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Yi H, Yun Y, Choi WH, Hwang HY, Cha JH, Seok H, Song JJ, Lee JH, Lee SY, Kim D. CRISPR-based editing strategies to rectify EYA1 complex genomic rearrangement linked to haploinsufficiency. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2024; 35:102199. [PMID: 38766525 PMCID: PMC11101721 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102199] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Pathogenic structure variations (SVs) are associated with various types of cancer and rare genetic diseases. Recent studies have used Cas9 nuclease with paired guide RNAs (gRNAs) to generate targeted chromosomal rearrangements, focusing on producing fusion proteins that cause cancer, whereas research on precision genome editing for rectifying SVs is limited. In this study, we identified a novel complex genomic rearrangement (CGR), specifically an EYA1 inversion with a deletion, implicated in branchio-oto-renal/branchio-oto syndrome. To address this, two CRISPR-based approaches were tested. First, we used Cas9 nuclease and paired gRNAs tailored to the patient's genome. The dual CRISPR-Cas9 system induced efficient correction of paracentric inversion in patient-derived fibroblast, and effectively restored the expression of EYA1 mRNA and protein, along with its transcriptional activity required to regulate the target gene expression. Additionally, we used CRISPR activation (CRISPRa), which leads to the upregulation of EYA1 mRNA expression in patient-derived fibroblasts. Moreover, CRISPRa significantly improved EYA1 protein expression and transcriptional activity essential for target gene expression. This suggests that CRISPRa-based gene therapies could offer substantial translational potential for approximately 70% of disease-causing EYA1 variants responsible for haploinsufficiency. Our findings demonstrate the potential of CRISPR-guided genome editing for correcting SVs, including those with EYA1 CGR linked to haploinsufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwalin Yi
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Yejin Yun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, South Korea
| | - Won Hoon Choi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, South Korea
| | - Hye-Yeon Hwang
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hyuen Cha
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, South Korea
| | - Heeyoung Seok
- Department of Transdisciplinary Research and Collaboration, Genomics Core Facility, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, South Korea
| | - Jae-Jin Song
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Jun Ho Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, South Korea
| | - Sang-Yeon Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, South Korea
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Sensory Organ Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Daesik Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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Coatti GC, Vaghela N, Gillurkar P, Leir SH, Harris A. A promoter-dependent upstream activator augments CFTR expression in diverse epithelial cell types. Biochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech 2024; 1867:195031. [PMID: 38679287 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2024.195031] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene encodes an anion-selective channel found in epithelial cell membranes. Mutations in CFTR cause cystic fibrosis (CF), an inherited disorder that impairs epithelial function in multiple organs. Most men with CF are infertile due to loss of intact genital ducts. Here we investigated a novel epididymis-selective cis-regulatory element (CRE), located within a peak of open chromatin at -9.5 kb 5' to the CFTR gene promoter. Activation of the -9.5 kb CRE alone by CRISPRa had no impact on CFTR gene expression. However, CRISPRa co-activation of the -9.5 kb CRE and the CFTR gene promoter in epididymis cells significantly augmented CFTR mRNA and protein expression when compared to promoter activation alone. This increase was accompanied by enhanced chromatin accessibility at both sites. Furthermore, the combined CRISPRa strategy activated CFTR expression in other epithelial cells that lack open chromatin at the -9.5 kb site and in which the locus is normally inactive. However, the -9.5 kb CRE does not function as a classical enhancer of the CFTR promoter in transient reporter gene assays. These data provide a novel mechanism for activating/augmenting CFTR expression, which may have therapeutic utility for mutations that perturb CFTR transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana C Coatti
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Nirbhayaditya Vaghela
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Pulak Gillurkar
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Shih-Hsing Leir
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ann Harris
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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3
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Bach SV, Bauman AJ, Hosein D, Tuscher JJ, Ianov L, Greathouse KM, Henderson BW, Herskowitz JH, Martinowich K, Day JJ. Distinct roles of Bdnf I and Bdnf IV transcript variant expression in hippocampal neurons. Hippocampus 2024; 34:218-229. [PMID: 38362938 PMCID: PMC11039386 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23600] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) plays a critical role in brain development, dendritic growth, synaptic plasticity, as well as learning and memory. The rodent Bdnf gene contains nine 5' non-coding exons (I-IXa), which are spliced to a common 3' coding exon (IX). Transcription of individual Bdnf variants, which all encode the same BDNF protein, is initiated at unique promoters upstream of each non-coding exon, enabling precise spatiotemporal and activity-dependent regulation of Bdnf expression. Although prior evidence suggests that Bdnf transcripts containing exon I (Bdnf I) or exon IV (Bdnf IV) are uniquely regulated by neuronal activity, the functional significance of different Bdnf transcript variants remains unclear. To investigate functional roles of activity-dependent Bdnf I and IV transcripts, we used a CRISPR activation system in which catalytically dead Cas9 fused to a transcriptional activator (VPR) is targeted to individual Bdnf promoters with single guide RNAs, resulting in transcript-specific Bdnf upregulation. Bdnf I upregulation is associated with gene expression changes linked to dendritic growth, while Bdnf IV upregulation is associated with genes that regulate protein catabolism. Upregulation of Bdnf I, but not Bdnf IV, increased mushroom spine density, volume, length, and head diameter, and also produced more complex dendritic arbors in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. In contrast, upregulation of Bdnf IV, but not Bdnf I, in the rat hippocampus attenuated contextual fear expression. Our data suggest that while Bdnf I and IV are both activity-dependent, BDNF produced from these promoters may serve unique cellular, synaptic, and behavioral functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svitlana V. Bach
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Allison J. Bauman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Darya Hosein
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jennifer J. Tuscher
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lara Ianov
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kelsey M. Greathouse
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Benjamin W. Henderson
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jeremy H. Herskowitz
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Keri Martinowich
- The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jeremy J. Day
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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4
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Gager C, Flores-Mireles AL. Blunted blades: new CRISPR-derived technologies to dissect microbial multi-drug resistance and biofilm formation. mSphere 2024; 9:e0064223. [PMID: 38511958 PMCID: PMC11036814 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00642-23] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The spread of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens has rapidly outpaced the development of effective treatments. Diverse resistance mechanisms further limit the effectiveness of our best treatments, including multi-drug regimens and last line-of-defense antimicrobials. Biofilm formation is a powerful component of microbial pathogenesis, providing a scaffold for efficient colonization and shielding against anti-microbials, which further complicates drug resistance studies. Early genetic knockout tools didn't allow the study of essential genes, but clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat inference (CRISPRi) technologies have overcome this challenge via genetic silencing. These tools rapidly evolved to meet new demands and exploit native CRISPR systems. Modern tools range from the creation of massive CRISPRi libraries to tunable modulation of gene expression with CRISPR activation (CRISPRa). This review discusses the rapid expansion of CRISPRi/a-based technologies, their use in investigating MDR and biofilm formation, and how this drives further development of a potent tool to comprehensively examine multi-drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Gager
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Ana L. Flores-Mireles
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- W. M. Keck Center for Transgene Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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5
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Prytkova I, Liu Y, Fernando M, Gameiro-Ros I, Popova D, Kamarajan C, Xuei X, Chorlian DB, Edenberg HJ, Tischfield JA, Porjesz B, Pang ZP, Hart RP, Goate A, Slesinger PA. Upregulated GIRK2 Counteracts Ethanol-Induced Changes in Excitability and Respiration in Human Neurons. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0918232024. [PMID: 38350999 PMCID: PMC11026340 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0918-23.2024] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of electroencephalographic endophenotypes for alcohol use disorder (AUD) has identified noncoding polymorphisms within the KCNJ6 gene. KCNJ6 encodes GIRK2, a subunit of a G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel that regulates neuronal excitability. We studied the effect of upregulating KCNJ6 using an isogenic approach with human glutamatergic neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (male and female donors). Using multielectrode arrays, population calcium imaging, single-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, and mitochondrial stress tests, we find that elevated GIRK2 acts in concert with 7-21 d of ethanol exposure to inhibit neuronal activity, to counteract ethanol-induced increases in glutamate response, and to promote an increase intrinsic excitability. Furthermore, elevated GIRK2 prevented ethanol-induced changes in basal and activity-dependent mitochondrial respiration. These data support a role for GIRK2 in mitigating the effects of ethanol and a previously unknown connection to mitochondrial function in human glutamatergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iya Prytkova
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Yiyuan Liu
- Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Michael Fernando
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Isabel Gameiro-Ros
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Dina Popova
- Human Genetics Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
| | - Chella Kamarajan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203
| | - Xiaoling Xuei
- Departments of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - David B Chorlian
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203
| | - Howard J Edenberg
- Departments of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Jay A Tischfield
- Human Genetics Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
| | - Bernice Porjesz
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York 11203
| | - Zhiping P Pang
- Human Genetics Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology and The Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
| | - Ronald P Hart
- Human Genetics Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
- Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
| | - Alison Goate
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
- Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Paul A Slesinger
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
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6
