1
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McLean ZL, Gao D, Correia K, Roy JCL, Shibata S, Farnum IN, Valdepenas-Mellor Z, Kovalenko M, Rapuru M, Morini E, Ruliera J, Gillis T, Lucente D, Kleinstiver BP, Lee JM, MacDonald ME, Wheeler VC, Mouro Pinto R, Gusella JF. Splice modulators target PMS1 to reduce somatic expansion of the Huntington's disease-associated CAG repeat. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3182. [PMID: 38609352 PMCID: PMC11015039 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47485-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominant neurological disorder caused by an expanded HTT exon 1 CAG repeat that lengthens huntingtin's polyglutamine tract. Lowering mutant huntingtin has been proposed for treating HD, but genetic modifiers implicate somatic CAG repeat expansion as the driver of onset. We find that branaplam and risdiplam, small molecule splice modulators that lower huntingtin by promoting HTT pseudoexon inclusion, also decrease expansion of an unstable HTT exon 1 CAG repeat in an engineered cell model. Targeted CRISPR-Cas9 editing shows this effect is not due to huntingtin lowering, pointing instead to pseudoexon inclusion in PMS1. Homozygous but not heterozygous inactivation of PMS1 also reduces CAG repeat expansion, supporting PMS1 as a genetic modifier of HD and a potential target for therapeutic intervention. Although splice modulation provides one strategy, genome-wide transcriptomics also emphasize consideration of cell-type specific effects and polymorphic variation at both target and off-target sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachariah L McLean
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Dadi Gao
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Kevin Correia
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Jennie C L Roy
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shota Shibata
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Iris N Farnum
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Zoe Valdepenas-Mellor
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Marina Kovalenko
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Manasa Rapuru
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Elisabetta Morini
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jayla Ruliera
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Tammy Gillis
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Diane Lucente
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Benjamin P Kleinstiver
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jong-Min Lee
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Marcy E MacDonald
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Vanessa C Wheeler
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Ricardo Mouro Pinto
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - James F Gusella
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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2
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Davidson BA, Miranda AX, Reed SC, Bergman RE, Kemp JDJ, Reddy AP, Pantone MV, Fox EK, Dorand RD, Hurley PJ, Croessmann S, Park BH. An in vitro CRISPR screen of cell-free DNA identifies apoptosis as the primary mediator of cell-free DNA release. Commun Biol 2024; 7:441. [PMID: 38600351 PMCID: PMC11006667 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06129-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
ABTRACT Clinical circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing is now routine, however test accuracy remains limited. By understanding the life-cycle of cfDNA, we might identify opportunities to increase test performance. Here, we profile cfDNA release across a 24-cell line panel and utilize a cell-free CRISPR screen (cfCRISPR) to identify mediators of cfDNA release. Our panel outlines two distinct groups of cell lines: one which releases cfDNA fragmented similarly to clinical samples and purported as characteristic of apoptosis, and another which releases larger fragments associated with vesicular or necrotic DNA. Our cfCRISPR screens reveal that genes mediating cfDNA release are primarily involved with apoptosis, but also identify other subsets of genes such as RNA binding proteins as potential regulators of cfDNA release. We observe that both groups of cells lines identified primarily produce cfDNA through apoptosis. These results establish the utility of cfCRISPR, genetically validate apoptosis as a major mediator of DNA release in vitro, and implicate ways to improve cfDNA assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad A Davidson
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Adam X Miranda
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sarah C Reed
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Riley E Bergman
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Justin D J Kemp
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Anvith P Reddy
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Morgan V Pantone
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ethan K Fox
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - R Dixon Dorand
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Paula J Hurley
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sarah Croessmann
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ben Ho Park
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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3
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Li Z, You L, Hermann A, Bier E. Developmental progression of DNA double-strand break repair deciphered by a single-allele resolution mutation classifier. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2629. [PMID: 38521791 PMCID: PMC10960810 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46479-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are repaired by a hierarchically regulated network of pathways. Factors influencing the choice of particular repair pathways, however remain poorly characterized. Here we develop an Integrated Classification Pipeline (ICP) to decompose and categorize CRISPR/Cas9 generated mutations on genomic target sites in complex multicellular insects. The ICP outputs graphic rank ordered classifications of mutant alleles to visualize discriminating DSB repair fingerprints generated from different target sites and alternative inheritance patterns of CRISPR components. We uncover highly reproducible lineage-specific mutation fingerprints in individual organisms and a developmental progression wherein Microhomology-Mediated End-Joining (MMEJ) or Insertion events predominate during early rapid mitotic cell cycles, switching to distinct subsets of Non-Homologous End-Joining (NHEJ) alleles, and then to Homology-Directed Repair (HDR)-based gene conversion. These repair signatures enable marker-free tracking of specific mutations in dynamic populations, including NHEJ and HDR events within the same samples, for in-depth analysis of diverse gene editing events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqian Li
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Lang You
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Anita Hermann
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ethan Bier
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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4
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Spisak S, Chen D, Likasitwatanakul P, Doan P, Li Z, Bala P, Vizkeleti L, Tisza V, De Silva P, Giannakis M, Wolpin B, Qi J, Sethi NS. Identifying regulators of aberrant stem cell and differentiation activity in colorectal cancer using a dual endogenous reporter system. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2230. [PMID: 38472198 PMCID: PMC10933491 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46285-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Aberrant stem cell-like activity and impaired differentiation are central to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). To identify functional mediators of these key cellular programs, we engineer a dual endogenous reporter system by genome-editing the SOX9 and KRT20 loci of human CRC cell lines to express fluorescent reporters, broadcasting aberrant stem cell-like and differentiation activity, respectively. By applying a CRISPR screen targeting 78 epigenetic regulators with 542 sgRNAs to this platform, we identify factors that contribute to stem cell-like activity and differentiation in CRC. Perturbation single cell RNA sequencing (Perturb-seq) of validated hits nominate SMARCB1 of the BAF complex (also known as SWI/SNF) as a negative regulator of differentiation across an array of neoplastic colon models. SMARCB1 is a dependency and required for in vivo growth of human CRC models. These studies highlight the utility of biologically designed endogenous reporter platforms to uncover regulators with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandor Spisak
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - David Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pornlada Likasitwatanakul
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Paul Doan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Zhixin Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Pratyusha Bala
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Laura Vizkeleti
- Department of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1094, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktoria Tisza
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Pushpamali De Silva
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marios Giannakis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian Wolpin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jun Qi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nilay S Sethi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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5
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Weber Y, Böck D, Ivașcu A, Mathis N, Rothgangl T, Ioannidi EI, Blaudt AC, Tidecks L, Vadovics M, Muramatsu H, Reichmuth A, Marquart KF, Kissling L, Pardi N, Jinek M, Schwank G. Enhancing prime editor activity by directed protein evolution in yeast. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2092. [PMID: 38453904 PMCID: PMC10920827 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46107-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Prime editing is a highly versatile genome editing technology that enables the introduction of base substitutions, insertions, and deletions. However, compared to traditional Cas9 nucleases prime editors (PEs) are less active. In this study we use OrthoRep, a yeast-based platform for directed protein evolution, to enhance the editing efficiency of PEs. After several rounds of evolution with increased selection pressure, we identify multiple mutations that have a positive effect on PE activity in yeast cells and in biochemical assays. Combining the two most effective mutations - the A259D amino acid substitution in nCas9 and the K445T substitution in M-MLV RT - results in the variant PE_Y18. Delivery of PE_Y18, encoded on DNA, mRNA or as a ribonucleoprotein complex into mammalian cell lines increases editing rates up to 3.5-fold compared to PEmax. In addition, PE_Y18 supports higher prime editing rates when delivered in vivo into the liver or brain. Our study demonstrates proof-of-concept for the application of OrthoRep to optimize genome editing tools in eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanik Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Desirée Böck
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anastasia Ivașcu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Mathis
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tanja Rothgangl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora I Ioannidi
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alex C Blaudt
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Tidecks
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Máté Vadovics
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hiromi Muramatsu
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andreas Reichmuth
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kim F Marquart
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lucas Kissling
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Pardi
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gerald Schwank
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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6
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Hayashi N, Lai Y, Fuerte-Stone J, Mimee M, Lu TK. Cas9-assisted biological containment of a genetically engineered human commensal bacterium and genetic elements. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2096. [PMID: 38453913 PMCID: PMC10920895 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45893-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Sophisticated gene circuits built by synthetic biology can enable bacteria to sense their environment and respond predictably. Engineered biosensing bacteria outfitted with such circuits can potentially probe the human gut microbiome to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease. To provide robust biocontainment for engineered bacteria, we devised a Cas9-assisted auxotrophic biocontainment system combining thymidine auxotrophy, an Engineered Riboregulator (ER) for controlled gene expression, and a CRISPR Device (CD). The CD prevents the engineered bacteria from acquiring thyA via horizontal gene transfer, which would disrupt the biocontainment system, and inhibits the spread of genetic elements by killing bacteria harboring the gene cassette. This system tunably controlled gene expression in the human gut commensal bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, prevented escape from thymidine auxotrophy, and blocked transgene dissemination. These capabilities were validated in vitro and in vivo. This biocontainment system exemplifies a powerful strategy for bringing genetically engineered microorganisms safely into biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Hayashi
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- JSR-Keio University Medical and Chemical Innovation Center (JKiC), JSR Corp., 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yong Lai
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Jay Fuerte-Stone
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Mark Mimee
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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7
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Deng F, Li Y, Yang B, Sang R, Deng W, Kansara M, Lin F, Thavaneswaran S, Thomas DM, Goldys EM. Topological barrier to Cas12a activation by circular DNA nanostructures facilitates autocatalysis and transforms DNA/RNA sensing. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1818. [PMID: 38443394 PMCID: PMC10914725 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46001-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Control of CRISPR/Cas12a trans-cleavage is crucial for biosensor development. Here, we show that small circular DNA nanostructures which partially match guide RNA sequences only minimally activate Cas12a ribonucleoproteins. However, linearizing these structures restores activation. Building on this finding, an Autocatalytic Cas12a Circular DNA Amplification Reaction (AutoCAR) system is established which allows a single nucleic acid target to activate multiple ribonucleoproteins, and greatly increases the achievable reporter cleavage rates per target. A rate-equation-based model explains the observed near-exponential rate trends. Autocatalysis is also sustained with DNA nanostructures modified with fluorophore-quencher pairs achieving 1 aM level (<1 copy/μL) DNA detection (106 times improvement), without additional amplification, within 15 min, at room temperature. The detection range is tuneable, spanning 3 to 11 orders of magnitude. We demonstrate 1 aM level detection of SNP mutations in circulating tumor DNA from blood plasma, genomic DNA (H. Pylori) and RNA (SARS-CoV-2) without reverse transcription as well as colorimetric lateral flow tests of cancer mutations with ~100 aM sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Deng
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Yi Li
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Biyao Yang
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Rui Sang
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Wei Deng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Maya Kansara
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, 2011, Australia
- St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2011, Australia
- Omico, Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Frank Lin
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, 2011, Australia
- NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Subotheni Thavaneswaran
