulating nucleic acids on the epigenetic level. The evolution of nuclease-inactive and RNA-targeting Cas proteins fused to a plethora of effector proteins to regulate gene expression, epigenetic modifications and chromatin interactions opened up an unprecedented level of possibilities for the development of “next-generation” gene therapy therapeutics. The rational design and construction of different types of designer molecules paired with viral-mediated gene-to-cell transfers, specifically using lentiviral vectors (LVs) and adeno-associated vectors (AAVs) are reviewed in this paper. Furthermore, we explore and discuss the potential of these molecules as therapeutic modulators of endogenous gene function, focusing on modulation by stable gene modification and by regulation of gene transcription. Notwithstanding the speedy progress of CRISPR/Cas-based gene therapy products, multiple challenges outlined by undesirable off-target effects, oncogenicity and other virus-induced toxicities could derail the successful translation of these new modalities. Here, we review how CRISPR/Cas—based gene therapy is translated from research-grade technological system to therapeutic modality, paying particular attention to the therapeutic flow from engineering sophisticated genome and epigenome-editing transgenes to delivery vehicles throughout efficient and safe manufacturing and administration of the gene therapy regimens. In addition, the potential solutions to some of the obstacles facing successful CRISPR/Cas utility in the clinical research are discussed in this review. We believe, that circumventing these challenges will be essential for advancing CRISPR/Cas-based tools towards clinical use in gene and cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Rittiner
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Viral Vector Core, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Duke Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Mohanapriya Cumaran
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Viral Vector Core, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Duke Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sahil Malhotra
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Viral Vector Core, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Duke Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Boris Kantor
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Viral Vector Core, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Duke Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Durham, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: Boris Kantor,
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36
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Shademan B, Masjedi S, Karamad V, Isazadeh A, Sogutlu F, Rad MHS, Nourazarian A. CRISPR Technology in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: Opportunities and Challenges. Biochem Genet 2022; 60:1446-1470. [PMID: 35092559 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-022-10193-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A novel gene editing tool, the Cas system, associated with the CRISPR system, is emerging as a potential method for genome modification. This simple method, based on the adaptive immune defense system of prokaryotes, has been developed and used in human cancer research. These technologies have tremendous therapeutic potential, especially in gene therapy, where a patient-specific mutation is genetically corrected to cure diseases that cannot be cured with conventional treatments. However, translating CRISPR/Cas9 into the clinic will be challenging, as we still need to improve the efficiency, specificity, and application of the technology. In this review, we will explain how CRISPR-Cas9 technology can treat cancer at the molecular level, focusing on ordination and the epigenome. We will also focus on the promise and shortcomings of this system to ensure its application in the treatment and prevention of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrouz Shademan
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, EGE University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sepideh Masjedi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology Sciences, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
| | - Vahidreza Karamad
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, EGE University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Alireza Isazadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fatma Sogutlu
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, EGE University, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Alireza Nourazarian
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran.
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37
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Kayabolen A, Akcan U, Özturan D, Ulbegi‐Polat H, Sahin GN, Pinarbasi‐Degirmenci N, Bayraktar C, Soyler G, Sarayloo E, Nurtop E, Ozer B, Guney‐Esken G, Barlas T, Yildirim IS, Dogan O, Karahuseyinoglu S, Lack NA, Kaya M, Albayrak C, Can F, Solaroglu I, Bagci‐Onder T. Protein Scaffold-Based Multimerization of Soluble ACE2 Efficiently Blocks SARS-CoV-2 Infection In Vitro and In Vivo. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2201294. [PMID: 35896894 PMCID: PMC9353362 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202201294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Soluble ACE2 (sACE2) decoys are promising agents to inhibit SARS-CoV-2, as their efficiency is unlikely to be affected by escape mutations. However, their success is limited by their relatively poor potency. To address this challenge, multimeric sACE2 consisting of SunTag or MoonTag systems is developed. These systems are extremely effective in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 in pseudoviral systems and in clinical isolates, perform better than the dimeric or trimeric sACE2, and exhibit greater than 100-fold neutralization efficiency, compared to monomeric sACE2. SunTag or MoonTag fused to a more potent sACE2 (v1) achieves a sub-nanomolar IC50 , comparable with clinical monoclonal antibodies. Pseudoviruses bearing mutations for variants of concern, including delta and omicron, are also neutralized efficiently with multimeric sACE2. Finally, therapeutic treatment of sACE2(v1)-MoonTag provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in an in vivo mouse model. Therefore, highly potent multimeric sACE2 may offer a promising treatment approach against SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisan Kayabolen