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Clark T, Waller MA, Loo L, Moreno CL, Denes CE, Neely GG. CRISPR activation screens: navigating technologies and applications. Trends Biotechnol 2024:S0167-7799(24)00036-2. [PMID: 38493051 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.007] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) activation (CRISPRa) has become an integral part of the molecular biology toolkit. CRISPRa genetic screens are an exciting high-throughput means of identifying genes the upregulation of which is sufficient to elicit a given phenotype. Activation machinery is continually under development to achieve greater, more robust, and more consistent activation. In this review, we offer a succinct technological overview of available CRISPRa architectures and a comprehensive summary of pooled CRISPRa screens. Furthermore, we discuss contemporary applications of CRISPRa across broad fields of research, with the aim of presenting a view of exciting emerging applications for CRISPRa screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teleri Clark
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew A Waller
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lipin Loo
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Cesar L Moreno
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher E Denes
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - G Gregory Neely
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
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7
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Weston JD, Austin B, Levis H, Zitnay J, Weiss JA, Lawrence B, Bowles RD. Toward the Development of a Tissue Engineered Gradient Utilizing CRISPR-Guided Gene Modulation. Tissue Eng Part A 2024. [PMID: 38323556 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2023.0352] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular, compositional, and mechanical gradients are found throughout biological tissues, especially in transition zones between tissue types. Yet, strategies to engineer such gradients have proven difficult due to the complex nature of these tissues. Current strategies for tissue engineering complex gradients often utilize stem cells; however, these multipotent cells require direction from environmental cues, which can be difficult to control both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we utilize clustered regularly-interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-guided gene modulation to direct the differentiation of multipotent adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to demonstrate the effectiveness of CRISPR-engineered cells in tissue engineering applications. Specifically, we screen CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi) constructs targeting the promotors of selected osteogenic inhibitors and demonstrate that ASC osteogenic differentiation and mineral deposition can be regulated with CRISPRi targeting of Noggin without the use of exogenous growth factors in tissue engineered constructs. As a proof of concept, we combine three technologies developed out of our laboratories to demonstrate the controlled deposition of these engineered cells in a gradient with CRISPR-activation multiplex-engineered aggrecan/collagen type-II-chondrogenic ASCs on a high density anisotropic type I collagen construct to create a cell and tissue gradient similar to the fibrocartilage-to-mineralized-fibrocartilage gradient in the enthesis. Our results display the promise of CRISPR-engineered ASCs to produce tissue gradients, similar to what is observed in native tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob D Weston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Brooke Austin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Hunter Levis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Jared Zitnay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Weiss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Brandon Lawrence
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Robby D Bowles
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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8
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Dziubańska-Kusibab PJ, Nevedomskaya E, Haendler B. Preclinical Anticipation of On- and Off-Target Resistance Mechanisms to Anti-Cancer Drugs: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:705. [PMID: 38255778 PMCID: PMC10815614 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020705] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The advent of targeted therapies has led to tremendous improvements in treatment options and their outcomes in the field of oncology. Yet, many cancers outsmart precision drugs by developing on-target or off-target resistance mechanisms. Gaining the ability to resist treatment is the rule rather than the exception in tumors, and it remains a major healthcare challenge to achieve long-lasting remission in most cancer patients. Here, we discuss emerging strategies that take advantage of innovative high-throughput screening technologies to anticipate on- and off-target resistance mechanisms before they occur in treated cancer patients. We divide the methods into non-systematic approaches, such as random mutagenesis or long-term drug treatment, and systematic approaches, relying on the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system, saturated mutagenesis, or computational methods. All these new developments, especially genome-wide CRISPR-based screening platforms, have significantly accelerated the processes for identification of the mechanisms responsible for cancer drug resistance and opened up new avenues for future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bernard Haendler
- Research and Early Development Oncology, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, Müllerstr. 178, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (P.J.D.-K.); (E.N.)
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9
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Bryson JW, Rosser SJ. Multiplexed Transactivation of Mammalian Cells Using dFnCas12a-VPR. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2774:193-204. [PMID: 38441766 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3718-0_13] [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] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR activation provides an invaluable tool for experimental biologists to convert correlations into causation by directly observing phenotypic changes upon targeted changes in gene expression. With few exceptions, most diseases are caused by complex polygenic interactions, with multiple genes contributing to define the output of a gene network. As such researchers are increasingly interested in tools that can offer not only control but also the capacity to simultaneously upregulate multiple genes. The adaptation of CRISPR/Cas12a has provided a system especially suited to the tightly coordinated overexpression of multiple targeted genes. Here we describe an approach to test for active targeting crRNAs for dFnCas12a-VPR, before proceeding to generate and validate longer crRNA arrays for multiplexed targeting of genes of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Bryson
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susan J Rosser
- Department of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology and UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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10
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Zhong C, He S, Huang Y, Yan J, Wang J, Liu W, Fang J, Ren F. Scaffold-based non-viral CRISPR delivery platform for efficient and prolonged gene activation to accelerate tissue regeneration. Acta Biomater 2024; 173:283-297. [PMID: 37913843 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.10.029] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat activation (CRISPRa) technology has emerged as a precise genome editing tool for activating endogenous transgene expression. While it holds promise for precise cell modification, its translation into tissue engineering has been hampered by biosafety concerns and suboptimal delivery methods. To address these challenges, we have developed a CRISPRa non-viral gene delivery platform by immobilizing non-viral CRISPRa complexes into a biocompatible hydrogel/nanofiber (Gel/NF) composite scaffold. The Gel/NF scaffold facilitates the controlled and sustained release of CRISPRa complexes and also promotes cell recruitment to the scaffold for efficient and localized transfection. As a proof of concept, we employed this CRISPRa delivery platform to activate the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene in a rat model with full-thickness skin defects. Our results demonstrate sustained upregulation of VEGF expression even at 21 days post-implantation, resulting in enhanced angiogenesis and improved skin regeneration. These findings underscore the potential of the Gel/NF scaffold-based CRISPRa delivery platform as an efficient and durable strategy for gene activation, offering promising prospects for tissue regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Translation of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat activation (CRISPRa) therapy to tissue engineering is limited by biosafety concerns and unsatisfactory delivery strategy. To solve this issue, we have developed a CRISPRa non-viral gene delivery platform by immobilizing non-viral CRISPRa complexes into a biocompatible hydrogel/nanofiber (Gel/NF) composite scaffold. This scaffold enables controlled and sustained release of CRISPRa and can induce cell recruitment for localized transfection. As a proof of concept, we activated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a rat model with full-thickness skin defects, leading to sustained upregulation of VEGF expression, enhanced angiogenesis and improved skin regeneration in vivo. These findings demonstrate the potential of this platform for gene activation, thereby offering promising prospects for tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanxin Zhong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shan He
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yuhong Huang
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Jianfeng Yan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Junqin Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Wentao Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Ju Fang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Fuzeng Ren
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
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11
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Tavleeva MM, Rasova EE, Rybak AV, Belykh ES, Fefilova EA, Pnachina EM, Velegzhaninov IO. Dose-Dependent Effect of Mitochondrial Superoxide Dismutase Gene Overexpression on Radioresistance of HEK293T Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17315. [PMID: 38139144 PMCID: PMC10744337 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417315] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last two decades, a multitude of gain-of-function studies have been conducted on genes that encode antioxidative enzymes, including one of the key enzymes, manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2). The results of such studies are often contradictory, as they strongly depend on many factors, such as the gene overexpression level. In this study, the effect of altering the ectopic expression level of major transcript variants of the SOD2 gene on the radioresistance of HEK293T cells was investigated using CRISPRa technology. A significant increase in cell viability in comparison with the transfection control was detected in cells with moderate SOD2 overexpression after irradiation at 2 Gy, but not at 3 or 5 Gy. A further increase in the level of SOD2 ectopic expression up to 22.5-fold resulted in increased cell viability detectable only after irradiation at 5 Gy. Furthermore, a 15-20-fold increase in SOD2 expression raised the clonogenic survival of cells after irradiation at 5 Gy. Simultaneous overexpression of genes encoding SOD2 and Catalase (CAT) enhanced clonogenic cell survival after irradiation more effectively than separate overexpression of both. In conjunction with the literature data on the suppression of the procarcinogenic effects of superoxide dismutase overexpression by ectopic expression of CAT, the data presented here suggest the potential efficacy of simultaneous overexpression of SOD2 and CAT to reduce oxidative stress occurring in various pathological processes. Moreover, these results illustrate the importance of selecting the degree of SOD2 overexpression to obtain a protective effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina M. Tavleeva
- Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 28b Kommunisticheskaya St., Syktyvkar 167982, Russia; (M.M.T.); (E.E.R.); (A.V.R.); (E.S.B.)
| | - Elena E. Rasova
- Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 28b Kommunisticheskaya St., Syktyvkar 167982, Russia; (M.M.T.); (E.E.R.); (A.V.R.); (E.S.B.)
| | - Anna V. Rybak
- Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 28b Kommunisticheskaya St., Syktyvkar 167982, Russia; (M.M.T.); (E.E.R.); (A.V.R.); (E.S.B.)
| | - Elena S. Belykh
- Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 28b Kommunisticheskaya St., Syktyvkar 167982, Russia; (M.M.T.); (E.E.R.); (A.V.R.); (E.S.B.)
| | - Elizaveta A. Fefilova
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky Ave., St. Petersburg 194064, Russia;
| | - Elizaveta M. Pnachina
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Ave., Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia;
| | - Ilya O. Velegzhaninov
- Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 28b Kommunisticheskaya St., Syktyvkar 167982, Russia; (M.M.T.); (E.E.R.); (A.V.R.); (E.S.B.)