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, 2011, Australia
- St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2011, Australia
- NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David M Thomas
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, 2011, Australia
- St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2011, Australia
- Omico, Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Ewa M Goldys
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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8
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Chen K, Stahl EC, Kang MH, Xu B, Allen R, Trinidad M, Doudna JA. Engineering self-deliverable ribonucleoproteins for genome editing in the brain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1727. [PMID: 38409124 PMCID: PMC10897210 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45998-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The delivery of CRISPR ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) for genome editing in vitro and in vivo has important advantages over other delivery methods, including reduced off-target and immunogenic effects. However, effective delivery of RNPs remains challenging in certain cell types due to low efficiency and cell toxicity. To address these issues, we engineer self-deliverable RNPs that can promote efficient cellular uptake and carry out robust genome editing without the need for helper materials or biomolecules. Screening of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) fused to CRISPR-Cas9 protein identifies potent constructs capable of efficient genome editing of neural progenitor cells. Further engineering of these fusion proteins establishes a C-terminal Cas9 fusion with three copies of A22p, a peptide derived from human semaphorin-3a, that exhibits substantially improved editing efficacy compared to other constructs. We find that self-deliverable Cas9 RNPs generate robust genome edits in clinically relevant genes when injected directly into the mouse striatum. Overall, self-deliverable Cas9 proteins provide a facile and effective platform for genome editing in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Stahl
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Min Hyung Kang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Bryant Xu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ryan Allen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Marena Trinidad
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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9
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Zhang E, Neugebauer ME, Krasnow NA, Liu DR. Phage-assisted evolution of highly active cytosine base editors with enhanced selectivity and minimal sequence context preference. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1697. [PMID: 38402281 PMCID: PMC10894238 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45969-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
TadA-derived cytosine base editors (TadCBEs) enable programmable C•G-to-T•A editing while retaining the small size, high on-target activity, and low off-target activity of TadA deaminases. Existing TadCBEs, however, exhibit residual A•T-to-G•C editing at certain positions and lower editing efficiencies at some sequence contexts and with non-SpCas9 targeting domains. To address these limitations, we use phage-assisted evolution to evolve CBE6s from a TadA-mediated dual cytosine and adenine base editor, discovering mutations at N46 and Y73 in TadA that prevent A•T-to-G•C editing and improve C•G-to-T•A editing with expanded sequence-context compatibility, respectively. In E. coli, CBE6 variants offer high C•G-to-T•A editing and no detected A•T-to-G•C editing in any sequence context. In human cells, CBE6 variants exhibit broad Cas domain compatibility and retain low off-target editing despite exceeding BE4max and previous TadCBEs in on-target editing efficiency. Finally, we show that the high selectivity of CBE6 variants is well-suited for therapeutically relevant stop codon installation without creating unwanted missense mutations from residual A•T-to-G•C editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Zhang
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Monica E Neugebauer
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas A Krasnow
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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10
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Ding Y, Tous C, Choi J, Chen J, Wong WW. Orthogonal inducible control of Cas13 circuits enables programmable RNA regulation in mammalian cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1572. [PMID: 38383558 PMCID: PMC10881482 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45795-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA plays an indispensable role in mammalian cell functions. Cas13, a class of RNA-guided ribonuclease, is a flexible tool for modifying and regulating coding and non-coding RNAs, with enormous potential for creating new cell functions. However, the lack of control over Cas13 activity has limited its cell engineering capability. Here, we present the CRISTAL (Control of RNA with Inducible SpliT CAs13 Orthologs and Exogenous Ligands) platform. CRISTAL is powered by a collection (10 total) of orthogonal split inducible Cas13 effectors that can be turned ON or OFF via small molecules in multiple cell types, providing precise temporal control. Also, we engineer Cas13 logic circuits that can respond to endogenous signaling and exogenous small molecule inputs. Furthermore, the orthogonality, low leakiness, and high dynamic range of our inducible Cas13d and Cas13b enable the design and construction of a robust incoherent feedforward loop, leading to near-perfect and tunable adaptation response. Finally, using our inducible Cas13 effectors, we achieve simultaneous multiplexed control of multiple genes in vitro and in mice. Together, our CRISTAL design represents a powerful platform for precisely regulating RNA dynamics to advance cell engineering and elucidate RNA biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yage Ding
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 2215, USA
| | - Cristina Tous
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 2215, USA
| | - Jaehoon Choi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 2215, USA
| | - Jingyao Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 2215, USA
| | - Wilson W Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 2215, USA.
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11
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Bamidele N, Zhang H, Dong X, Cheng H, Gaston N, Feinzig H, Cao H, Kelly K, Watts JK, Xie J, Gao G, Sontheimer EJ. Domain-inlaid Nme2Cas9 adenine base editors with improved activity and targeting scope. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1458. [PMID: 38368418 PMCID: PMC10874451 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45763-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Nme2Cas9 has been established as a genome editing platform with compact size, high accuracy, and broad targeting range, including single-AAV-deliverable adenine base editors. Here, we engineer Nme2Cas9 to further increase the activity and targeting scope of compact Nme2Cas9 base editors. We first use domain insertion to position the deaminase domain nearer the displaced DNA strand in the target-bound complex. These domain-inlaid Nme2Cas9 variants exhibit shifted editing windows and increased activity in comparison to the N-terminally fused Nme2-ABE. We next expand the editing scope by swapping the Nme2Cas9 PAM-interacting domain with that of SmuCas9, which we had previously defined as recognizing a single-cytidine PAM. We then use these enhancements to introduce therapeutically relevant edits in a variety of cell types. Finally, we validate domain-inlaid Nme2-ABEs for single-AAV delivery in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Bamidele
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Han Zhang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | | | - Haoyang Cheng
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Nicholas Gaston
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Hailey Feinzig
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Hanbing Cao
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan K Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Massachusetts, MA, 01605, USA.
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12
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Fauser F, Kadam BN, Arangundy-Franklin S, Davis JE, Vaidya V, Schmidt NJ, Lew G, Xia DF, Mureli R, Ng C, Zhou Y, Scarlott NA, Eshleman J, Bendaña YR, Shivak DA, Reik A, Li P, Davis GD, Miller JC. Compact zinc finger architecture utilizing toxin-derived cytidine deaminases for highly efficient base editing in human cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1181. [PMID: 38360922 PMCID: PMC10869815 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45100-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Nucleobase editors represent an emerging technology that enables precise single-base edits to the genomes of eukaryotic cells. Most nucleobase editors use deaminase domains that act upon single-stranded DNA and require RNA-guided proteins such as Cas9 to unwind the DNA prior to editing. However, the most recent class of base editors utilizes a deaminase domain, DddAtox, that can act upon double-stranded DNA. Here, we target DddAtox fragments and a FokI-based nickase to the human CIITA gene by fusing these domains to arrays of engineered zinc fingers (ZFs). We also identify a broad variety of Toxin-Derived Deaminases (TDDs) orthologous to DddAtox that allow us to fine-tune properties such as targeting density and specificity. TDD-derived ZF base editors enable up to 73% base editing in T cells with good cell viability and favorable specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Garrett Lew
- Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., Brisbane, CA, USA
| | - Danny F Xia
- Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., Brisbane, CA, USA
| | | | - Colman Ng
- Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., Brisbane, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Patrick Li
- Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., Brisbane, CA, USA
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13
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Company C, Schmitt MJ, Dramaretska Y, Serresi M, Kertalli S, Jiang B, Yin JA, Aguzzi A, Barozzi I, Gargiulo G. Logical design of synthetic cis-regulatory DNA for genetic tracing of cell identities and state changes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:897. [PMID: 38316783 PMCID: PMC10844330 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45069-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Descriptive data are rapidly expanding in biomedical research. Instead, functional validation methods with sufficient complexity remain underdeveloped. Transcriptional reporters allow experimental characterization and manipulation of developmental and disease cell states, but their design lacks flexibility. Here, we report logical design of synthetic cis-regulatory DNA (LSD), a computational framework leveraging phenotypic biomarkers and trans-regulatory networks as input to design reporters marking the activity of selected cellular states and pathways. LSD uses bulk or single-cell biomarkers and a reference genome or custom cis-regulatory DNA datasets with user-defined boundary regions. By benchmarking validated reporters, we integrate LSD with a computational ranking of phenotypic specificity of putative cis-regulatory DNA. Experimentally, LSD-designed reporters targeting a wide range of cell states are functional without minimal promoters. Applied to broadly expressed genes from human and mouse tissues, LSD generates functional housekeeper-like sLCRs compatible with size constraints of AAV vectors for gene therapy applications. A mesenchymal glioblastoma reporter designed by LSD outperforms previously validated ones and canonical cell surface markers. In genome-scale CRISPRa screens, LSD facilitates the discovery of known and novel bona fide cell-state drivers. Thus, LSD captures core principles of cis-regulation and is broadly applicable to studying complex cell states and mechanisms of transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Company
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Jürgen Schmitt
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuliia Dramaretska
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michela Serresi
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sonia Kertalli
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ben Jiang
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jiang-An Yin
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Iros Barozzi
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Gaetano Gargiulo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Timms RT, Mena EL, Leng Y, Li MZ, Tchasovnikarova IA, Koren I, Elledge SJ. Author Correction: Defining E3 ligase-substrate relationships through multiplex CRISPR screening. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:305. [PMID: 38114738 PMCID: PMC10866693 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01336-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard T Timms
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Genetics, Brigham asnd Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elijah L Mena
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Genetics, Brigham asnd Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yumei Leng
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Genetics, Brigham asnd Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mamie Z Li
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Genetics, Brigham asnd Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Iva A Tchasovnikarova
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Itay Koren
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Stephen J Elledge
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Genetics, Brigham asnd Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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15
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D'Amato R, Taxiarchi C, Galardini M, Trusso A, Minuz RL, Grilli S, Somerville AGT, Shittu D, Khalil AS, Galizi R, Crisanti A, Simoni A, Müller R. Anti-CRISPR Anopheles mosquitoes inhibit gene drive spread under challenging behavioural conditions in large cages. Nat Commun 2024; 15:952. [PMID: 38296981 PMCID: PMC10830555 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44907-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-based gene drives have the potential to spread within populations and are considered as promising vector control tools. A doublesex-targeting gene drive was able to suppress laboratory Anopheles mosquito populations in small and large cages, and it is considered for field application. Challenges related to the field-use of gene drives and the evolving regulatory framework suggest that systems able to modulate or revert the action of gene drives, could be part of post-release risk-mitigation plans. In this study, we challenge an AcrIIA4-based anti-drive to inhibit gene drive spread in age-structured Anopheles gambiae population under complex feeding and behavioural conditions. A stochastic model predicts the experimentally-observed genotype dynamics in age-structured populations in medium-sized cages and highlights the necessity of large-sized cage trials. These experiments and experimental-modelling framework demonstrate the effectiveness of the anti-drive in different scenarios, providing further corroboration for its use in controlling the spread of gene drive in Anopheles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocco D'Amato
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo of Genomics, Genetics and Biology (Polo GGB), Terni, Italy
| | | | - Marco Galardini
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute for Molecular Bacteriology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Alessandro Trusso
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo of Genomics, Genetics and Biology (Polo GGB), Terni, Italy
| | - Roxana L Minuz
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo of Genomics, Genetics and Biology (Polo GGB), Terni, Italy
| | - Silvia Grilli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Dammy Shittu
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ahmad S Khalil
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roberto Galizi
- Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UK
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Alekos Simoni
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo of Genomics, Genetics and Biology (Polo GGB), Terni, Italy.