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
| | - Ugur Akcan
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
| | - Doğancan Özturan
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
| | - Hivda Ulbegi‐Polat
- Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology InstituteTUBITAK Marmara Research CenterKocaeli41470Turkey
| | - Gizem Nur Sahin
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
| | | | - Canan Bayraktar
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
| | - Gizem Soyler
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
| | - Ehsan Sarayloo
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
- Department of BiotechnologyBeykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology (BILSAB)Bezmialem Vakif UniversityIstanbul34820Turkey
| | - Elif Nurtop
- Koç University Isbank Center for Infectious Diseases (KUISCID)Istanbul34010Turkey
| | - Berna Ozer
- Koç University Isbank Center for Infectious Diseases (KUISCID)Istanbul34010Turkey
| | - Gulen Guney‐Esken
- Koç University Isbank Center for Infectious Diseases (KUISCID)Istanbul34010Turkey
| | - Tayfun Barlas
- Koç University Isbank Center for Infectious Diseases (KUISCID)Istanbul34010Turkey
| | - Ismail Selim Yildirim
- Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology InstituteTUBITAK Marmara Research CenterKocaeli41470Turkey
| | - Ozlem Dogan
- Koç University Isbank Center for Infectious Diseases (KUISCID)Istanbul34010Turkey
- Koç University School of MedicineDepartment of Medical MicrobiologyIstanbul34010Turkey
| | - Sercin Karahuseyinoglu
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
- Koç University School of Medicine, Department of Histology and EmbryologyIstanbul34450Türkiye
| | - Nathan A. Lack
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
- Vancouver Prostate CentreUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBC V6H 3Z6Canada
| | - Mehmet Kaya
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
| | - Cem Albayrak
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
- Department of BiotechnologyBeykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology (BILSAB)Bezmialem Vakif UniversityIstanbul34820Turkey
| | - Fusun Can
- Koç University Isbank Center for Infectious Diseases (KUISCID)Istanbul34010Turkey
- Koç University School of MedicineDepartment of Medical MicrobiologyIstanbul34010Turkey
| | - Ihsan Solaroglu
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
- Department of Basic SciencesLoma Linda UniversityLoma LindaCA92354USA
| | - Tugba Bagci‐Onder
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM)Koç UniversityIstanbul34450Turkey
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38
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Guhathakurta S, Adams L, Jeong I, Sivakumar A, Cha M, Bernardo Fiadeiro M, Hu HN, Kim YS. Precise epigenomic editing with a SunTag-based modular epigenetic toolkit. Epigenetics 2022; 17:2075-2081. [PMID: 35920441 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2106646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation is a crucial factor controlling gene expression. Here, we report our CRISPR/dCas9-based modular epigenetic toolkit that enables gene-specific modulation of epigenetic architecture. By modifying the SunTag framework of dCas9 tagged with five GCN4 moieties, each epigenetic writer is bound to scFv and target-specific sgRNA, and this system is able to modify multiple epigenetic marks in a target-specific manner. We successfully demonstrated that this system is efficient in modifying individual histone post-translational modifications. We display its utility as a tool to understand the contributions of specific histone marks on gene expression by screening a large promoter region and identifying differential outcomes with high base-pair resolution. This epigenetic toolkit can be easily altered with a large variety of epigenetic effectors and is a useful tool for researchers to use in understanding gene-specific epigenetic changes and their relation to gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhrangshu Guhathakurta
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, UCF College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA
| | - Levi Adams
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, UCF College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA.,Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, and Department of Neurology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ USA
| | - Inhye Jeong
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, and Department of Neurology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ USA
| | - Anishaa Sivakumar
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, UCF College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA
| | - Mingyu Cha
- Department of Computer Science, University of Central Florida, Florida, USA
| | - Mariana Bernardo Fiadeiro
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, UCF College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA
| | - Haiyan Nancy Hu
- Department of Computer Science, University of Central Florida, Florida, USA
| | - Yoon-Seong Kim
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, UCF College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL USA.,Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, and Department of Neurology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ USA
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39