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12
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Pulver C, Grun D, Duc J, Sheppard S, Planet E, Coudray A, de Fondeville R, Pontis J, Trono D. Statistical learning quantifies transposable element-mediated cis-regulation. Genome Biol 2023; 24:258. [PMID: 37950299 PMCID: PMC10637000 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03085-7] [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: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transposable elements (TEs) have colonized the genomes of most metazoans, and many TE-embedded sequences function as cis-regulatory elements (CREs) for genes involved in a wide range of biological processes from early embryogenesis to innate immune responses. Because of their repetitive nature, TEs have the potential to form CRE platforms enabling the coordinated and genome-wide regulation of protein-coding genes by only a handful of trans-acting transcription factors (TFs). RESULTS Here, we directly test this hypothesis through mathematical modeling and demonstrate that differences in expression at protein-coding genes alone are sufficient to estimate the magnitude and significance of TE-contributed cis-regulatory activities, even in contexts where TE-derived transcription fails to do so. We leverage hundreds of overexpression experiments and estimate that, overall, gene expression is influenced by TE-embedded CREs situated within approximately 500 kb of promoters. Focusing on the cis-regulatory potential of TEs within the gene regulatory network of human embryonic stem cells, we find that pluripotency-specific and evolutionarily young TE subfamilies can be reactivated by TFs involved in post-implantation embryogenesis. Finally, we show that TE subfamilies can be split into truly regulatorily active versus inactive fractions based on additional information such as matched epigenomic data, observing that TF binding may better predict TE cis-regulatory activity than differences in histone marks. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that TE-embedded CREs contribute to gene regulation during and beyond gastrulation. On a methodological level, we provide a statistical tool that infers TE-dependent cis-regulation from RNA-seq data alone, thus facilitating the study of TEs in the next-generation sequencing era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Pulver
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Delphine Grun
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Duc
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Shaoline Sheppard
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Evarist Planet
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Coudray
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raphaël de Fondeville
- Swiss Data Science Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Julien Pontis
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- SOPHiA GENETICS SA, La Pièce 12, CH-1180, Rolle, Switzerland.
| | - Didier Trono
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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13
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Bendixen L, Jensen TI, Bak RO. CRISPR-Cas-mediated transcriptional modulation: The therapeutic promises of CRISPRa and CRISPRi. Mol Ther 2023; 31:1920-1937. [PMID: 36964659 PMCID: PMC10362391 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [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: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas system is commonly known for its ability to cleave DNA in a programmable manner, which has democratized gene editing and facilitated recent breakthroughs in gene therapy. However, newer iterations of the technology using nuclease-disabled Cas enzymes have spurred a variety of different types of genetic engineering platforms such as transcriptional modulation using the CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) systems. This review introduces the creation of these programmable transcriptional modulators, various methods of delivery utilized for these systems, and recent technological developments. CRISPRa and CRISPRi have also been implemented in genetic screens for interrogating gene function and discovering genes involved in various biological pathways. We describe recent compelling examples of how these tools have become powerful means to unravel genetic networks and uncovering important information about devastating diseases. Finally, we provide an overview of preclinical studies in which transcriptional modulation has been used therapeutically, and we discuss potential future directions of these novel modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Bendixen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Trine I Jensen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Rasmus O Bak
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
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Zhu H, Liu D, Sui M, Zhou M, Wang B, Qi Q, Wang T, Zhang G, Wan F, Zhang B. CRISPRa-based activation of Fgf21 and Fndc5 ameliorates obesity by promoting adipocytes browning. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1326. [PMID: 37462619 PMCID: PMC10353577 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1326] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Skeletal muscle-secreted myokines widely participate in lipids metabolism through autocrine, paracrine and endocrine actions. The myokines represented by FGF21 and Irisin can promote the browning of adipocytes and serve as promising targets for treating obesity. Although recombinant myokines replacement therapy and AAV (adeno-associated virus)-based myokines overexpression have shown a definite effect in ameliorating obesity, novel myokine activation strategies with higher efficacy and safety are still in pressing need. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of a novel CRISPR-based myokines activation strategy in obesity treatments. METHODS In this study, we used lentivirus and a single AAV vector containing dCas9-VP64 with a single-guide RNA to selectively activate Fgf21 and Fndc5 expression in skeletal muscles both in vitro and in vivo. The activation efficacy of the CRISPRa system was determined by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and ELISA. The treatment effect of CRISPR-based myokines activation was tested in 3T3-L1-derived adipocytes and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice (male C57BL/6 mice, induced at 6-week-old for 10 weeks). RESULTS The virus upregulates myokines expression in both mRNA and protein levels of muscle cells in vitro and in vivo. Myokines secreted by muscle cells promoted browning of 3T3-L1-derived adipocytes. In vivo activation of myokines by AAVs can reduce body weight and fat mass, increase the adipocytes browning and improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in DIO mice. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides a novel CRISPR-based myokines activation strategy that can ameliorate obesity by promoting adipocytes browning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongtao Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Sui
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Meiling Zhou
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Beibei Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinqin Qi
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guo Zhang
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, Ministry of Education, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Wan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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15
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Arango D, Cifuentes J, Puentes PR, Beltran T, Bittar A, Ocasión C, Muñoz-Camargo C, Bloch NI, Reyes LH, Cruz JC. Tailoring Magnetite-Nanoparticle-Based Nanocarriers for Gene Delivery: Exploiting CRISPRa Potential in Reducing Conditions. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2023; 13:nano13111782. [PMID: 37299685 DOI: 10.3390/nano13111782] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Gene delivery has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional treatment approaches, allowing for the manipulation of gene expression through gene insertion, deletion, or alteration. However, the susceptibility of gene delivery components to degradation and challenges associated with cell penetration necessitate the use of delivery vehicles for effective functional gene delivery. Nanostructured vehicles, such as iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) including magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs), have demonstrated significant potential for gene delivery applications due to their chemical versatility, biocompatibility, and strong magnetization. In this study, we developed an ION-based delivery vehicle capable of releasing linearized nucleic acids (tDNA) under reducing conditions in various cell cultures. As a proof of concept, we immobilized a CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) sequence to overexpress the pink1 gene on MNPs functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG), 3-[(2-aminoethyl)dithio]propionic acid (AEDP), and a translocating protein (OmpA). The nucleic sequence (tDNA) was modified to include a terminal thiol group and was conjugated to AEDP's terminal thiol via a disulfide exchange reaction. Leveraging the natural sensitivity of the disulfide bridge, the cargo was released under reducing conditions. Physicochemical characterizations, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, confirmed the correct synthesis and functionalization of the MNP-based delivery carriers. The developed nanocarriers exhibited remarkable biocompatibility, as demonstrated by the hemocompatibility, platelet aggregation, and cytocompatibility assays using primary human astrocytes, rodent astrocytes, and human fibroblast cells. Furthermore, the nanocarriers enabled efficient cargo penetration, uptake, and endosomal escape, with minimal nucleofection. A preliminary functionality test using RT-qPCR revealed that the vehicle facilitated the timely release of CRISPRa vectors, resulting in a remarkable 130-fold overexpression of pink1. We demonstrate the potential of the developed ION-based nanocarrier as a versatile and promising gene delivery vehicle with potential applications in gene therapy. The developed nanocarrier is capable of delivering any nucleic sequence (up to 8.2 kb) once it is thiolated using the methodology explained in this study. To our knowledge, this represents the first MNP-based nanocarrier capable of delivering nucleic sequences under specific reducing conditions while preserving functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Arango
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Javier Cifuentes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Paola Ruiz Puentes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Tatiana Beltran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Amaury Bittar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Camila Ocasión
- Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | | | - Natasha I Bloch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Luis H Reyes
- Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Juan C Cruz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
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16
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Vazquez-Vilar M, Selma S, Orzaez D. The design of synthetic gene circuits in plants: new components, old challenges. J Exp Bot 2023:7173266. [PMID: 37204924 PMCID: PMC10353530 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad167] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The fascination produced by the possibility of engineering plants with augmented capabilities has accompanied plant biotechnology since its origins. This prospect has become even more relevant in present times under the pressure imposed by climate change and population growth. Today´s plant biotechnologists appraise this challenge with the tools of synthetic biology, which facilitate the assembly of synthetic gene circuits (SGCs) from their modular components. Transcriptional SGCs take environmental or endogenous inputs and operate them using transcriptional signals in ways that do not necessarily occur in nature, generating new physiological outputs. Many genetic components have been developed over the years that can be employed in the design and construction of plant SGCs. This review aims to provide an updated and categorized view of the components available, proposing a general scheme that facilitates the classification of circuit components in sensor, processor, and actuator modules. Following this analogy, we review the latest advances in the design of SGC and discuss the main challenges ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Vazquez-Vilar
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat Politècnica de Valéncia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sara Selma
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat Politècnica de Valéncia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Diego Orzaez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat Politècnica de Valéncia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
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17
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Kumar P, Courtes M, Lemmers C, Le Digarcher A, Coku I, Monteil A, Hong C, Varrault A, Liu R, Wang L, Bouschet T. Functional mapping of microRNA promoters with dCas9 fused to transcriptional regulators. Front Genet 2023; 14:1147222. [PMID: 37214422 PMCID: PMC10196145 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1147222] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that control gene expression during development, physiology, and disease. Transcription is a key factor in microRNA abundance and tissue-specific expression. Many databases predict the location of microRNA transcription start sites and promoters. However, these candidate regions require functional validation. Here, dCas9 fused to transcriptional activators or repressors - CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) and inhibition (CRISPRi)- were targeted to the candidate promoters of two intronic microRNAs, mmu-miR-335 and hsa-miR-3662, including the promoters of their respective host genes Mest and HBS1L. We report that in mouse embryonic stem cells and brain organoids, miR-335 was downregulated upon CRISPRi of its host gene Mest. Reciprocally, CRISPRa of Mest promoter upregulated miR-335. By contrast, CRISPRa of the predicted miR-335-specific promoter (located in an intron of Mest) did not affect miR-335 levels. Thus, the expression of miR-335 only depends on the promoter activity of its host gene Mest. By contrast, miR-3662 was CRISPR activatable both by the promoter of its host gene HBS1L and an intronic sequence in HEK-293T cells. Thus, CRISPRa and CRISPRi are powerful tools to evaluate the relevance of endogenous regulatory sequences involved in microRNA transcription in defined cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Kumar