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Ruth Müller
- Genetics and Ecology Research Centre, Polo of Genomics, Genetics and Biology (Polo GGB), Terni, Italy.
- Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
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16
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Maurissen TL, Kawatou M, López-Dávila V, Minatoya K, Yamashita JK, Woltjen K. Modeling mutation-specific arrhythmogenic phenotypes in isogenic human iPSC-derived cardiac tissues. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2586. [PMID: 38297132 PMCID: PMC10831092 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52871-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Disease modeling using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from patients with genetic disease is a powerful approach for dissecting pathophysiology and drug discovery. Nevertheless, isogenic controls are required to precisely compare phenotypic outcomes from presumed causative mutations rather than differences in genetic backgrounds. Moreover, 2D cellular models often fail to exhibit authentic disease phenotypes resulting in poor validation in vitro. Here we show that a combination of precision gene editing and bioengineered 3D tissue models can establish advanced isogenic hiPSC-derived cardiac disease models, overcoming these drawbacks. To model inherited cardiac arrhythmias we selected representative N588D and N588K missense mutations affecting the same codon in the hERG potassium channel gene KCNH2, which are reported to cause long (LQTS) and short (SQTS) QT syndromes, respectively. We generated compound heterozygous variants in normal hiPSCs, and differentiated cardiomyocytes (CMs) and mesenchymal cells (MCs) to form 3D cardiac tissue sheets (CTSs). In hiPSC-derived CM monolayers and 3D CTSs, electrophysiological analysis with multielectrode arrays showed prolonged and shortened repolarization, respectively, compared to the isogenic controls. When pharmacologically inhibiting the hERG channels, mutant 3D CTSs were differentially susceptible to arrhythmic events than the isogenic controls. Thus, this strategy offers advanced disease models that can reproduce clinically relevant phenotypes and provide solid validation of gene mutations in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L Maurissen
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Masahide Kawatou
- Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Víctor López-Dávila
- Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
- Gourmey, Paris, France
| | - Kenji Minatoya
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Jun K Yamashita
- Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
- Department of Cellular and Tissue Communications, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Knut Woltjen
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
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17
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Zhang H, Ma J, Wu Z, Chen X, Qian Y, Chen W, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Zhu H, Huang X, Ji Q. BacPE: a versatile prime-editing platform in bacteria by inhibiting DNA exonucleases. Nat Commun 2024; 15:825. [PMID: 38280845 PMCID: PMC10821919 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45114-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Prime editing allows precise installation of any single base substitution and small insertions and deletions without requiring homologous recombination or double-strand DNA breaks in eukaryotic cells. However, the applications in bacteria are hindered and the underlying mechanisms that impede efficient prime editing remain enigmatic. Here, we report the determination of vital cellular factors that affect prime editing in bacteria. Genetic screening of 129 Escherichia coli transposon mutants identified sbcB, a 3'→5' DNA exonuclease, as a key genetic determinant in impeding prime editing in E. coli, combinational deletions of which with two additional 3'→5' DNA exonucleases, xseA and exoX, drastically enhanced the prime editing efficiency by up to 100-fold. Efficient prime editing in wild-type E. coli can be achieved by simultaneously inhibiting the DNA exonucleases via CRISPRi. Our results pave the way for versatile applications of prime editing for bacterial genome engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyuan Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jiacheng Ma
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Zhaowei Wu
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xiaoyang Chen
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Yangyang Qian
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Weizhong Chen
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315832, China
| | - Zhipeng Wang
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Ya Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Huanhu Zhu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Quanjiang Ji
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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18
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Anderson MAE, Gonzalez E, Edgington MP, Ang JXD, Purusothaman DK, Shackleford L, Nevard K, Verkuijl SAN, Harvey-Samuel T, Leftwich PT, Esvelt K, Alphey L. A multiplexed, confinable CRISPR/Cas9 gene drive can propagate in caged Aedes aegypti populations. Nat Commun 2024; 15:729. [PMID: 38272895 PMCID: PMC10810878 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44956-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti is the main vector of several major pathogens including dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses. Classical mosquito control strategies utilizing insecticides are threatened by rising resistance. This has stimulated interest in new genetic systems such as gene drivesHere, we test the regulatory sequences from the Ae. aegypti benign gonial cell neoplasm (bgcn) homolog to express Cas9 and a separate multiplexing sgRNA-expressing cassette inserted into the Ae. aegypti kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (kmo) gene. When combined, these two elements provide highly effective germline cutting at the kmo locus and act as a gene drive. Our target genetic element drives through a cage trial population such that carrier frequency of the element increases from 50% to up to 89% of the population despite significant fitness costs to kmo insertions. Deep sequencing suggests that the multiplexing design could mitigate resistance allele formation in our gene drive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A E Anderson
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0HN, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Estela Gonzalez
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0HN, UK
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Matthew P Edgington
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0HN, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Joshua X D Ang
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0HN, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Deepak-Kumar Purusothaman
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0HN, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Henry Wellcome Building, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Lewis Shackleford
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0HN, UK
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Katherine Nevard
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0HN, UK
| | - Sebald A N Verkuijl
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0HN, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | | | - Philip T Leftwich
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0HN, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Kevin Esvelt
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, GU24 0HN, UK.