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de Mendoza A, Nguyen TV, Ford E, Poppe D, Buckberry S, Pflueger J, Grimmer MR, Stolzenburg S, Bogdanovic O, Oshlack A, Farnham PJ, Blancafort P, Lister R. Large-scale manipulation of promoter DNA methylation reveals context-specific transcriptional responses and stability. Genome Biol 2022; 23:163. [PMID: 35883107 PMCID: PMC9316731 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02728-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cytosine DNA methylation is widely described as a transcriptional repressive mark with the capacity to silence promoters. Epigenome engineering techniques enable direct testing of the effect of induced DNA methylation on endogenous promoters; however, the downstream effects have not yet been comprehensively assessed. Results Here, we simultaneously induce methylation at thousands of promoters in human cells using an engineered zinc finger-DNMT3A fusion protein, enabling us to test the effect of forced DNA methylation upon transcription, chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, and DNA methylation persistence after the removal of the fusion protein. We find that transcriptional responses to DNA methylation are highly context-specific, including lack of repression, as well as cases of increased gene expression, which appears to be driven by the eviction of methyl-sensitive transcriptional repressors. Furthermore, we find that some regulatory networks can override DNA methylation and that promoter methylation can cause alternative promoter usage. DNA methylation deposited at promoter and distal regulatory regions is rapidly erased after removal of the zinc finger-DNMT3A fusion protein, in a process combining passive and TET-mediated demethylation. Finally, we demonstrate that induced DNA methylation can exist simultaneously on promoter nucleosomes that possess the active histone modification H3K4me3, or DNA bound by the initiated form of RNA polymerase II. Conclusions These findings have important implications for epigenome engineering and demonstrate that the response of promoters to DNA methylation is more complex than previously appreciated. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-022-02728-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex de Mendoza
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia. .,Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia. .,School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.
| | - Trung Viet Nguyen
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.,Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Ethan Ford
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.,Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Daniel Poppe
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.,Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Sam Buckberry
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.,Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jahnvi Pflueger
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.,Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Matthew R Grimmer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, 1450 Biggy St, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.,Integrated Genetics and Genomics, University of California, Davis, 451 Health Sciences Dr, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, 1450 3rd St, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Sabine Stolzenburg
- School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Ozren Bogdanovic
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.,Genomics and Epigenetics Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Alicia Oshlack
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,School of BioScience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Peggy J Farnham
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, 1450 Biggy St, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Pilar Blancafort
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.,School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,The Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ryan Lister
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia. .,Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
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40
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Super-Enhancers, Phase-Separated Condensates, and 3D Genome Organization in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14122866. [PMID: 35740532 PMCID: PMC9221043 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
3D chromatin organization plays an important role in transcription regulation and gene expression. The 3D genome is highly maintained by several architectural proteins, such as CTCF, Yin Yang 1, and cohesin complex. This structural organization brings regulatory DNA elements in close proximity to their target promoters. In this review, we discuss the 3D chromatin organization of super-enhancers and their relationship to phase-separated condensates. Super-enhancers are large clusters of DNA elements. They can physically contact with their target promoters by chromatin looping during transcription. Multiple transcription factors can bind to enhancer and promoter sequences and recruit a complex array of transcriptional co-activators and RNA polymerase II to effect transcriptional activation. Phase-separated condensates of transcription factors and transcriptional co-activators have been implicated in assembling the transcription machinery at particular enhancers. Cancer cells can hijack super-enhancers to drive oncogenic transcription to promote cell survival and proliferation. These dysregulated transcriptional programs can cause cancer cells to become highly dependent on transcriptional regulators, such as Mediator and BRD4. Moreover, the expression of oncogenes that are driven by super-enhancers is sensitive to transcriptional perturbation and often occurs in phase-separated condensates, supporting therapeutic rationales of targeting SE components, 3D genome organization, or dysregulated condensates in cancer.