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Mathilde Courtes
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Céline Lemmers
- Plateforme de Vectorologie de Montpellier (PVM), BioCampus Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Anne Le Digarcher
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Ilda Coku
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Arnaud Monteil
- Plateforme de Vectorologie de Montpellier (PVM), BioCampus Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Charles Hong
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Annie Varrault
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Runhua Liu
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Lizhong Wang
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Tristan Bouschet
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Abstract
Precise control of gene expression (knock-out, knock-in, knockdown or overexpression) is at the heart of functional genomics - an approach to dissect the contribution of a gene/protein to the system's function. The development of a human in vitro system that can be patient-specific, induced pluripotent stem cells, iPSC, and the ability to obtain various cell types of interest, have empowered human disease modeling and therapeutic development. Scalable tools have been deployed for gene modulation in these cells and derivatives, including pharmacological means, DNA-based RNA interference and standard RNA interference (shRNA/siRNA). The CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system, borrowed from bacteria and adopted for use in mammalian cells a decade ago, offers cell-specific genetic targeting and versatility. Outside genome editing, more subtle, time-resolved gene modulation is possible by using a catalytically "dead" Cas9 enzyme linked to an effector of gene transcription in combination with a guide RNA. The CRISPRi / CRISPRa (interference/activation) system evolved over the last decade as a scalable technology for performing functional genomics with libraries of gRNAs. Here, we review key developments of these approaches and their deployment in cardiovascular research. We discuss specific use with iPSC-cardiomyocytes and the challenges in further translation of these techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Leann Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Suite 5000, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Emilia Entcheva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Suite 5000, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
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19
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Sgro A, Cursons J, Waryah C, Woodward EA, Foroutan M, Lyu R, Yeoh GCT, Leedman PJ, Blancafort P. Epigenetic reactivation of tumor suppressor genes with CRISPRa technologies as precision therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:73. [PMID: 37120619 PMCID: PMC10149030 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01482-0] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) is a key feature of oncogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Liver-targeted delivery of CRISPR-activation (CRISPRa) systems makes it possible to exploit chromatin plasticity, by reprogramming transcriptional dysregulation. RESULTS Using The Cancer Genome Atlas HCC data, we identify 12 putative TSGs with negative associations between promoter DNA methylation and transcript abundance, with limited genetic alterations. All HCC samples harbor at least one silenced TSG, suggesting that combining a specific panel of genomic targets could maximize efficacy, and potentially improve outcomes as a personalized treatment strategy for HCC patients. Unlike epigenetic modifying drugs lacking locus selectivity, CRISPRa systems enable potent and precise reactivation of at least 4 TSGs tailored to representative HCC lines. Concerted reactivation of HHIP, MT1M, PZP, and TTC36 in Hep3B cells inhibits multiple facets of HCC pathogenesis, such as cell viability, proliferation, and migration. CONCLUSIONS By combining multiple effector domains, we demonstrate the utility of a CRISPRa toolbox of epigenetic effectors and gRNAs for patient-specific treatment of aggressive HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Sgro
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Joseph Cursons
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Charlene Waryah
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Eleanor A Woodward
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Momeneh Foroutan
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Ruqian Lyu
- Bioinformatics and Cellular Genomics, St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia
- Melbourne Integrative Genomics/School of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - George C T Yeoh
- Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Peter J Leedman
- Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Laboratory for Cancer Medicine, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, 6 Verdun St, Nedlands, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Pilar Blancafort
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
- Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
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20
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Wu Q, Wu J, Karim K, Chen X, Wang T, Iwama S, Carobbio S, Keen P, Vidal-Puig A, Kotter MR, Bassett A. Massively parallel characterization of CRISPR activator efficacy in human induced pluripotent stem cells and neurons. Mol Cell 2023; 83:1125-1139.e8. [PMID: 36917981 PMCID: PMC10114495 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) is an important tool to perturb transcription, but its effectiveness varies between target genes. We employ human pluripotent stem cells with thousands of randomly integrated barcoded reporters to assess epigenetic features that influence CRISPRa efficacy. Basal expression levels are influenced by genomic context and dramatically change during differentiation to neurons. Gene activation by dCas9-VPR is successful in most genomic contexts, including developmentally repressed regions, and activation level is anti-correlated with basal gene expression, whereas dCas9-p300 is ineffective in stem cells. Certain chromatin states, such as bivalent chromatin, are particularly sensitive to dCas9-VPR, whereas constitutive heterochromatin is less responsive. We validate these rules at endogenous genes and show that activation of certain genes elicits a change in the stem cell transcriptome, sometimes showing features of differentiated cells. Our data provide rules to predict CRISPRa outcome and highlight its utility to screen for factors driving stem cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianxin Wu
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.
| | - Junjing Wu
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK; Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, China
| | - Kaiser Karim
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Xi Chen
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK; Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Ave, Nanshan, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Tengyao Wang
- Department of Statistics, London School of Economics and Political Science, London WC2B 4RR, UK
| | - Sho Iwama
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Stefania Carobbio
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK; Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Treatment Center, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Peter Keen
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Antonio Vidal-Puig
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK; Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Treatment Center, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Mark R Kotter
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Andrew Bassett
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.
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21
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Idres YM, Lai AJ, McMillan NAJ, Idris A. Hyperactivation of p53 using CRISPRa kills human papillomavirus-driven cervical cancer cells. Virus Genes 2023; 59:312-316. [PMID: 36474086 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-022-01960-2] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Clinical and pre-clinical work for a number of cancer types has demonstrated relatively positive outcomes and effective tumour regression when the level and function of p53, a well-established tumour suppressor, is restored. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven cancers encode the E6 oncoprotein, which leads to p53 degradation, to allow the carcinogenic process to proceed. Indeed, there have been several attempts to revive p53 function in HPV-driven cancers by both pharmacological and genetic means to increase p53 bioavailability. Here, we employed a CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) approach to overcome HPV-mediated silencing of p53 by hyperexpressing the p53 gene promoter. Our data show that CRISPRa-mediated hyperexpression of p53 leads to HPV+ cervical cancer cell killing and the reduction of cell proliferation. This proof-of-concept data suggest that increasing p53 bioavailability may potentially be a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of HPV-driven cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuf M Idres
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Building G05, Room 3.37a, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Alan J Lai
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Building G05, Room 3.37a, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Nigel A J McMillan
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Building G05, Room 3.37a, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Adi Idris
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Building G05, Room 3.37a, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia.
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22
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Li Y, Li D, You L, Deng T, Pang Q, Meng X, Zhu B. dCas9-Based PDGFR-β Activation ADSCs Accelerate Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice through Angiogenesis and ECM Remodeling. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065949. [PMID: 36983022 PMCID: PMC10057415 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065949] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The chronic wound represents a serious disease characterized by a failure to heal damaged skin and surrounding soft tissue. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from adipose tissue (ADSCs) are a promising therapeutic strategy, but their heterogeneity may result in varying or insufficient therapeutic capabilities. In this study, we discovered that all ADSCs populations expressed platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFR-β), while the expression level decreased dynamically with passages. Thus, using a CRISPRa-based system, we endogenously overexpressed PDGFR-β in ADSCs. Moreover, a series of in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to determine the functional changes in PDGFR-β activation ADSCs (AC-ADSCs) and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. With the activation of PDGFR-β, AC-ADSCs exhibited enhanced migration, survival, and paracrine capacity relative to control ADSCs (CON-ADSCs). In addition, the secretion components of AC-ADSCs contained more pro-angiogenic factors and extracellular matrix-associated molecules, which promoted the function of endothelial cells (ECs) in vitro. Additionally, in in vivo transplantation experiments, the AC-ADSCs transplantation group demonstrated improved wound healing rates, stronger collagen deposition, and angiogenesis. Consequently, our findings revealed that PDGFR-β overexpression enhanced the migration, survival, and paracrine capacity of ADSCs and improved therapeutic effects after transplantation to diabetic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Li
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Deyong Li
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lu You
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Tian Deng
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiuyu Pang
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiangmin Meng
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bingmei Zhu
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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23
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Qi X, Gao H, Lv R, Mao W, Zhu J, Liu C, Mao L, Li X, Xie C. CRISPR/dCas-mediated gene activation toolkit development and its application for parthenogenesis induction in maize. Plant Commun 2023; 4:100449. [PMID: 36089769 PMCID: PMC10030315 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems can be engineered as programmable transcription factors to either activate (CRISPRa) or inhibit transcription. Apomixis is extremely valuable for the seed industry in breeding clonal seeds with pure genetic backgrounds. We report here a CRISPR/dCas9-based toolkit equipped with dCas9-VP64 and MS2-p65-HSF1 effectors that may specifically target genes with high activation capability. We explored the application of in vivo CRISPRa targeting of maize BABY BOOM2 (ZmBBM2), acting as a fertilization checkpoint, as a means to engineer parthenogenesis. We detected ZmBBM2 transcripts only in egg cells but not in other maternal gametic cells. Activation of ZmBBM2 in egg cells in vivo caused maternal cell-autonomous parthenogenesis to produce haploid seeds. Our work provides a highly specific gene-activation CRISPRa technology for target cells and verifies its application for parthenogenesis induction in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiantao Qi
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100081 China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Hainan Province 572024 China
| | - Huimin Gao
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100081 China
| | - Renyao Lv
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100081 China
| | - Wenbo Mao
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100081 China
| | - Jinjie Zhu
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100081 China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Hainan Province 572024 China
| | - Changling Liu
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100081 China
| | - Long Mao
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100081 China
| | - Xinhai Li
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100081 China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Hainan Province 572024 China
| | - Chuanxiao Xie
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100081 China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Hainan Province 572024 China.