- The Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
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19
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Yu J, Shin J, Yu J, Kim J, Yu D, Heo WD. Programmable RNA base editing with photoactivatable CRISPR-Cas13. Nat Commun 2024; 15:673. [PMID: 38253589 PMCID: PMC10803366 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44867-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas13 is widely used for programmable RNA interference, imaging, and editing. In this study, we develop a light-inducible Cas13 system called paCas13 by fusing Magnet with fragment pairs. The most effective split site, N351/C350, was identified and found to exhibit a low background and high inducibility. We observed significant light-induced perturbation of endogenous transcripts by paCas13. We further present a light-inducible base-editing system, herein called the padCas13 editor, by fusing ADAR2 to catalytically inactive paCas13 fragments. The padCas13 editor enabled reversible RNA editing under light and was effective in editing A-to-I and C-to-U RNA bases, targeting disease-relevant transcripts, and fine-tuning endogenous transcripts in mammalian cells in vitro. The padCas13 editor was also used to adjust post-translational modifications and demonstrated the ability to activate target transcripts in a mouse model in vivo. We therefore present a light-inducible RNA-modulating technique based on CRISPR-Cas13 that enables target RNAs to be diversely manipulated in vitro and in vivo, including through RNA degradation and base editing. The approach using the paCas13 system can be broadly applicable to manipulating RNA in various disease states and physiological processes, offering potential additional avenues for research and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeonghye Yu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongpil Shin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihwan Yu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihye Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Daseuli Yu
- Life Science Research Institute, KAIST, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Do Heo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
- KAIST Institute for the BioCentury (KIB), KAIST, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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20
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Ma H, Adams LJ, Raju S, Sariol A, Kafai NM, Janova H, Klimstra WB, Fremont DH, Diamond MS. The low-density lipoprotein receptor promotes infection of multiple encephalitic alphaviruses. Nat Commun 2024; 15:246. [PMID: 38172096 PMCID: PMC10764363 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44624-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) family, including LDLRAD3, VLDLR, and ApoER2, were recently described as entry factors for different alphaviruses. However, based on studies with gene edited cells and knockout mice, blockade or abrogation of these receptors does not fully inhibit alphavirus infection, indicating the existence of additional uncharacterized entry factors. Here, we perform a CRISPR-Cas9 genome-wide loss-of-function screen in mouse neuronal cells with a chimeric alphavirus expressing the Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) structural proteins and identify LDLR as a candidate receptor. Expression of LDLR on the surface of neuronal or non-neuronal cells facilitates binding and infection of EEEV, Western equine encephalitis virus, and Semliki Forest virus. Domain mapping and binding studies reveal a low-affinity interaction with LA domain 3 (LA3) that can be enhanced by concatenation of LA3 repeats. Soluble decoy proteins with multiple LA3 repeats inhibit EEEV infection in cell culture and in mice. Our results establish LDLR as a low-affinity receptor for multiple alphaviruses and highlight a possible path for developing inhibitors that could mitigate infection and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongming Ma
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Lucas J Adams
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Saravanan Raju
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Alan Sariol
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Natasha M Kafai
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Hana Janova
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - William B Klimstra
- The Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Daved H Fremont
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity to Microbial Pathogens, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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21
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Kijner S, Ennis D, Shmorak S, Florentin A, Yassour M. CRISPR-Cas-based identification of a sialylated human milk oligosaccharides utilization cluster in the infant gut commensal Bacteroides dorei. Nat Commun 2024; 15:105. [PMID: 38167825 PMCID: PMC10761964 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44437-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The infant gut microbiome is impacted by early-life feeding, as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) found in breastmilk cannot be digested by infants and serve as nutrients for their gut bacteria. While the vast majority of HMO-utilization research has focused on Bifidobacterium species, recent studies have suggested additional HMO-utilizers, mostly Bacteroides, yet their utilization mechanism is poorly characterized. Here, we investigate Bacteroides dorei isolates from breastfed-infants and identify that polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL) 33 enables B. dorei to utilize sialylated HMOs. We perform transcriptional profiling and identity upregulated genes when growing on sialylated HMOs. Using CRISPR-Cas12 to knock-out four PUL33 genes, combined with complementation assays, we identify GH33 as the critical gene in PUL33 for sialylated HMO-utilization. This demonstration of an HMO-utilization system by Bacteroides species isolated from infants opens the way to further characterization of additional such systems, to better understand HMO-utilization in the infant gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivan Kijner
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Department, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Dena Ennis
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Department, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shimrit Shmorak
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Department, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Anat Florentin
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Department, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Moran Yassour
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Department, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
- The Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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22
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Baik R, Cromer MK, Glenn SE, Vakulskas CA, Chmielewski KO, Dudek AM, Feist WN, Klermund J, Shipp S, Cathomen T, Dever DP, Porteus MH. Transient inhibition of 53BP1 increases the frequency of targeted integration in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:111. [PMID: 38169468 PMCID: PMC10762240 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43413-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome editing by homology directed repair (HDR) is leveraged to precisely modify the genome of therapeutically relevant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Here, we present a new approach to increasing the frequency of HDR in human HSPCs by the delivery of an inhibitor of 53BP1 (named "i53") as a recombinant peptide. We show that the use of i53 peptide effectively increases the frequency of HDR-mediated genome editing at a variety of therapeutically relevant loci in HSPCs as well as other primary human cell types. We show that incorporating the use of i53 recombinant protein allows high frequencies of HDR while lowering the amounts of AAV6 needed by 8-fold. HDR edited HSPCs were capable of long-term and bi-lineage hematopoietic reconstitution in NSG mice, suggesting that i53 recombinant protein might be safely integrated into the standard CRISPR/AAV6-mediated genome editing protocol to gain greater numbers of edited cells for transplantation of clinically meaningful cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Baik
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Molecular Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - M Kyle Cromer
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Steve E Glenn
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Coralville, IA, USA
| | | | - Kay O Chmielewski
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Ph.D. Program, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Amanda M Dudek
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - William N Feist
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Julia Klermund
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Suzette Shipp
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Toni Cathomen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniel P Dever
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Matthew H Porteus
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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23
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Liu J, Li W, Jin X, Lin F, Han J, Zhang Y. Optimal tagging strategies for illuminating expression profiles of genes with different abundance in zebrafish. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1300. [PMID: 38129658 PMCID: PMC10739737 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05686-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-mediated knock-in (KI) technology opens a new era of fluorescent-protein labeling in zebrafish, a preferred model organism for in vivo imaging. We described here an optimized zebrafish gene-tagging strategy, which enables easy and high-efficiency KI, ensures high odds of obtaining seamless KI germlines and is suitable for wide applications. Plasmid donors for 3'-labeling were optimized by shortening the microhomologous arms and by reducing the number and reversing the sequence of the consensus Cas9/sgRNA binding sites. To allow for scar-less KI across the genome, linearized dsDNA donors with 5'-chemical modifications were generated and successfully incorporated into our method. To refine the germline screen workflow and expedite the screen process, we combined fluorescence enrichment and caudal-fin junction-PCR. Furthermore, to trace proteins expressed at a low abundance, we developed a fluorescent signal amplifier using the transcriptional activation strategy. Together, our strategies enable efficient gene-tagging and sensitive expression detection for almost every gene in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wenyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xuepu Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Fanjia Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jiahuai Han
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
- Research Unit of Cellular Stress of CAMS, Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | - Yingying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
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24
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Kulhankova K, Traore S, Cheng X, Benk-Fortin H, Hallée S, Harvey M, Roberge J, Couture F, Kohli S, Gross TJ, Meyerholz DK, Rettig GR, Thommandru B, Kurgan G, Wohlford-Lenane C, Hartigan-O'Connor DJ, Yates BP, Newby GA, Liu DR, Tarantal AF, Guay D, McCray PB. Shuttle peptide delivers base editor RNPs to rhesus monkey airway epithelial cells in vivo. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8051. [PMID: 38052872 PMCID: PMC10698009 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43904-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene editing strategies for cystic fibrosis are challenged by the complex barrier properties of airway epithelia. We previously reported that the amphiphilic S10 shuttle peptide non-covalently combined with CRISPR-associated (Cas) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) enabled editing of human and mouse airway epithelial cells. Here, we derive the S315 peptide as an improvement over S10 in delivering base editor RNP. Following intratracheal aerosol delivery of Cy5-labeled peptide in rhesus macaques, we confirm delivery throughout the respiratory tract. Subsequently, we target CCR5 with co-administration of ABE8e-Cas9 RNP and S315. We achieve editing efficiencies of up-to 5.3% in rhesus airway epithelia. Moreover, we document persistence of edited epithelia for up to 12 months in mice. Finally, delivery of ABE8e-Cas9 targeting the CFTR R553X mutation restores anion channel function in cultured human airway epithelia. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of base editor delivery with S315 to functionally correct the CFTR R553X mutation in respiratory epithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Soumba Traore
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sajeev Kohli
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Thomas J Gross
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Gavin Kurgan
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Coralville, IA, USA
| | | | - Dennis J Hartigan-O'Connor
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bradley P Yates
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alice F Tarantal
- California National Primate Research Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Paul B McCray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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25
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Harvey-Samuel T, Feng X, Okamoto EM, Purusothaman DK, Leftwich PT, Alphey L, Gantz VM. CRISPR-based gene drives generate super-Mendelian inheritance in the disease vector Culex quinquefasciatus. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7561. [PMID: 37985762 PMCID: PMC10662442 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41834-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Culex mosquitoes pose a significant public health threat as vectors for a variety of diseases including West Nile virus and lymphatic filariasis, and transmit pathogens threatening livestock, companion animals, and endangered birds. Rampant insecticide resistance makes controlling these mosquitoes challenging and necessitates the development of new control strategies. Gene drive technologies have made significant progress in other mosquito species, although similar advances have been lagging in Culex. Here we test a CRISPR-based homing gene drive for Culex quinquefasciatus, and show that the inheritance of two split-gene-drive transgenes, targeting different loci, are biased in the presence of a Cas9-expressing transgene although with modest efficiencies. Our findings extend the list of disease vectors where engineered homing gene drives have been demonstrated to include Culex alongside Anopheles and Aedes, and pave the way for future development of these technologies to control Culex mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Harvey-Samuel
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Xuechun Feng
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Guangdong, 518106, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Emily M Okamoto
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Deepak-Kumar Purusothaman
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Philip T Leftwich
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK.
- Biology Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Valentino M Gantz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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26
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Moon J, Liu C. Asymmetric CRISPR enabling cascade signal amplification for nucleic acid detection by competitive crRNA. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7504. [PMID: 37980404 PMCID: PMC10657364 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43389-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid detection powered by CRISPR technology provides a rapid, sensitive, and deployable approach to molecular diagnostics. While exciting, there remain challenges limiting its practical applications, such as the need for pre-amplification and the lack of quantitative ability. Here, we develop an asymmetric CRISPR assay for cascade signal amplification detection of nucleic acids by leveraging the asymmetric trans-cleavage behavior of competitive crRNA. We discover that the competitive reaction between a full-sized crRNA and split crRNA for CRISPR-Cas12a can induce cascade signal amplification, significantly improving the target detection signal. In addition, we find that CRISPR-Cas12a can recognize fragmented RNA/DNA targets, enabling direct RNA detection by Cas12a. Based on these findings, we apply our asymmetric CRISPR assay to quantitatively detect microRNA without the need for pre-amplification, achieving a detection sensitivity of 856 aM. Moreover, using this method, we analyze and quantify miR-19a biomarker in plasma samples from bladder cancer patients. This asymmetric CRISPR assay has the potential to be widely applied for simple and sensitive nucleic acid detection in various diagnostic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Moon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, 06032, US
| | - Changchun Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, 06032, US.