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41
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Kojima S, Shiochi N, Sato K, Yamaura M, Ito T, Yamamura N, Goto N, Odamoto M, Kobayashi S, Kimura T, Sekita Y. Epigenome editing reveals core DNA methylation for imprinting control in the Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted domain. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5080-5094. [PMID: 35544282 PMCID: PMC9122602 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac344] [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: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted domain is controlled by an imprinting control region (ICR) called IG-DMR that is hypomethylated on the maternal allele and hypermethylated on the paternal allele. Although several genetic mutation experiments have shown that IG-DMR is essential for imprinting control of the domain, how DNA methylation itself functions has not been elucidated. Here, we performed both gain and loss of DNA methylation experiments targeting IG-DMR by transiently introducing CRISPR/Cas9 based-targeted DNA methylation editing tools along with one guide RNA into mouse ES cells. Altered DNA methylation, particularly at IG-DMR-Rep, which is a tandem repeat containing ZFP57 methylated DNA-binding protein binding motifs, affected the imprinting state of the whole domain, including DNA methylation, imprinted gene expression, and histone modifications. Moreover, the altered imprinting states were persistent through neuronal differentiation. Our results suggest that the DNA methylation state at IG-DMR-Rep, but not other sites in IG-DMR, is a master element to determine whether the allele behaves as the intrinsic maternal or paternal allele. Meanwhile, this study provides a robust strategy and methodology to study core DNA methylation in cis-regulatory elements, such as ICRs and enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Kojima
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Naoya Shiochi
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Kazuki Sato
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Mamiko Yamaura
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ito
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Nodoka Yamamura
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Naoki Goto
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Mika Odamoto
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Shin Kobayashi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 2-4-7 Aomi, Koutou-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Tohru Kimura
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Yoichi Sekita
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
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Gardiner J, Ghoshal B, Wang M, Jacobsen SE. CRISPR-Cas-mediated transcriptional control and epi-mutagenesis. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 188:1811-1824. [PMID: 35134247 PMCID: PMC8968285 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Tools for sequence-specific DNA binding have opened the door to new approaches in investigating fundamental questions in biology and crop development. While there are several platforms to choose from, many of the recent advances in sequence-specific targeting tools are focused on developing Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats- CRISPR Associated (CRISPR-Cas)-based systems. Using a catalytically inactive Cas protein (dCas), this system can act as a vector for different modular catalytic domains (effector domains) to control a gene's expression or alter epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation. Recent trends in developing CRISPR-dCas systems include creating versions that can target multiple copies of effector domains to a single site, targeting epigenetic changes that, in some cases, can be inherited to the next generation in the absence of the targeting construct, and combining effector domains and targeting strategies to create synergies that increase the functionality or efficiency of the system. This review summarizes and compares DNA targeting technologies, the effector domains used to target transcriptional control and epi-mutagenesis, and the different CRISPR-dCas systems used in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ming Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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43
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Mori L, Valente ST. Cure and Long-Term Remission Strategies. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2407:391-428. [PMID: 34985678 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1871-4_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The majority of virally suppressed individuals will experience rapid viral rebound upon antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption, providing a strong rationale for the development of cure strategies. Moreover, despite ART virological control, HIV infection is still associated with chronic immune activation, inflammation, comorbidities, and accelerated aging. These effects are believed to be due, in part, to low-grade persistent transcription and trickling production of viral proteins from the pool of latent proviruses constituting the viral reservoir. In recent years there has been an increasing interest in developing what has been termed a functional cure for HIV. This approach entails the long-term, durable control of viral expression in the absence of therapy, preventing disease progression and transmission, despite the presence of detectable integrated proviruses. One such strategy, the block-and-lock approach for a functional cure, proposes the epigenetic silencing of proviral expression, locking the virus in a profound latent state, from which reactivation is very unlikely. The proof-of-concept for this approach was demonstrated with the use of a specific small molecule targeting HIV transcription. Here we review the principles behind the block-and-lock approach and some of the additional strategies proposed to silence HIV expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Mori
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Susana T Valente
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA.