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24
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Yang Z, Pietrobon V, Bobbin M, Stefanson O, Yang J, Goswami A, Alphson B, Choi H, Magallanes K, Cai Q, Barrett D, Wang B, Qi LS, Marincola FM. Nanoscale, antigen encounter-dependent, IL-12 delivery by CAR T cells plus PD-L1 blockade for cancer treatment. J Transl Med 2023; 21:158. [PMID: 36855120 PMCID: PMC9976446 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04014-9] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies experienced tremendous progress in the last decade. However, essential limitations need to be addressed to further improve efficacy and reduce toxicity to assure CAR-T cell persistence, trafficking to the tumor site, resistance to an hostile tumor microenvironment (TME), and containment of toxicity restricting production of powerful but potentially toxic bioproducts to the TME; the last could be achieved through contextual release upon tumor antigen encounter of factors capable of converting an immune suppressive TME into one conducive to immune rejection. METHODS We created an HER2-targeting CAR-T (RB-312) using a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) activation (CRISPRa) system, which induces the expression of the IL-12 heterodimer via conditional transcription of its two endogenous subunits p35 and p40. This circuit includes two lentiviral constructs. The first one (HER2-TEV) expresses an anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) CAR single chain variable fragment (scFv), with CD28 and CD3z co-stimulatory domains linked to the tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease and two single guide RNAs (sgRNA) targeting the interleukin (IL)-12A and IL12B transcription start site (TSS), respectively. The second construct (LdCV) encodes linker for activation of T cells (LAT) fused to nuclease-deactivated Streptococcus Pyogenes Cas9 (dCas9)-VP64-p65-Rta (VPR) via a TEV-cleavable sequence (TCS). Activation of the CAR brings HER2-TEV in close proximity to LdCV releasing dCas9 for nuclear localization. This conditional circuit leads to conditional and reversible induction of the IL-12/p70 heterodimer. RB-312 was compared in vitro to controls (cRB-312), lacking the IL-12 sgRNAs and conventional HER2 CAR (convCAR). RESULTS The inducible CRISPRa system activated endogenous IL-12 expression resulting in enhanced secondary interferon (FN)-γ production, cytotoxicity, and CAR-T proliferation in vitro, prolonged in vivo persistence and greater suppression of HER2+ FaDu oropharyngeal cancer cell growth compared to the conventional CAR-T cell product. No systemic IL-12 was detected in the peripheral circulation. Moreover, the combination with programmed death ligand (PD-L1) blockade demonstrated robust synergistic effects. CONCLUSIONS RB-312, the first clinically relevant product incorporating a CRISPRa system with non-gene editing and reversible upregulation of endogenous gene expression that promotes CAR-T cells persistence and effectiveness against HER2-expressing tumors. The autocrine effects of reversible, nanoscale IL-12 production limits the risk of off-tumor leakage and systemic toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifen Yang
- Refuge Biotechnologies Inc., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA.
| | | | - Maggie Bobbin
- Refuge Biotechnologies Inc., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | | | - Jin Yang
- Refuge Biotechnologies Inc., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | | | | | - Hana Choi
- Refuge Biotechnologies Inc., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | | | - Qi Cai
- Kite Pharma Inc., Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | | | - Bing Wang
- Refuge Biotechnologies Inc., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, ChEM-H, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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25
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Kiattisewee C, Karanjia AV, Legut M, Daniloski Z, Koplik SE, Nelson J, Kleinstiver BP, Sanjana NE, Carothers JM, Zalatan JG. Expanding the Scope of Bacterial CRISPR Activation with PAM-Flexible dCas9 Variants. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:4103-4112. [PMID: 36378874 PMCID: PMC10516241 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas transcriptional tools have been widely applied for programmable regulation of complex biological networks. In comparison to eukaryotic systems, bacterial CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) has stringent target site requirements for effective gene activation. While genes may not always have an NGG protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) at the appropriate position, PAM-flexible dCas9 variants can expand the range of targetable sites. Here we systematically evaluate a panel of PAM-flexible dCas9 variants for their ability to activate bacterial genes. We observe that dxCas9-NG provides a high dynamic range of gene activation for sites with NGN PAMs while dSpRY permits modest activity across almost any PAM. Similar trends were observed for heterologous and endogenous promoters. For all variants tested, improved PAM-flexibility comes with the trade-off that CRISPRi-mediated gene repression becomes less effective. Weaker CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) gene repression can be partially rescued by expressing multiple sgRNAs to target many sites in the gene of interest. Our work provides a framework to choose the most effective dCas9 variant for a given set of gene targets, which will further expand the utility of CRISPRa/i gene regulation in bacterial systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cholpisit Kiattisewee
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center
for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United
States
| | - Ava V. Karanjia
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center
for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United
States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Mateusz Legut
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013, United
States
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY
10013, United States
| | - Zharko Daniloski
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013, United
States
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY
10013, United States
| | - Samantha E. Koplik
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Joely Nelson
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center
for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United
States
| | - Benjamin P. Kleinstiver
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General
Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital,
Boston, MA 02114, United States
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston,
MA 02115, United States
| | - Neville E. Sanjana
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013, United
States
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY
10013, United States
| | - James M. Carothers
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center
for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United
States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Jesse G. Zalatan
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center
for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United
States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA 98195, United States
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26
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Shaytan AK, Novikov RV, Vinnikov RS, Gribkova AK, Glukhov GS. From DNA-protein interactions to the genetic circuit design using CRISPR-dCas systems. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1070526. [PMID: 36589238 PMCID: PMC9795063 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1070526] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, the CRISPR-Cas technology has gained widespread popularity in different fields from genome editing and detecting specific DNA/RNA sequences to gene expression control. At the heart of this technology is the ability of CRISPR-Cas complexes to be programmed for targeting particular DNA loci, even when using catalytically inactive dCas-proteins. The repertoire of naturally derived and engineered dCas-proteins including fusion proteins presents a promising toolbox that can be used to construct functional synthetic genetic circuits. Rational genetic circuit design, apart from having practical relevance, is an important step towards a deeper quantitative understanding of the basic principles governing gene expression regulation and functioning of living organisms. In this minireview, we provide a succinct overview of the application of CRISPR-dCas-based systems in the emerging field of synthetic genetic circuit design. We discuss the diversity of dCas-based tools, their properties, and their application in different types of genetic circuits and outline challenges and further research directions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. K. Shaytan
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia,Department of Computer Science, HSE University, Moscow, Russia,*Correspondence: A. K. Shaytan,
| | - R. V. Novikov
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - R. S. Vinnikov
- Department of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - A. K. Gribkova
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - G. S. Glukhov
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia,Faculty of Biology, MSU-BIT Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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27
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Zhu X, Trimarco JD, Williams CA, Barrera A, Reddy TE, Heaton NS. ZBTB7A promotes virus-host homeostasis during human coronavirus 229E infection. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111540. [PMID: 36243002 PMCID: PMC9533670 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111540] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular fate after infection with human coronaviruses (HCoVs) is typically death. Previous data suggest, however, that the transcriptional state of an individual cell may sometimes allow additional outcomes of infection. Here, to probe the range of interactions a permissive cell type can have with a HCoV, we perform a CRISPR activation screen with HCoV-229E. The screen identified the transcription factor ZBTB7A, which strongly promotes cell survival after infection. Rather than suppressing viral infection, ZBTB7A upregulation allows the virus to induce a persistent infection and homeostatic state with the cell. We also find that control of oxidative stress is a primary driver of cellular survival during HCoV-229E infection. These data illustrate that, in addition to the nature of the infecting virus and the type of cell that it encounters, the cellular gene expression profile prior to infection can affect the eventual fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joseph D. Trimarco
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Courtney A. Williams
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA,Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alejandro Barrera
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA,Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Timothy E. Reddy
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA,Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA,Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nicholas S. Heaton
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA,Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA,Corresponding author
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28
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Escobar M, Li J, Patel A, Liu S, Xu Q, Hilton IB. Quantification of Genome Editing and Transcriptional Control Capabilities Reveals Hierarchies among Diverse CRISPR/Cas Systems in Human Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3239-3250. [PMID: 36162812 PMCID: PMC9594343 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas technologies have revolutionized the ability to redesign genomic information and tailor endogenous gene expression. Nevertheless, the discovery and development of new CRISPR/Cas systems has resulted in a lack of clarity surrounding the relative efficacies among these technologies in human cells. This deficit makes the optimal selection of CRISPR/Cas technologies in human cells unnecessarily challenging, which in turn hampers their adoption, and thus ultimately limits their utility. Here, we designed a series of endogenous testbed systems to methodically quantify and compare the genome editing, CRISPRi, and CRISPRa capabilities among 10 different natural and engineered Cas protein variants spanning Type II and Type V CRISPR/Cas families. We show that although all Cas protein variants are capable of genome editing and transcriptional control in human cells, hierarchies exist, particularly for genome editing and CRISPRa applications, wherein Cas9 ≥ Cas12a > Cas12e/Cas12j. Our findings also highlight the utility of our modular testbed platforms to rapidly and systematically quantify the functionality of practically any natural or engineered genomic-targeting Cas protein in human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Escobar
- Department
of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Jing Li
- Department
of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Aditi Patel
- Department
of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Shizhe Liu
- Department
of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Qi Xu
- Department
of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Isaac B. Hilton
- Department