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27
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Wei T, Sun Y, Cheng Q, Chatterjee S, Traylor Z, Johnson LT, Coquelin ML, Wang J, Torres MJ, Lian X, Wang X, Xiao Y, Hodges CA, Siegwart DJ. Lung SORT LNPs enable precise homology-directed repair mediated CRISPR/Cas genome correction in cystic fibrosis models. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7322. [PMID: 37951948 PMCID: PMC10640563 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42948-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 10% of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients, particularly those with CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene nonsense mutations, lack effective treatments. The potential of gene correction therapy through delivery of the CRISPR/Cas system to CF-relevant organs/cells is hindered by the lack of efficient genome editor delivery carriers. Herein, we report improved Lung Selective Organ Targeting Lipid Nanoparticles (SORT LNPs) for efficient delivery of Cas9 mRNA, sgRNA, and donor ssDNA templates, enabling precise homology-directed repair-mediated gene correction in CF models. Optimized Lung SORT LNPs deliver mRNA to lung basal cells in Ai9 reporter mice. SORT LNP treatment successfully corrected the CFTR mutations in homozygous G542X mice and in patient-derived human bronchial epithelial cells with homozygous F508del mutations, leading to the restoration of CFTR protein expression and chloride transport function. This proof-of-concept study will contribute to accelerating the clinical development of mRNA LNPs for CF treatment through CRISPR/Cas gene correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Wei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yehui Sun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Qiang Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sumanta Chatterjee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Zachary Traylor
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Lindsay T Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Jialu Wang
- ReCode Therapeutics, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | | | - Xizhen Lian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yufen Xiao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Craig A Hodges
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Daniel J Siegwart
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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28
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Gourgas O, Lemire G, Eaton AL, Alshahrani S, Duker AL, Li J, Carroll RS, Mackenzie S, Nikkel SM, Bober MB, Boycott KM, Murshed M. Specific heterozygous variants in MGP lead to endoplasmic reticulum stress and cause spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7054. [PMID: 37923733 PMCID: PMC10624854 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41651-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a vitamin K-dependent post-translationally modified protein, highly expressed in vascular and cartilaginous tissues. It is a potent inhibitor of extracellular matrix mineralization. Biallelic loss-of-function variants in the MGP gene cause Keutel syndrome, an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by widespread calcification of various cartilaginous tissues and skeletal and vascular anomalies. In this study, we report four individuals from two unrelated families with two heterozygous variants in MGP, both altering the cysteine 19 residue to phenylalanine or tyrosine. These individuals present with a spondyloepiphyseal skeletal dysplasia characterized by short stature with a short trunk, diffuse platyspondyly, midface retrusion, progressive epiphyseal anomalies and brachytelephalangism. We investigated the cellular and molecular effects of one of the heterozygous deleterious variants (C19F) using both cell and genetically modified mouse models. Heterozygous 'knock-in' mice expressing C19F MGP recapitulate most of the skeletal anomalies observed in the affected individuals. Our results suggest that the main underlying mechanism leading to the observed skeletal dysplasia is endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis of the growth plate chondrocytes. Overall, our findings support that heterozygous variants in MGP altering the Cys19 residue cause autosomal dominant spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a condition distinct from Keutel syndrome both clinically and molecularly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ophélie Gourgas
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gabrielle Lemire
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Broad Center for Mendelian Genomics, Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alison L Eaton
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Sultanah Alshahrani
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Kym M Boycott
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Monzur Murshed
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Shriners Hospitals for Children - Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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29
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Witz A, Dardare J, Francois A, Husson M, Rouyer M, Demange J, Merlin JL, Gilson P, Harlé A. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in of BRCA1/2 mutations restores response to olaparib in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18741. [PMID: 37907567 PMCID: PMC10618219 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45964-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive diseases with a very poor outcome. Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, as maintenance therapy showed benefits in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma bearing germline BRCA1/2 mutations. However, germline BRCA mutation has been described in only 4-7% of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. A CRISPR/Cas9-mediated system was used to knock-in the c.763G > T p.(Glu255*) and c.2133C > A p.(Cys711*) mutations in cell lines to obtain truncated BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins, respectively. A CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complex was assembled for each mutation and transfected into two pancreatic cell lines (T3M4 and Capan-2) and into a breast cancer cell lines (MCF7) as control. BRCA protein levels were significantly decreased in all BRCA-depleted cells (P < 0.05), proving the transfection efficiency of our CRISPR/Cas9 systems. As expected, the calculated olaparib IC50 were significantly reduced for all cell lines harbored BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations compared to wild-type BRCA1/2 cells (P < 0.01). Furthermore, we observed a higher induction of apoptosis after 72 h olaparib treatment in BRCA-depleted cells than in wild-type cells. This strategy might offer new insights into the management of patients with pancreatic cancer and open up new perspectives based on the in vivo use of CRISPR/Cas9 strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréa Witz
- Département de Biopathologie, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7039 CRAN, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
| | - Julie Dardare
- Département de Biopathologie, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7039 CRAN, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Aurélie Francois
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7039 CRAN, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- Département Recherche, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Marie Husson
- Département de Biopathologie, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Marie Rouyer
- Département de Biopathologie, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Jessica Demange
- Département de Biopathologie, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Jean-Louis Merlin
- Département de Biopathologie, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7039 CRAN, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Pauline Gilson
- Département de Biopathologie, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7039 CRAN, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Alexandre Harlé
- Département de Biopathologie, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7039 CRAN, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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30
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Liu J, Wang FZ, Li C, Li Y, Li JF. Hidden prevalence of deletion-inversion bi-alleles in CRISPR-mediated deletions of tandemly arrayed genes in plants. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6787. [PMID: 37880225 PMCID: PMC10600118 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42490-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Tandemly arrayed genes (TAGs) with functional redundancy and chromosomal linkage constitute 14 ~ 35% in sequenced plant genomes. The multiplex CRISPR system is the tool of choice for creating targeted TAG deletions. Here, we show that up to ~80% of CRISPR-mediated TAG knockout alleles in Arabidopsis and rice are deletion-inversion (delinver) bi-alleles, which are easily misidentified as homozygous deletion alleles by routine PCR-based genotyping. This can lead to misinterpretation of experimental data and production of progenies with genetic heterogeneity in an unnoticed manner. In ~2,650 transgenic events, delinver mutation frequencies are predominantly correlated with deletion frequencies but unrelated to chromosomal locations or deletion sizes. Delinver mutations also occur frequently at genomic non-TAG loci during multiplexed CRISPR editing. Our work raises the alarm about delinver mutations as common unwanted products of targeted TAG deletions in plants and helps prevent false interpretation of plant TAG functions due to this hidden genotype issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuer Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Feng-Zhu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Chong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yujia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Jian-Feng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
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31
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Liu P, Foiret J, Situ Y, Zhang N, Kare AJ, Wu B, Raie MN, Ferrara KW, Qi LS. Sonogenetic control of multiplexed genome regulation and base editing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6575. [PMID: 37852951 PMCID: PMC10584809 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Manipulating gene expression in the host genome with high precision is crucial for controlling cellular function and behavior. Here, we present a precise, non-invasive, and tunable strategy for controlling the expression of multiple endogenous genes both in vitro and in vivo, utilizing ultrasound as the stimulus. By engineering a hyper-efficient dCas12a and effector under a heat shock promoter, we demonstrate a system that can be inducibly activated through thermal energy produced by ultrasound absorption. This system allows versatile thermal induction of gene activation or base editing across cell types, including primary T cells, and enables multiplexed gene activation using a single guide RNA array. In mouse models, localized temperature elevation guided by high-intensity focused ultrasound effectively triggers reporter gene expression in implanted cells. Our work underscores the potential of ultrasound as a clinically viable approach to enhance cell and gene-based therapies via precision genome and epigenome engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Liu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Josquin Foiret
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yinglin Situ
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nisi Zhang
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aris J Kare
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bo Wu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Marina N Raie
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katherine W Ferrara
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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32
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Zeballos C MA, Moore HJ, Smith TJ, Powell JE, Ahsan NS, Zhang S, Gaj T. Mitigating a TDP-43 proteinopathy by targeting ataxin-2 using RNA-targeting CRISPR effector proteins. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6492. [PMID: 37838698 PMCID: PMC10576788 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42147-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The TDP-43 proteinopathies, which include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, are a devastating group of neurodegenerative disorders that are characterized by the mislocalization and aggregation of TDP-43. Here we demonstrate that RNA-targeting CRISPR effector proteins, a programmable class of gene silencing agents that includes the Cas13 family of enzymes and Cas7-11, can be used to mitigate TDP-43 pathology when programmed to target ataxin-2, a modifier of TDP-43-associated toxicity. In addition to inhibiting the aggregation and transit of TDP-43 to stress granules, we find that the in vivo delivery of an ataxin-2-targeting Cas13 system to a mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathy improved functional deficits, extended survival, and reduced the severity of neuropathological hallmarks. Further, we benchmark RNA-targeting CRISPR platforms against ataxin-2 and find that high-fidelity forms of Cas13 possess improved transcriptome-wide specificity compared to Cas7-11 and a first-generation effector. Our results demonstrate the potential of CRISPR technology for TDP-43 proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alejandra Zeballos C
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Hayden J Moore
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Tyler J Smith
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Jackson E Powell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Najah S Ahsan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Sijia Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Thomas Gaj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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33
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Trasanidou D, Potocnik A, Barendse P, Mohanraju P, Bouzetos E, Karpouzis E, Desmet A, van Kranenburg R, van der Oost J, Staals RHJ, Mougiakos I. Characterization of the AcrIIC1 anti‒CRISPR protein for Cas9‒based genome engineering in E. coli. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1042. [PMID: 37833505 PMCID: PMC10576004 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05418-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs) block the activity of CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins, either by inhibiting DNA interference or by preventing crRNA loading and complex formation. Although the main use of Acrs in genome engineering applications is to lower the cleavage activity of Cas proteins, they can also be instrumental for various other CRISPR-based applications. Here, we explore the genome editing potential of the thermoactive type II-C Cas9 variants from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans T12 (ThermoCas9) and Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GeoCas9) in Escherichia coli. We then demonstrate that the AcrIIC1 protein from Neisseria meningitidis robustly inhibits their DNA cleavage activity, but not their DNA binding capacity. Finally, we exploit these AcrIIC1:Cas9 complexes for gene silencing and base-editing, developing Acr base-editing tools. With these tools we pave the way for future engineering applications in mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria combining the activities of Acr and CRISPR-Cas proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Despoina Trasanidou
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ana Potocnik
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick Barendse
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Prarthana Mohanraju
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Evgenios Bouzetos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Efthymios Karpouzis
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Amber Desmet
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Richard van Kranenburg
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Corbion, Gorinchem, The Netherlands
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Raymond H J Staals
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Ioannis Mougiakos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- SNIPR Biome, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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34
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Gautam M, Jozic A, Su GLN, Herrera-Barrera M, Curtis A, Arrizabalaga S, Tschetter W, Ryals RC, Sahay G. Lipid nanoparticles with PEG-variant surface modifications mediate genome editing in the mouse retina. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6468. [PMID: 37833442 PMCID: PMC10575971 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42189-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocular delivery of lipid nanoparticle (LNPs) packaged mRNA can enable efficient gene delivery and editing. We generated LNP variants through the inclusion of positively charged-amine-modified polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipids (LNPa), negatively charged-carboxyl-(LNPz) and carboxy-ester (LNPx) modified PEG-lipids, and neutral unmodified PEG-lipids (LNP). Subretinal injections of LNPa containing Cre mRNA in the mouse show tdTomato signal in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) like conventional LNPs. Unexpectedly, LNPx and LNPz show 27% and 16% photoreceptor transfection, respectively, with striking localization extending from the photoreceptor synaptic pedicle to the outer segments, displaying pan-retinal distribution in the photoreceptors and RPE. LNPx containing Cas9 mRNA and sgAi9 leads to the formation of an oval elongated structure with a neutral charge resulting in 16.4% editing restricted to RPE. Surface modifications of LNPs with PEG variants can alter cellular tropism of mRNA. LNPs enable genome editing in the retina and in the future can be used to correct genetic mutations that lead to blindness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Gautam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon State University, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Antony Jozic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon State University, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Grace Li-Na Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Marco Herrera-Barrera
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon State University, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Allison Curtis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Sebastian Arrizabalaga
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Wayne Tschetter
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Renee C Ryals
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
| | - Gaurav Sahay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon State University, Portland, OR, 97201, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97201, USA.