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44
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Dominguez AA, Chavez MG, Urke A, Gao Y, Wang L, Qi LS. CRISPR-mediated Synergistic Epigenetic and Transcriptional Control. CRISPR J 2022; 5:264-275. [PMID: 35271371 PMCID: PMC9206482 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2021.0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted activation of endogenous genes is an important approach for cell engineering. Here, we report that the nuclease-deactivated dCas9 fused to a transcriptional activator (VPR) and an epigenetic effector (the catalytic domain of histone acetyltransferase p300core) simultaneously, sequentially, or as a single quadripartite effector can lead to enhanced activation of target genes. The composite activator, VPRP, behaves more efficiently than individual activators across a set of genes in different cell types. We characterize off-target effects for host chromatin acetylation and transcriptome using the effectors. Our work demonstrates that transcriptional and epigenetic effectors can be used together to enhance gene activation and suggests the need for further optimization of epigenetic effectors to reduce off-targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia A Dominguez
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Michael G Chavez
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Amanda Urke
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Yuchen Gao
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.,Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Lizhong Wang
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.,Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.,ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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45
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Abstract
In mammals, parthenogenesis is limited because of problems arising from genomic imprinting. Here, we report live mammalian offspring derived from single unfertilized eggs. This was achieved by the targeted DNA methylation rewriting of seven imprinting control regions. By designing guide RNAs with protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequences matching one allele but not the other, dCas9-Dnmt3a or dCpf1-Tet1 enables targeted DNA methylation editing in an allele-specific manner. The success of parthenogenesis in mammals opens many opportunities in agriculture, research, and medicine. In mammals, a new life starts with the fusion of an oocyte and a sperm cell. Parthenogenesis, a way of generating offspring solely from female gametes, is limited because of problems arising from genomic imprinting. Here, we report live mammalian offspring derived from single unfertilized oocytes, which was achieved by targeted DNA methylation rewriting of seven imprinting control regions. Oocyte coinjection of catalytically inactive Cas9 (dCas9)-Dnmt3a or dCpf1-Tet1 messenger RNA (mRNA) with single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) targeting specific regions induced de novo methylation or demethylation, respectively, of the targeted region. Following parthenogenetic activation, these edited regions showed maintenance of methylation as naturally established regions during early preimplantation development. The transfer of modified parthenogenetic embryos into foster mothers resulted in significantly extended development and finally in the generation of viable full-term offspring. These data demonstrate that parthenogenesis can be achieved by targeted epigenetic rewriting of multiple critical imprinting control regions.
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46
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Carlini V, Policarpi C, Hackett JA. Epigenetic inheritance is gated by naïve pluripotency and Dppa2. EMBO J 2022; 41:e108677. [PMID: 35199868 PMCID: PMC8982627 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors can trigger cellular responses that propagate across mitosis or even generations. Perturbations to the epigenome could underpin such acquired changes, however, the extent and contexts in which modified chromatin states confer heritable memory in mammals is unclear. Here, we exploit a precision epigenetic editing strategy and forced Xist activity to programme de novo heterochromatin domains (epialleles) at endogenous loci and track their inheritance in a developmental model. We find that naïve pluripotent phases systematically erase ectopic domains of heterochromatin via active mechanisms, which likely acts as an intergenerational safeguard against transmission of epialleles. Upon lineage specification, however, acquired chromatin states can be probabilistically inherited under selectively favourable conditions, including propagation of p53 silencing through in vivo development. Using genome‐wide CRISPR screening, we identify molecular factors that restrict heritable memory of epialleles in naïve pluripotent cells, and demonstrate that removal of chromatin factor Dppa2 unlocks the potential for epigenetic inheritance uncoupled from DNA sequence. Our study outlines a mechanistic basis for how epigenetic inheritance is constrained in mammals, and reveals genomic and developmental contexts in which heritable memory is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Carlini
- Epigenetics & Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy.,Faculty of Biosciences, Collaboration for Joint PhD Degree between EMBL and Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cristina Policarpi
- Epigenetics & Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy
| | - Jamie A Hackett
- Epigenetics & Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy
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47
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Marx N, Eisenhut P, Weinguny M, Klanert G, Borth N. How to train your cell - Towards controlling phenotypes by harnessing the epigenome of Chinese hamster ovary production cell lines. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 56:107924. [PMID: 35149147 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in omics technologies and the broad availability of big datasets have revolutionized our understanding of Chinese hamster ovary cells in their role as the most prevalent host for production of complex biopharmaceuticals. In consequence, our perception of this "workhorse of the biopharmaceutical industry" has successively shifted from that of a nicely working, but unknown recombinant protein producing black box to a biological system governed by multiple complex regulatory layers that might possibly be harnessed and manipulated at will. Despite the tremendous progress that has been made to characterize CHO cells on various omics levels, our understanding is still far from complete. The well-known inherent genetic plasticity of any immortalized and rapidly dividing cell line also characterizes CHO cells and can lead to problematic instability of recombinant protein production. While the high mutational frequency has been a focus of CHO cell research for decades, the impact of epigenetics and its role in differential gene expression has only recently been addressed. In this review we provide an overview about the current understanding of epigenetic regulation in CHO cells and discuss its significance for shaping the cell's phenotype. We also look into current state-of-the-art technology that can be applied to harness and manipulate the epigenetic network so as to nudge CHO cells towards a specific phenotype. Here, we revise current strategies on site-directed integration and random as well as targeted epigenome modifications. Finally, we address open questions that need to be investigated to exploit the full repertoire of fine-tuned control of multiplexed gene expression using epigenetic and systems biology tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Marx
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Eisenhut
- Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marcus Weinguny
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerald Klanert
- Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole Borth
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Vienna, Austria.