of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States,Department
of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States,
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29
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Ding X, Yu L, Chen L, Li Y, Zhang J, Sheng H, Ren Z, Li Y, Yu X, Jin S, Cao J. Recent Progress and Future Prospect of CRISPR/Cas-Derived Transcription Activation ( CRISPRa) System in Plants. Cells 2022; 11:3045. [PMID: 36231007 PMCID: PMC9564188 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome editing technology has become one of the hottest research areas in recent years. Among diverse genome editing tools, the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated proteins system (CRISPR/Cas system) has exhibited the obvious advantages of specificity, simplicity, and flexibility over any previous genome editing system. In addition, the emergence of Cas9 mutants, such as dCas9 (dead Cas9), which lost its endonuclease activity but maintains DNA recognition activity with the guide RNA, provides powerful genetic manipulation tools. In particular, combining the dCas9 protein and transcriptional activator to achieve specific regulation of gene expression has made important contributions to biotechnology in medical research as well as agriculture. CRISPR/dCas9 activation (CRISPRa) can increase the transcription of endogenous genes. Overexpression of foreign genes by traditional transgenic technology in plant cells is the routine method to verify gene function by elevating genes transcription. One of the main limitations of the overexpression is the vector capacity constraint that makes it difficult to express multiple genes using the typical Ti plasmid vectors from Agrobacterium. The CRISPRa system can overcome these limitations of the traditional gene overexpression method and achieve multiple gene activation by simply designating several guide RNAs in one vector. This review summarizes the latest progress based on the development of CRISPRa systems, including SunTag, dCas9-VPR, dCas9-TV, scRNA, SAM, and CRISPR-Act and their applications in plants. Furthermore, limitations, challenges of current CRISPRa systems and future prospective applications are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ding
- Institute of Cotton, Shanxi Agricultural University, Yuncheng 044000, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lu Yu
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Luo Chen
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yujie Li
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jinlun Zhang
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hanyan Sheng
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhengwei Ren
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yunlong Li
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiaohan Yu
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shuangxia Jin
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jinglin Cao
- Tobacco Research Institute of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430030, China
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30
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Moreno-Giménez E, Selma S, Calvache C, Orzáez D. GB_SynP: A Modular dCas9-Regulated Synthetic Promoter Collection for Fine-Tuned Recombinant Gene Expression in Plants. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3037-3048. [PMID: 36044643 PMCID: PMC9486966 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Programmable transcriptional factors based on the CRISPR architecture are becoming commonly used in plants for endogenous gene regulation. In plants, a potent CRISPR tool for gene induction is the so-called dCasEV2.1 activation system, which has shown remarkable genome-wide specificity combined with a strong activation capacity. To explore the ability of dCasEV2.1 to act as a transactivator for orthogonal synthetic promoters, a collection of DNA parts was created (GB_SynP) for combinatorial synthetic promoter building. The collection includes (i) minimal promoter parts with the TATA box and 5'UTR regions, (ii) proximal parts containing single or multiple copies of the target sequence for the gRNA, thus functioning as regulatory cis boxes, and (iii) sequence-randomized distal parts that ensure the adequate length of the resulting promoter. A total of 35 promoters were assembled using the GB_SynP collection, showing in all cases minimal background and predictable activation levels depending on the proximal parts used. GB_SynP was also employed in a combinatorial expression analysis of an autoluminescence pathway in Nicotiana benthamiana, showing the value of this tool in extracting important biological information such as the determination of the limiting steps in an enzymatic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Moreno-Giménez
- Instituto
de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo
Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, Valencia 46022, Spain
| | - Sara Selma
- Instituto
de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo
Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, Valencia 46022, Spain
| | - Camilo Calvache
- Instituto
de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo
Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, Valencia 46022, Spain
| | - Diego Orzáez
- Instituto
de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo
Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, Valencia 46022, Spain
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31
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Selma S, Gianoglio S, Uranga M, Vázquez‐Vilar M, Espinosa‐Ruiz A, Drapal M, Fraser PD, Daròs J, Orzáez D. Potato virus X-delivered CRISPR activation programs lead to strong endogenous gene induction and transient metabolic reprogramming in Nicotiana benthamiana. Plant J 2022; 111:1550-1564. [PMID: 35822533 PMCID: PMC9541417 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Programmable transcriptional regulators based on CRISPR architecture are promising tools for the induction of plant gene expression. In plants, CRISPR gene activation is effective with respect to modulating development processes, such as the flowering time or customizing biochemical composition. The most widely used method for delivering CRISPR components into the plant is Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation, either transient or stable. However, as a result of their versatility and their ability to move, virus-derived systems have emerged as an interesting alternative for supplying the CRISPR components to the plant, in particular guide RNA (gRNA), which represents the variable component in CRISPR strategies. In the present study, we describe a Potato virus X-derived vector that, upon agroinfection in Nicotiana benthamiana, serves as a vehicle for delivery of gRNAs, producing highly specific virus-induced gene activation. The system works in combination with a N. benthamiana transgenic line carrying the remaining complementary CRISPR gene activation components, specifically the dCasEV2.1 cassette, which has been shown previously to mediate strong programmable transcriptional activation in plants. Using an easily scalable, non-invasive spraying method, we show that gRNA-mediated activation programs move locally and systemically, generating a strong activation response in different target genes. Furthermore, by activating three different endogenous MYB transcription factors, we demonstrate that this Potato virus X-based virus-induced gene reprogramming strategy results in program-specific metabolic fingerprints in N. benthamiana leaves characterized by distinctive phenylpropanoid-enriched metabolite profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Selma
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | - Silvia Gianoglio
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | - Mireia Uranga
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | - Marta Vázquez‐Vilar
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | - Ana Espinosa‐Ruiz
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | | | | | - José‐Antonio Daròs
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | - Diego Orzáez
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
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32
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Selma S, Sanmartín N, Espinosa‐Ruiz A, Gianoglio S, Lopez‐Gresa MP, Vázquez‐Vilar M, Flors V, Granell A, Orzaez D. Custom-made design of metabolite composition in N. benthamiana leaves using CRISPR activators. Plant Biotechnol J 2022; 20:1578-1590. [PMID: 35514036 PMCID: PMC9342607 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional regulators based on CRISPR architecture expand our ability to reprogramme endogenous gene expression in plants. One of their potential applications is the customization of plant metabolome through the activation of selected enzymes in a given metabolic pathway. Using the previously described multiplexable CRISPR activator dCasEV2.1, we assayed the selective enrichment in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves of four different flavonoids, namely, naringenin, eriodictyol, kaempferol, and quercetin. After careful selection of target genes and guide RNAs combinations, we created successful activation programmes for each of the four metabolites, each programme activating between three and seven genes, and with individual gene activation levels ranging from 4- to 1500-fold. Metabolic analysis of the flavonoid profiles of each multigene activation programme showed a sharp and selective enrichment of the intended metabolites and their glycosylated derivatives. Remarkably, principal component analysis of untargeted metabolic profiles clearly separated samples according to their activation treatment, and hierarchical clustering separated the samples into five groups, corresponding to the expected four highly enriched metabolite groups, plus an un-activated control. These results demonstrate that dCasEV2.1 is a powerful tool for re-routing metabolic fluxes towards the accumulation of metabolites of interest, opening the door for the custom-made design of metabolic contents in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Selma
- Instituto Biologia Molecular de PlantasCSIC‐UPVValenciaSpain
| | - Neus Sanmartín
- Escuela Superior de Tecnología y Ciencias ExperimentalesUniversidad Jaume ICastellón de la PlanaSpain
| | | | | | | | | | - Victor Flors
- Escuela Superior de Tecnología y Ciencias ExperimentalesUniversidad Jaume ICastellón de la PlanaSpain
| | - Antonio Granell
- Instituto Biologia Molecular de PlantasCSIC‐UPVValenciaSpain
| | - Diego Orzaez
- Instituto Biologia Molecular de PlantasCSIC‐UPVValenciaSpain
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33
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Nuñez Pedrozo CN, Peralta TM, Olea FD, Locatelli P, Crottogini AJ, Belaich MN, Cuniberti LA. In silico performance analysis of web tools for CRISPRa sgRNA design in human genes. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:3779-3782. [PMID: 35891794 PMCID: PMC9304428 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenic gene overexpression has been the main strategy in numerous vascular regenerative gene therapy projects. However, most have failed in clinical trials. CRISPRa technology enhances gene overexpression levels based on the identification of sgRNAs with maximum efficiency and safety. CRISPick and CHOP CHOP are the most widely used web tools for the prediction of sgRNAs. The objective of our study was to analyze the performance of both platforms for the sgRNA design to angiogenic genes (VEGFA, KDR, EPO, HIF-1A, HGF, FGF, PGF, FGF1) involving different human reference genomes (GRCH 37 and GRCH 38). The top 20 ranked sgRNAs proposed by the two tools were analyzed in different aspects. No significant differences were found on the DNA curvature associated with the sgRNA binding sites but the sgRNA predicted on-target efficiency was significantly greater when CRISPick was used. Moreover, the mean ranking variation was greater for the same platform in EPO, EGF, HIF-1A, PGF and HGF, whereas it did not reach statistical significance in KDR, FGF-1 and VEGFA. The rearrangement analysis of the ranking positions was also different between platforms. CRISPick proved to be more accurate in establishing the best sgRNAs in relation to a more complete genome, whereas CHOP CHOP showed a narrower classification reordering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian N Nuñez Pedrozo
- Laboratorio de Regeneración Cardiovascular, IMETTYB - Universidad Favaloro - CONICET, Buenos Aires, CABA, C1078AAI, Argentina
| | - Tomás M Peralta
- Departamento de Biología Comparada, Celular y Molecular, FICEN. Universidad Favaloro, Buenos Aires, CABA, C1078AAI, Argentina
| | - Fernanda D Olea
- Laboratorio de Regeneración Cardiovascular, IMETTYB - Universidad Favaloro - CONICET, Buenos Aires, CABA, C1078AAI, Argentina
| | - Paola Locatelli
- Laboratorio de Regeneración Cardiovascular, IMETTYB - Universidad Favaloro - CONICET, Buenos Aires, CABA, C1078AAI, Argentina
| | - Alberto J Crottogini
- Laboratorio de Regeneración Cardiovascular, IMETTYB - Universidad Favaloro - CONICET, Buenos Aires, CABA, C1078AAI, Argentina
| | - Mariano N Belaich
- Laboratorio de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - CONICET. Buenos Aires, Bernal B1876BXD, Argentina
| | - Luis A Cuniberti
- Laboratorio de Regeneración Cardiovascular, IMETTYB - Universidad Favaloro - CONICET, Buenos Aires, CABA, C1078AAI, Argentina
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34