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35
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Sanz Juste S, Okamoto EM, Nguyen C, Feng X, López Del Amo V. Next-generation CRISPR gene-drive systems using Cas12a nuclease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6388. [PMID: 37821497 PMCID: PMC10567717 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42183-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
One method for reducing the impact of vector-borne diseases is through the use of CRISPR-based gene drives, which manipulate insect populations due to their ability to rapidly propagate desired genetic traits into a target population. However, all current gene drives employ a Cas9 nuclease that is constitutively active, impeding our control over their propagation abilities and limiting the generation of alternative gene drive arrangements. Yet, other nucleases such as the temperature sensitive Cas12a have not been explored for gene drive designs in insects. To address this, we herein present a proof-of-concept gene-drive system driven by Cas12a that can be regulated via temperature modulation. Furthermore, we combined Cas9 and Cas12a to build double gene drives capable of simultaneously spreading two independent engineered alleles. The development of Cas12a-mediated gene drives provides an innovative option for designing next-generation vector control strategies to combat disease vectors and agricultural pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sanz Juste
- Department of Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis at MD Anderson, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77054, USA
- Center for Cancer Epigenetics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77054, USA
| | - Emily M Okamoto
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Christina Nguyen
- University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xuechun Feng
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518106, China.
| | - Víctor López Del Amo
- University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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36
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Zhao L, Koseki SRT, Silverstein RA, Amrani N, Peng C, Kramme C, Savic N, Pacesa M, Rodríguez TC, Stan T, Tysinger E, Hong L, Yudistyra V, Ponnapati MR, Jacobson JM, Church GM, Jakimo N, Truant R, Jinek M, Kleinstiver BP, Sontheimer EJ, Chatterjee P. PAM-flexible genome editing with an engineered chimeric Cas9. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6175. [PMID: 37794046 PMCID: PMC10550912 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41829-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR enzymes require a defined protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) flanking a guide RNA-programmed target site, limiting their sequence accessibility for robust genome editing applications. In this study, we recombine the PAM-interacting domain of SpRY, a broad-targeting Cas9 possessing an NRN > NYN (R = A or G, Y = C or T) PAM preference, with the N-terminus of Sc + +, a Cas9 with simultaneously broad, efficient, and accurate NNG editing capabilities, to generate a chimeric enzyme with highly flexible PAM preference: SpRYc. We demonstrate that SpRYc leverages properties of both enzymes to specifically edit diverse PAMs and disease-related loci for potential therapeutic applications. In total, the approaches to generate SpRYc, coupled with its robust flexibility, highlight the power of integrative protein design for Cas9 engineering and motivate downstream editing applications that require precise genomic positioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Rachel A Silverstein
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nadia Amrani
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Cambridge, USA
| | - Christina Peng
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Christian Kramme
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Natasha Savic
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Martin Pacesa
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tomás C Rodríguez
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Cambridge, USA
| | - Teodora Stan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Emma Tysinger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lauren Hong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Vivian Yudistyra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Joseph M Jacobson
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - George M Church
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Noah Jakimo
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ray Truant
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin P Kleinstiver
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Cambridge, USA
| | - Pranam Chatterjee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Computer Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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37
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Yang Z, Li Z, Li B, Bu R, Tan GY, Wang Z, Yan H, Xin Z, Zhang G, Li M, Xiang H, Zhang L, Wang W. A thermostable type I-B CRISPR-Cas system for orthogonal and multiplexed genetic engineering. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6193. [PMID: 37794017 PMCID: PMC10551041 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41973-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermophilic cell factories have remarkably broad potential for industrial applications, but are limited by a lack of genetic manipulation tools and recalcitrance to transformation. Here, we identify a thermophilic type I-B CRISPR-Cas system from Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius and find it displays highly efficient transcriptional repression or DNA cleavage activity that can be switched by adjusting crRNA length to less than or greater than 26 bp, respectively, without ablating Cas3 nuclease. We then develop an orthogonal tool for genome editing and transcriptional repression using this type I-B system in both thermophile and mesophile hosts. Empowered by this tool, we design a strategy to screen the genome-scale targets involved in transformation efficiency and established dynamically controlled supercompetent P. thermoglucosidasius cells with high efficiency ( ~ 108 CFU/μg DNA) by temporal multiplexed repression. We also demonstrate the construction of thermophilic riboflavin cell factory with hitherto highest titers in high temperature fermentation by genome-scale identification and combinatorial manipulation of multiple targets. This work enables diverse high-efficiency genetic manipulation in P. thermoglucosidasius and facilitates the engineering of thermophilic cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiheng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), 200237, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Zilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Bixiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Ruihong Bu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, 266003, Qingdao, China
| | - Gao-Yi Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), 200237, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengduo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), 200237, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenguo Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Guojian Zhang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, 266003, Qingdao, China
| | - Ming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), 200237, Shanghai, China.
| | - Weishan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
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38
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Timms RT, Mena EL, Leng Y, Li MZ, Tchasovnikarova IA, Koren I, Elledge SJ. Defining E3 ligase-substrate relationships through multiplex CRISPR screening. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1535-1545. [PMID: 37735597 PMCID: PMC10567573 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01229-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Specificity within the ubiquitin-proteasome system is primarily achieved through E3 ubiquitin ligases, but for many E3s their substrates-and in particular the molecular features (degrons) that they recognize-remain largely unknown. Current approaches for assigning E3s to their cognate substrates are tedious and low throughput. Here we developed a multiplex CRISPR screening platform to assign E3 ligases to their cognate substrates at scale. A proof-of-principle multiplex screen successfully performed ~100 CRISPR screens in a single experiment, refining known C-degron pathways and identifying an additional pathway through which Cul2FEM1B targets C-terminal proline. Further, by identifying substrates for Cul1FBXO38, Cul2APPBP2, Cul3GAN, Cul3KLHL8, Cul3KLHL9/13 and Cul3KLHL15, we demonstrate that the approach is compatible with pools of full-length protein substrates of varying stabilities and, when combined with site-saturation mutagenesis, can assign E3 ligases to their cognate degron motifs. Thus, multiplex CRISPR screening will accelerate our understanding of how specificity is achieved within the ubiquitin-proteasome system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard T Timms
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Genetics, Brigham asnd Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elijah L Mena
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Genetics, Brigham asnd Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yumei Leng
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Genetics, Brigham asnd Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mamie Z Li
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Genetics, Brigham asnd Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Iva A Tchasovnikarova
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Itay Koren
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Stephen J Elledge
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Genetics, Brigham asnd Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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39
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Thürkauf M, Lin S, Oliveri F, Grimm D, Platt RJ, Rüegg MA. Fast, multiplexable and efficient somatic gene deletions in adult mouse skeletal muscle fibers using AAV-CRISPR/Cas9. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6116. [PMID: 37777530 PMCID: PMC10542775 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41769-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular screens comparing different disease states to identify candidate genes rely on the availability of fast, reliable and multiplexable systems to interrogate genes of interest. CRISPR/Cas9-based reverse genetics is a promising method to eventually achieve this. However, such methods are sorely lacking for multi-nucleated muscle fibers, since highly efficient nuclei editing is a requisite to robustly inactive candidate genes. Here, we couple Cre-mediated skeletal muscle fiber-specific Cas9 expression with myotropic adeno-associated virus-mediated sgRNA delivery to establish a system for highly effective somatic gene deletions in mice. Using well-characterized genes, we show that local or systemic inactivation of these genes copy the phenotype of traditional gene-knockout mouse models. Thus, this proof-of-principle study establishes a method to unravel the function of individual genes or entire signaling pathways in adult skeletal muscle fibers without the cumbersome requirement of generating knockout mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shuo Lin
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Section Viral Vector Technologies, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Randall J Platt
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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40
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Zhong Z, Liu G, Tang Z, Xiang S, Yang L, Huang L, He Y, Fan T, Liu S, Zheng X, Zhang T, Qi Y, Huang J, Zhang Y. Efficient plant genome engineering using a probiotic sourced CRISPR-Cas9 system. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6102. [PMID: 37773156 PMCID: PMC10541446 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41802-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Among CRISPR-Cas genome editing systems, Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9), sourced from a human pathogen, is the most widely used. Here, through in silico data mining, we have established an efficient plant genome engineering system using CRISPR-Cas9 from probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus. We have confirmed the predicted 5'-NGAAA-3' PAM via a bacterial PAM depletion assay and showcased its exceptional editing efficiency in rice, wheat, tomato, and Larix cells, surpassing LbCas12a, SpCas9-NG, and SpRY when targeting the identical sequences. In stable rice lines, LrCas9 facilitates multiplexed gene knockout through coding sequence editing and achieves gene knockdown via targeted promoter deletion, demonstrating high specificity. We have also developed LrCas9-derived cytosine and adenine base editors, expanding base editing capabilities. Finally, by harnessing LrCas9's A/T-rich PAM targeting preference, we have created efficient CRISPR interference and activation systems in plants. Together, our work establishes CRISPR-LrCas9 as an efficient and user-friendly genome engineering tool for diverse applications in crops and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Zhong
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715, Chongqing, China
| | - Guanqing Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, 225012, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, 225012, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, 225012, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhongjie Tang
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuyue Xiang
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China
| | - Liang Yang
- Horticulture Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sichuan, China
- Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Variety Improvement Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, 610066, Chengdu, China
| | - Lan Huang
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao He
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China
| | - Tingting Fan
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China
| | - Shishi Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuelian Zheng
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715, Chongqing, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, 225012, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, 225012, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, 225012, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yiping Qi
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA.