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48
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Active demethylation upregulates CD147 expression promoting non-small cell lung cancer invasion and metastasis. Oncogene 2022; 41:1780-1794. [PMID: 35132181 PMCID: PMC8933279 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02213-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a fatal disease, and its metastatic process is poorly understood. Although aberrant methylation is involved in tumor progression, the mechanisms underlying dynamic DNA methylation remain to be elucidated. It is significant to study the molecular mechanism of NSCLC metastasis and identify new biomarkers for NSCLC early diagnosis. Here, we performed MeDIP-seq and hMeDIP-seq analyses to detect the genes regulated by dynamic DNA methylation. Comparison of the 5mC and 5hmC sites revealed that the CD147 gene underwent active demethylation in NSCLC tissues compared with normal tissues, and this demethylation upregulated CD147 expression. Significantly high levels of CD147 expression and low levels of promoter methylation were observed in NSCLC tissues. Then, we identified the CD147 promoter as a target of KLF6, MeCP2, and DNMT3A. Treatment of cells with TGF-β triggered active demethylation involving loss of KLF6/MeCP2/DNMT3A and recruitment of Sp1, Tet1, TDG, and SMAD2/3 transcription complexes. A dCas9-SunTag-DNMAT3A-sgCD147-targeted methylation system was constructed to reverse CD147 expression. The targeted methylation system downregulated CD147 expression and inhibited NSCLC proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, we used cfDNA to detect the levels of CD147 methylation in NSCLC tissues and found that the CD147 methylation levels exhibited an inverse relationship with tumor size, lymphatic metastasis, and TNM stage. In conclusion, this study clarified the mechanism of active demethylation of CD147 and suggested that the targeted methylation of CD147 could inhibit NSCLC invasion and metastasis, providing a highly promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.
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49
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Wong CH, Li CH, Man Tong JH, Zheng D, He Q, Luo Z, Lou UK, Wang J, To KF, Chen Y. The Establishment of CDK9/ RNA PolII/H3K4me3/DNA Methylation Feedback Promotes HOTAIR Expression by RNA Elongation Enhancement in Cancer. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1597-1609. [PMID: 35121112 PMCID: PMC9077372 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNA HOX Transcript Antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is overexpressed in multiple cancers with diverse genetic profiles. Importantly, since HOTAIR heavily contributes to cancer progression by promoting tumor growth and metastasis, HOTAIR becomes a potential target for cancer therapy. However, the underlying mechanism leading to HOTAIR deregulation is largely unexplored. Here, we performed a pan-cancer analysis using more than 4,200 samples and found that intragenic exon CpG island (Ex-CGI) was hypermethylated and was positively correlated to HOTAIR expression. Also, we revealed that Ex-CGI methylation promotes HOTAIR expression through enhancing the transcription elongation process. Furthermore, we linked up the aberrant intragenic tri-methylation on H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) and Ex-CGI DNA methylation in promoting transcription elongation of HOTAIR. Targeting the oncogenic CDK7-CDK9-H3K4me3 axis downregulated HOTAIR expression and inhibited cell growth in many cancers. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a positive feedback loop that involved CDK9-mediated phosphorylation of RNA Polymerase II Serine 2 (RNA PolII Ser2), H3K4me3, and intragenic DNA methylation, which induced robust transcriptional elongation and heavily contributed to the upregulation of oncogenic lncRNA in cancer has been demonstrated. Targeting the oncogenic CDK7-CDK9-H3K4me3 axis could be a novel therapy in many cancers through inhibiting the HOTAIR expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Hin Wong
- A School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
| | - Chi Han Li
- A School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
| | - Joanna Hung Man Tong
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Duo Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Shenzhen University International Cancer Center, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qifang He
- A School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
| | - Zhiyuan Luo
- A School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
| | - Ut Kei Lou
- A School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
| | - Jiatong Wang
- A School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Yangchao Chen
- A School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong; Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518087, China.
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50
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Cortés-Mancera FM, Sarno F, Goubert D, Rots MG. Gene-Targeted DNA Methylation: Towards Long-Lasting Reprogramming of Gene Expression? ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1389:515-533. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-11454-0_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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