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Kanafi MM, Tavallaei M. Overview of advances in CRISPR/deadCas9 technology and its applications in human diseases. Gene 2022; 830:146518. [PMID: 35447246 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Prokaryotes possess an adaptive immune system using various CRISPR associated (Cas) genes to make an archive of records from invading phages and eliminate them upon re-exposure when specialized Cas proteins cut foreign DNA into small pieces. On the basis of the different types of Cas proteins, CRISPR systems seen in some prokaryotic genomes, are different to each other. It has been proved that CRISPR has a great potential for genome engineering. Studies have also demonstrated that in comparison to the preceding genome engineering tools CRISPR/Cas systems can be harnessed as a flexible tool with easy multiplexing and scaling ability. Recent studies suggest that CRISPR/Cas systems can also be used for non-genome engineering roles. Isolation and identification of new Cas proteins or modification of existing ones are effectively increasing the number of CRISPR applications and helps its development. D10A and H840A mutations at RuvC and HNH endonuclease domains of wild type Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) respectively creates a nuclease, dead Cas9 (dCas9) molecule, that does not cut target DNA but still retains its capability for binding to target DNA based on the gRNA targeting sequence. In this article we review the potentials of this enzyme, dCas9, toward development of the applications of CRISPR/dCas9 technology in fields such as; visualization of genomic loci, disease diagnosis and transcriptional repression and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahmood Tavallaei
- Human Genetic Research Centre, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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35
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Unlu G, Prizer B, Erdal R, Yeh HW, Bayraktar EC, Birsoy K. Metabolic-scale gene activation screens identify SLCO2B1 as a heme transporter that enhances cellular iron availability. Mol Cell 2022; 82:2832-2843.e7. [PMID: 35714613 PMCID: PMC9356996 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Iron is the most abundant transition metal essential for numerous cellular processes. Although most mammalian cells acquire iron through transferrin receptors, molecular players of iron utilization under iron restriction are incompletely understood. To address this, we performed metabolism-focused CRISPRa gain-of-function screens, which revealed metabolic limitations under stress conditions. Iron restriction screens identified not only expected members of iron utilization pathways but also SLCO2B1, a poorly characterized membrane carrier. SLCO2B1 expression is sufficient to increase intracellular iron, bypass the essentiality of the transferrin receptor, and enable proliferation under iron restriction. Mechanistically, SLCO2B1 mediates heme analog import in cellular assays. Heme uptake by SLCO2B1 provides sufficient iron for proliferation through heme oxygenases. Notably, SLCO2B1 is predominantly expressed in microglia in the brain, and primary Slco2b1-/- mouse microglia exhibit strong defects in heme analog import. Altogether, our work identifies SLCO2B1 as a microglia-enriched plasma membrane heme importer and provides a genetic platform to identify metabolic limitations under stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokhan Unlu
- Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Benjamin Prizer
- Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ranya Erdal
- Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara 06230, Turkey
| | - Hsi-Wen Yeh
- Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Erol C Bayraktar
- Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kıvanç Birsoy
- Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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36
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Zhou M, Cao Y, Sui M, Shu X, Wan F, Zhang B. Dead Cas(t) light on new life: CRISPRa-mediated reprogramming of somatic cells into neurons. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:315. [PMID: 35610381 PMCID: PMC11073076 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04324-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: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of exogenous lineage-specific transcription factors could directly induce terminally differentiated somatic cells into target cell types. However, the low conversion efficiency and the concern about introducing exogenous genes limit the clinical application. With the rapid progress in genome editing, the application of CRISPR/dCas9 has been expanding rapidly, including converting somatic cells into other types of cells in vivo and in vitro. Using the CRISPR/dCas9 system, direct neuronal reprogramming could be achieved by activating endogenous genes. Here, we will discuss the latest progress, new insights, and future challenges of the application of the dCas9 system in direct neuronal reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Zhou
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Yu Cao
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Ming Sui
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiji Shu
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Feng Wan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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37
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Chen Y, Niu X, Cheng M, Wang L, Sun P, Song H, Cao Y. CRISPR/dCas9-RpoD-Mediated Simultaneous Transcriptional Activation and Repression in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2184-2192. [PMID: 35608070 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular electron transfer (EET) of electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) is the dominating factor for versatile applications of bio-electrochemical systems. Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 is one of the model EAMs for the study of EET, which is associated with a variety of cellular activities. However, due to the lack of a transcriptional activation tool, regulation of multiple genes is labor-intensive and time-consuming, which hampers the advancement of improving the EET efficiency in S. oneidensis. In this study, we developed an easily operated and multifunctional regulatory tool, that is, a simultaneous clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-mediated transcriptional activation (CRISPRa) and interference (CRISPRi) system, for application in S. oneidensis. First, a large number of activators were screened, and RpoD (σ70) was determined as the optimal activator. Second, the effective activation range was identified to be 190-216 base upstream of the transcriptional start site. Third, up- and downregulation was achieved in concert by two orthogonal single guide RNAs targeting different positions. The activation of the cell division gene (minCDE) and repression of the cytotoxic gene (SO_3166) were concurrently implemented, increasing the power density by 2.5-fold and enhancing the degradation rate of azo dyes by 2.9-fold. The simultaneous CRISPRa and CRISPRi system enables simultaneous multiplex genetic regulation, offering the potential to further advance studies of the EET mechanism and application in S. oneidensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaru Chen
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xiaolong Niu
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Meijie Cheng
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Luxin Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Panxing Sun
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Hao Song
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yingxiu Cao
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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38
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Giehrl-Schwab J, Giesert F, Rauser B, Lao CL, Hembach S, Lefort S, Ibarra IL, Koupourtidou C, Luecken MD, Truong DJJ, Fischer-Sternjak J, Masserdotti G, Prakash N, Ninkovic J, Hölter SM, Vogt Weisenhorn DM, Theis FJ, Götz M, Wurst W. Parkinson's disease motor symptoms rescue by CRISPRa-reprogramming astrocytes into GABAergic neurons. EMBO Mol Med 2022; 14:e14797. [PMID: 35373464 PMCID: PMC9081909 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202114797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct reprogramming based on genetic factors resembles a promising strategy to replace lost cells in degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. For this, we developed a knock‐in mouse line carrying a dual dCas9 transactivator system (dCAM) allowing the conditional in vivo activation of endogenous genes. To enable a translational application, we additionally established an AAV‐based strategy carrying intein‐split‐dCas9 in combination with activators (AAV‐dCAS). Both approaches were successful in reprogramming striatal astrocytes into induced GABAergic neurons confirmed by single‐cell transcriptome analysis of reprogrammed neurons in vivo. These GABAergic neurons functionally integrate into striatal circuits, alleviating voluntary motor behavior aspects in a 6‐OHDA Parkinson's disease model. Our results suggest a novel intervention strategy beyond the restoration of dopamine levels. Thus, the AAV‐dCAS approach might enable an alternative route for clinical therapies of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Giehrl-Schwab
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Munich School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Giesert
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Munich School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benedict Rauser
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Munich School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Chu Lan Lao
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sina Hembach
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Munich School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandrine Lefort
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ignacio L Ibarra
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christina Koupourtidou
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Department for Cell Biology and Anatomy, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Malte Daniel Luecken
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Dong-Jiunn Jeffery Truong
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Munich School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Judith Fischer-Sternjak
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Giacomo Masserdotti
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Nilima Prakash
- Laboratory of Applied Genetics and Stem Cell Biology, Department Hamm 2, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, Hamm, Germany
| | - Jovica Ninkovic
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Department for Cell Biology and Anatomy, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sabine M Hölter
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Daniela M Vogt Weisenhorn
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Munich School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fabian J Theis
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Department of Mathematics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wurst
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Munich School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Site Munich, Munich, Germany
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39
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Abstract
Background Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) systems are the latest addition to the plethora of gene-editing tools. These systems have been repurposed from their natural counterparts by means of both guide RNA and Cas nuclease engineering. These RNA-guided systems offer greater programmability and multiplexing capacity than previous generation gene editing tools based on zinc finger nucleases and transcription activator like effector nucleases. CRISPR-Cas systems show great promise for individualization of cancer precision medicine. Main body The biology of Cas nucleases and dead Cas based systems relevant for in vivo gene therapy applications has been discussed. The CRISPR knockout, CRISPR activation and CRISPR interference based genetic screens which offer opportunity to assess functions of thousands of genes in massively parallel assays have been also highlighted. Single and combinatorial gene knockout screens lead to identification of drug targets and synthetic lethal genetic interactions across different cancer phenotypes. There are different viral and non-viral (nanoformulation based) modalities that can carry CRISPR-Cas components to different target organs in vivo. Conclusion The latest developments in the field in terms of optimization of performance of the CRISPR-Cas elements should fuel greater application of the latter in the realm of precision medicine. Lastly, how the already available knowledge can help in furtherance of use of CRISPR based tools in personalized medicine has been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Das
- National Centre for Cell Science, S P Pune University Campus, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Shehnaz Bano
- National Centre for Cell Science, S P Pune University Campus, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Prachi Kapse
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, S P Pune University, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Gopal C Kundu
- Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), KIIT Deemed To Be University, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India. .,School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed To Be University, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India.