| | - Jian Huang
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China.
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610054, Chengdu, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715, Chongqing, China.
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41
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Chen J, Xu X, Chen S, Lu T, Zheng Y, Gan Z, Shen Z, Ma S, Wang D, Su L, He F, Shang X, Xu H, Chen D, Zhang L, Xiong F. Double heterozygous pathogenic mutations in KIF3C and ZNF513 cause hereditary gingival fibromatosis. Int J Oral Sci 2023; 15:46. [PMID: 37752101 PMCID: PMC10522663 DOI: 10.1038/s41368-023-00244-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a rare inherited condition with fibromatoid hyperplasia of the gingival tissue that exhibits great genetic heterogeneity. Five distinct loci related to non-syndromic HGF have been identified; however, only two disease-causing genes, SOS1 and REST, inducing HGF have been identified at two loci, GINGF1 and GINGF5, respectively. Here, based on a family pedigree with 26 members, including nine patients with HGF, we identified double heterozygous pathogenic mutations in the ZNF513 (c.C748T, p.R250W) and KIF3C (c.G1229A, p.R410H) genes within the GINGF3 locus related to HGF. Functional studies demonstrated that the ZNF513 p.R250W and KIF3C p.R410H variants significantly increased the expression of ZNF513 and KIF3C in vitro and in vivo. ZNF513, a transcription factor, binds to KIF3C exon 1 and participates in the positive regulation of KIF3C expression in gingival fibroblasts. Furthermore, a knock-in mouse model confirmed that heterozygous or homozygous mutations within Zfp513 (p.R250W) or Kif3c (p.R412H) alone do not led to clear phenotypes with gingival fibromatosis, whereas the double mutations led to gingival hyperplasia phenotypes. In addition, we found that ZNF513 binds to the SOS1 promoter and plays an important positive role in regulating the expression of SOS1. Moreover, the KIF3C p.R410H mutation could activate the PI3K and KCNQ1 potassium channels. ZNF513 combined with KIF3C regulates gingival fibroblast proliferation, migration, and fibrosis response via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways. In summary, these results demonstrate ZNF513 + KIF3C as an important genetic combination in HGF manifestation and suggest that ZNF513 mutation may be a major risk factor for HGF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfan Chen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Experimental Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Institute, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xueqing Xu
- Department of Precision Medicine, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Song Chen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Lu
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingchun Zheng
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongzhi Gan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zongrui Shen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shunfei Ma
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Duocai Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Leyi Su
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fei He
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Shang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiyong Xu
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong Chen
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Leitao Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Fu Xiong
- Department of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Single Cell Technology and Application, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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42
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Kulcsár PI, Tálas A, Ligeti Z, Tóth E, Rakvács Z, Bartos Z, Krausz SL, Welker Á, Végi VL, Huszár K, Welker E. A cleavage rule for selection of increased-fidelity SpCas9 variants with high efficiency and no detectable off-targets. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5746. [PMID: 37717069 PMCID: PMC10505190 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41393-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) has been employed as a genome engineering tool with a promising potential within therapeutics. However, its off-target effects present major safety concerns for applications requiring high specificity. Approaches developed to date to mitigate this effect, including any of the increased-fidelity (i.e., high-fidelity) SpCas9 variants, only provide efficient editing on a relatively small fraction of targets without detectable off-targets. Upon addressing this problem, we reveal a rather unexpected cleavability ranking of target sequences, and a cleavage rule that governs the on-target and off-target cleavage of increased-fidelity SpCas9 variants but not that of SpCas9-NG or xCas9. According to this rule, for each target, an optimal variant with matching fidelity must be identified for efficient cleavage without detectable off-target effects. Based on this insight, we develop here an extended set of variants, the CRISPRecise set, with increased fidelity spanning across a wide range, with differences in fidelity small enough to comprise an optimal variant for each target, regardless of its cleavability ranking. We demonstrate efficient editing with maximum specificity even on those targets that have not been possible in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter István Kulcsár
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Tálas
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Ligeti
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Eszter Tóth
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Rakvács
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsa Bartos
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sarah Laura Krausz
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Biospiral-2006 Ltd, Szeged, Hungary
- School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Welker
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Gene Design Ltd, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Vanessza Laura Végi
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Biospiral-2006 Ltd, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Huszár
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Gene Design Ltd, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ervin Welker
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary.
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43
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Tomita A, Sasanuma H, Owa T, Nakazawa Y, Shimada M, Fukuoka T, Ogi T, Nakada S. Inducing multiple nicks promotes interhomolog homologous recombination to correct heterozygous mutations in somatic cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5607. [PMID: 37714828 PMCID: PMC10504326 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41048-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing has great potential utility for treating genetic diseases. However, its therapeutic applications are limited by unintended genomic alterations arising from DNA double-strand breaks and random integration of exogenous DNA. In this study, we propose NICER, a method for correcting heterozygous mutations that employs multiple nicks (MNs) induced by Cas9 nickase and a homologous chromosome as an endogenous repair template. Although a single nick near the mutation site rarely leads to successful gene correction, additional nicks on homologous chromosomes strongly enhance gene correction efficiency via interhomolog homologous recombination (IH-HR). This process partially depends on BRCA1 and BRCA2, suggesting the existence of several distinct pathways for MN-induced IH-HR. According to a genomic analysis, NICER rarely induces unintended genomic alterations. Furthermore, NICER restores the expression of disease-causing genes in cells derived from genetic diseases with compound heterozygous mutations. Overall, NICER provides a precise strategy for gene correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Tomita
- Department of Bioregulation and Cellular Response, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sasanuma
- Department of Genome Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, 156-0057, Japan
| | - Tomoo Owa
- Department of Bioregulation and Cellular Response, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuka Nakazawa
- Department of Genetics, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (RIeM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Mayuko Shimada
- Department of Genetics, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (RIeM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Takahiro Fukuoka
- Department of Genetics, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (RIeM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
- Genomedia Inc., Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Tomoo Ogi
- Department of Genetics, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (RIeM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Nakada
- Department of Bioregulation and Cellular Response, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
- Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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44
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Zeng H, Yuan Q, Peng F, Ma D, Lingineni A, Chee K, Gilberd P, Osikpa EC, Sun Z, Gao X. A split and inducible adenine base editor for precise in vivo base editing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5573. [PMID: 37696818 PMCID: PMC10495389 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41331-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA base editors use deaminases fused to a programmable DNA-binding protein for targeted nucleotide conversion. However, the most widely used TadA deaminases lack post-translational control in living cells. Here, we present a split adenine base editor (sABE) that utilizes chemically induced dimerization (CID) to control the catalytic activity of the deoxyadenosine deaminase TadA-8e. sABE shows high on-target editing activity comparable to the original ABE with TadA-8e (ABE8e) upon rapamycin induction while maintaining low background activity without induction. Importantly, sABE exhibits a narrower activity window on DNA and higher precision than ABE8e, with an improved single-to-double ratio of adenine editing and reduced genomic and transcriptomic off-target effects. sABE can achieve gene knockout through multiplex splice donor disruption in human cells. Furthermore, when delivered via dual adeno-associated virus vectors, sABE can efficiently convert a single A•T base pair to a G•C base pair on the PCSK9 gene in mouse liver, demonstrating in vivo CID-controlled DNA base editing. Thus, sABE enables precise control of base editing, which will have broad implications for basic research and in vivo therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhi Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Qichen Yuan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Fei Peng
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Dacheng Ma
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Ananya Lingineni
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Kelly Chee
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Peretz Gilberd
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Emmanuel C Osikpa
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Zheng Sun
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Xue Gao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
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45
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Ham DT, Browne TS, Banglorewala PN, Wilson TL, Michael RK, Gloor GB, Edgell DR. A generalizable Cas9/sgRNA prediction model using machine transfer learning with small high-quality datasets. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5514. [PMID: 37679324 PMCID: PMC10485023 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41143-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) can be used with single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) as a sequence-specific antimicrobial agent and as a genome-engineering tool. However, current bacterial sgRNA activity models struggle with accurate predictions and do not generalize well, possibly because the underlying datasets used to train the models do not accurately measure SpCas9/sgRNA activity and cannot distinguish on-target cleavage from toxicity. Here, we solve this problem by using a two-plasmid positive selection system to generate high-quality data that more accurately reports on SpCas9/sgRNA cleavage and that separates activity from toxicity. We develop a machine learning architecture (crisprHAL) that can be trained on existing datasets, that shows marked improvements in sgRNA activity prediction accuracy when transfer learning is used with small amounts of high-quality data, and that can generalize predictions to different bacteria. The crisprHAL model recapitulates known SpCas9/sgRNA-target DNA interactions and provides a pathway to a generalizable sgRNA bacterial activity prediction tool that will enable accurate antimicrobial and genome engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalton T Ham
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
| | - Tyler S Browne
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
| | - Pooja N Banglorewala
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
| | | | | | - Gregory B Gloor
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada.
| | - David R Edgell
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada.
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46
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Bestas B, Wimberger S, Degtev D, Madsen A, Rottner AK, Karlsson F, Naumenko S, Callahan M, Touza JL, Francescatto M, Möller CI, Badertscher L, Li S, Cerboni S, Selfjord N, Ericson E, Gordon E, Firth M, Chylinski K, Taheri-Ghahfarokhi A, Bohlooly-Y M, Snowden M, Pangalos M, Nuttall B, Akcakaya P, Sienski G, Maresca M. A Type II-B Cas9 nuclease with minimized off-targets and reduced chromosomal translocations in vivo. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5474. [PMID: 37673883 PMCID: PMC10482872 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41240-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) and derived enzymes are widely used as genome editors, but their promiscuous nuclease activity often induces undesired mutations and chromosomal rearrangements. Several strategies for mapping off-target effects have emerged, but they suffer from limited sensitivity. To increase the detection sensitivity, we develop an off-target assessment workflow that uses Duplex Sequencing. The strategy increases sensitivity by one order of magnitude, identifying previously unknown SpCas9's off-target mutations in the humanized PCSK9 mouse model. To reduce off-target risks, we perform a bioinformatic search and identify a high-fidelity Cas9 variant of the II-B subfamily from Parasutterella secunda (PsCas9). PsCas9 shows improved specificity as compared to SpCas9 across multiple tested sites, both in vitro and in vivo, including the PCSK9 site. In the future, while PsCas9 will offer an alternative to SpCas9 for research and clinical use, the Duplex Sequencing workflow will enable a more sensitive assessment of Cas9 editing outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burcu Bestas
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sandra Wimberger
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Dmitrii Degtev
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Alexandra Madsen
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Antje K Rottner
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Karlsson
- Data Sciences and Quantitative Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sergey Naumenko
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Megan Callahan
- Translational Genomics, Translational Medicine, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Julia Liz Touza
- Translational Genomics, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Margherita Francescatto
- Data Sciences and Quantitative Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carl Ivar Möller
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lukas Badertscher
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Songyuan Li
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Silvia Cerboni
- Translational Science and Experimental Medicine, Research and Early Development, Respiratory & Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Niklas Selfjord
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elke Ericson
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Euan Gordon
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mike Firth
- Data Sciences and Quantitative Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Amir Taheri-Ghahfarokhi
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Bohlooly-Y
- Translational Genomics, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mike Snowden
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Barrett Nuttall
- Translational Genomics, Translational Medicine, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Pinar Akcakaya
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Grzegorz Sienski
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Marcello Maresca
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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47
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Rananaware SR, Vesco EK, Shoemaker GM, Anekar SS, Sandoval LSW, Meister KS, Macaluso NC, Nguyen LT, Jain PK. Programmable RNA detection with CRISPR-Cas12a. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5409. [PMID: 37669948 PMCID: PMC10480431 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41006-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cas12a, a CRISPR-associated protein complex, has an inherent ability to cleave DNA substrates and is utilized in diagnostic tools to identify DNA molecules. We demonstrate that multiple orthologs of Cas12a activate trans-cleavage in the presence of split activators. Specifically, the PAM-distal region of the crRNA recognizes RNA targets provided that the PAM-proximal seed region has a DNA target. Our method, Split Activator for Highly Accessible RNA Analysis (SAHARA), detects picomolar concentrations of RNA without sample amplification, reverse-transcription, or strand-displacement by simply supplying a short DNA sequence complementary to the seed region. Beyond RNA detection, SAHARA outperforms wild-type CRISPR-Cas12a in specificity towards point-mutations and can detect multiple RNA and DNA targets in pooled crRNA/Cas12a arrays via distinct PAM-proximal seed DNAs. In conclusion, SAHARA is a simple, yet powerful nucleic acid detection platform based on Cas12a that can be applied in a multiplexed fashion and potentially be expanded to other CRISPR-Cas enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma K Vesco
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Grace M Shoemaker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Swapnil S Anekar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Katelyn S Meister
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nicolas C Macaluso
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Long T Nguyen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Piyush K Jain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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48
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Zhang C, Yang Y, Qi T, Zhang Y, Hou L, Wei J, Yang J, Shi L, Ong SG, Wang H, Wang H, Yu B, Wang Y. Prediction of base editor off-targets by deep learning. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5358. [PMID: 37660097 PMCID: PMC10475126 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41004-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the tolerance of mismatches between gRNA and targeting sequence, base editors frequently induce unwanted Cas9-dependent off-target mutations. Here, to develop models to predict such off-targets, we design gRNA-off- target pairs for adenine base editors (ABEs) and cytosine base editors (CBEs) and stably integrate them into the human cells. After five days of editing, we obtain valid efficiency datasets of 54,663 and 55,727 off-targets for ABEs and CBEs, respectively. We use the datasets to train deep learning models, resulting in ABEdeepoff and CBEdeepoff, which can predict off-target sites. We use these tools to predict off-targets for a panel of endogenous loci and achieve Spearman correlation values varying from 0.710 to 0.859. Finally, we develop an integrated tool that is freely accessible via an online web server http://www.deephf.com/#/bedeep/bedeepoff . These tools could facilitate minimizing the off-target effects of base editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengdong Zhang
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Qi
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yuening Zhang
- SJTU-Yale Joint Center for Biostatistics and Data Science, (Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology) Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Linghui Hou
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jingjing Wei
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jingcheng Yang
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Leming Shi
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Sang-Ging Ong
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Illinois, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Illinois, USA
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China.
| | - Bo Yu
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Yongming Wang
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Shanghai, China.
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49
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Tsai HH, Kao HJ, Kuo MW, Lin CH, Chang CM, Chen YY, Chen HH, Kwok PY, Yu AL, Yu J. Whole genomic analysis reveals atypical non-homologous off-target large structural variants induced by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5183. [PMID: 37626063 PMCID: PMC10457329 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40901-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing has promising therapeutic potential for genetic diseases and cancers, but safety could be a concern. Here we use whole genomic analysis by 10x linked-read sequencing and optical genome mapping to interrogate the genome integrity after editing and in comparison to four parental cell lines. In addition to the previously reported large structural variants at on-target sites, we identify heretofore unexpected large chromosomal deletions (91.2 and 136 Kb) at atypical non-homologous off-target sites without sequence similarity to the sgRNA in two edited lines. The observed large structural variants induced by CRISPR-Cas9 editing in dividing cells may result in pathogenic consequences and thus limit the usefulness of the CRISPR-Cas9 editing system for disease modeling and gene therapy. In this work, our whole genomic analysis may provide a valuable strategy to ensure genome integrity after genomic editing to minimize the risk of unintended effects in research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiu-Hui Tsai
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Jung Kao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Wei Kuo
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Hsien Lin
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital and School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Min Chang
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Yin Chen
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Huei Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pui-Yan Kwok
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Human Genetics, and Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Alice L Yu
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, USA
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - John Yu
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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50
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Geurts MH, Gandhi S, Boretto MG, Akkerman N, Derks LLM, van Son G, Celotti M, Harshuk-Shabso S, Peci F, Begthel H, Hendriks D, Schürmann P, Andersson-Rolf A, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM, van Es JH, van Boxtel R, Clevers H. One-step generation of tumor models by base editor multiplexing in adult stem cell-derived organoids. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4998. [PMID: 37591832 PMCID: PMC10435570 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40701-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Optimization of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering has resulted in base editors that hold promise for mutation repair and disease modeling. Here, we demonstrate the application of base editors for the generation of complex tumor models in human ASC-derived organoids. First we show efficacy of cytosine and adenine base editors in modeling CTNNB1 hot-spot mutations in hepatocyte organoids. Next, we use C > T base editors to insert nonsense mutations in PTEN in endometrial organoids and demonstrate tumorigenicity even in the heterozygous state. Moreover, drug sensitivity assays on organoids harboring either PTEN or PTEN and PIK3CA mutations reveal the mechanism underlying the initial stages of endometrial tumorigenesis. To further increase the scope of base editing we combine SpCas9 and SaCas9 for simultaneous C > T and A > G editing at individual target sites. Finally, we show that base editor multiplexing allow modeling of colorectal tumorigenesis in a single step by simultaneously transfecting sgRNAs targeting five cancer genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten H Geurts
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Shashank Gandhi
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Matteo G Boretto
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ninouk Akkerman
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lucca L M Derks
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Gijs van Son
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Martina Celotti
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sarina Harshuk-Shabso
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Flavia Peci
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Harry Begthel
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Delilah Hendriks
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Paul Schürmann
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Amanda Andersson-Rolf
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Johan H van Es
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ruben van Boxtel
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, 3521AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Pharma Research Early Development, Basel, Switzerland.
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