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40
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Tickman BI, Burbano DA, Chavali VP, Kiattisewee C, Fontana J, Khakimzhan A, Noireaux V, Zalatan JG, Carothers JM. Multi-layer CRISPRa/i circuits for dynamic genetic programs in cell-free and bacterial systems. Cell Syst 2022; 13:215-229.e8. [PMID: 34800362 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2021.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas transcriptional circuits hold great promise as platforms for engineering metabolic networks and information processing circuits. Historically, prokaryotic CRISPR control systems have been limited to CRISPRi. Creating approaches to integrate CRISPRa for transcriptional activation with existing CRISPRi-based systems would greatly expand CRISPR circuit design space. Here, we develop design principles for engineering prokaryotic CRISPRa/i genetic circuits with network topologies specified by guide RNAs. We demonstrate that multi-layer CRISPRa/i cascades and feedforward loops can operate through the regulated expression of guide RNAs in cell-free expression systems and E. coli. We show that CRISPRa/i circuits can program complex functions by designing type 1 incoherent feedforward loops acting as fold-change detectors and tunable pulse-generators. By investigating how component characteristics relate to network properties such as depth, width, and speed, this work establishes a framework for building scalable CRISPRa/i circuits as regulatory programs in cell-free expression systems and bacterial hosts. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin I Tickman
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Diego Alba Burbano
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Venkata P Chavali
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Cholpisit Kiattisewee
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jason Fontana
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Aset Khakimzhan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jesse G Zalatan
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - James M Carothers
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute and Center for Synthetic Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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41
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Jia Y, Li L, Lin YH, Gopal P, Shen S, Zhou K, Yu X, Sharma T, Zhang Y, Siegwart DJ, Ready JM, Zhu H. In vivo CRISPR screening identifies BAZ2 chromatin remodelers as druggable regulators of mammalian liver regeneration. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:372-385.e8. [PMID: 35090595 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Identifying new pathways that regulate mammalian regeneration is challenging due to the paucity of in vivo screening approaches. We employed pooled CRISPR knockout and activation screening in the regenerating liver to evaluate 165 chromatin regulatory proteins. Both screens identified the imitation-SWI chromatin remodeling components Baz2a and Baz2b, not previously implicated in regeneration. In vivo sgRNA, siRNA, and knockout strategies against either paralog confirmed increased regeneration. Distinct BAZ2-specific bromodomain inhibitors, GSK2801 and BAZ2-ICR, resulted in accelerated liver healing after diverse injuries. Inhibitor-treated mice also exhibited improved healing in an inflammatory bowel disease model, suggesting multi-tissue applicability. Transcriptomics on regenerating livers showed increases in ribosomal and cell cycle mRNAs. Surprisingly, CRISPRa screening to define mechanisms showed that overproducing Rpl10a or Rpl24 was sufficient to drive regeneration, whereas Rpl24 haploinsufficiency was rate limiting for BAZ2 inhibition-mediated regeneration. The discovery of regenerative roles for imitation-SWI components provides immediate strategies to enhance tissue repair.
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42
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Abstract
Synthetic gene regulators based upon CRISPR-Cas systems offer programmable technologies to control gene expression in bacteria. Bacterial CRISPR activators (CRISPRa) have been developed that use engineered type II CRISPR-dCas9 to localize transcription activation domains near promoter elements. However, several reports have demonstrated distance-dependent requirements and periodical activation patterns that overall limit their flexibility. Here, we demonstrate the potential of using an alternative type I-E CRISPR-Cas system to create a CRISPRa with distinct and expanded regulatory properties. Furthermore, we create the first bacterial CRISPRa system based upon a type I-E CRISPR-Cas and characterize the distance-dependent activation patterns to reveal a distinct and more frequent periodicity of activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annette J. Tsong
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, MS 140, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - James Chappell
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, MS 140, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, MS 142, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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43
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Fuziwara CS, de Mello DC, Kimura ET. Gene Editing with CRISPR/Cas Methodology and Thyroid Cancer: Where Are We? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030844. [PMID: 35159110 PMCID: PMC8834610 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The advent of genomic editing with CRISPR/Cas9 has transformed the way we manipulate the genome, and has facilitated the investigation of tumor cell biology in vitro and in vivo. Not only we can modify genome sequence to blunt an overactivated gene or correct a mutation, but also we may modulate gene expression using CRISPR/Cas system. In this review, we present the basics of CRISPR/Cas methodology, its components and how to start a CRISPR/Cas experiment; Moreover, we present how CRISPR/Cas methodology has been applied to study the function of coding and noncoding genes in thyroid cancer and provided insights into cancer biology. Abstract Important advances on the role of genetic alterations in thyroid cancer have been achieved in the last two decades. One key reason is linked to the development of technical approaches that allowed for the mimicking of genetic alterations in vitro and in vivo and, more recently, the gene editing methodology. The CRISPR/Cas methodology has emerged as a tangible tool for editing virtually any DNA sequence in the genome. To induce a double-strand break and programmable gene editing, Cas9 endonuclease is guided by a single-guide RNA (sgRNA) that is complementary to the target sequence in DNA. The gene editing per se occurs as the cells repair the broken DNA and may erroneously change the original DNA sequence. In this review, we explore the principles of the CRISPR/Cas system to facilitate an understanding of the mainstream technique and its applications in gene editing. Furthermore, we explored new applications of CRISPR/Cas for gene modulation without changing the DNA sequence and provided a Dry Lab experience for those who are interested in starting “CRISPRing” any given gene. In the last section, we will discuss the progress in the knowledge of thyroid cancer biology fostered by the CRISPR/Cas gene editing tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Seigi Fuziwara
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Diego Claro de Mello
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Edna Teruko Kimura
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
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44
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Abstract
Endogenous gene activation by programmable transcription factors offers gene-dose-dependent phenotyping of target cells embedded in their in vivo natural tissue environment. Modified CRISPR/Cas9 systems were developed to be used as guide (g) RNA programmable transcriptional activation platforms (CRISPRa) in vitro and in vivo allowing targeted or multiplexed gene activation studies. We specifically developed these tools to be applied in cardiomyocytes providing dCas9VPR expressing mice under the control of the Myosin heavy chain 6 (Myh6) promoter. Here, we describe a protocol for the efficient design and validation of newly identified gRNA for enhancing transcriptional activity of a selected gene of interest. Additionally, we are providing insights into a downstream application in a dCas9VPR expressing mouse model specifically for cardiomyocyte biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Schoger
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK e.V.), Göttingen, Germany
- Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Laura C Zelarayán
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK e.V.), Göttingen, Germany.
- Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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45
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Hazan J, Bester AC. CRISPR-Based Approaches for the High-Throughput Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNAs. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:79. [PMID: 34940760 PMCID: PMC8704461 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7040079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, tens of thousands of new long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in the human genome. Nevertheless, except for a handful of genes, the genetic characteristics and functions of most of these lncRNAs remain elusive; this is partially due to their relatively low expression, high tissue specificity, and low conservation across species. A major limitation for determining the function of lncRNAs was the lack of methodologies suitable for studying these genes. The recent development of CRISPR/Cas9 technology has opened unprecedented opportunities to uncover the genetic and functional characteristics of the non-coding genome via targeted and high-throughput approaches. Specific CRISPR/Cas9-based approaches were developed to target lncRNA loci. Some of these approaches involve modifying the sequence, but others were developed to study lncRNAs by inducing transcriptional and epigenetic changes. The discovery of other programable Cas proteins broaden our possibilities to target RNA molecules with greater precision and accuracy. These approaches allow for the knock-down and characterization of lncRNAs. Here, we review how various CRISPR-based strategies have been used to characterize lncRNAs with important functions in different biological contexts and how these approaches can be further utilized to improve our understanding of the non-coding genome.
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46
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Bergenholm D, Dabirian Y, Ferreira R, Siewers V, David F, Nielsen J. Rational gRNA design based on transcription factor binding data. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2021; 6:ysab014. [PMID: 34712839 PMCID: PMC8546606 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system has become a standard tool in many genome engineering endeavors. The endonuclease-deficient version of Cas9 (dCas9) is also a powerful programmable tool for gene regulation. In this study, we made use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor (TF) binding data to obtain a better understanding of the interplay between TF binding and binding of dCas9 fused to an activator domain, VPR. More specifically, we targeted dCas9–VPR toward binding sites of Gcr1–Gcr2 and Tye7 present in several promoters of genes encoding enzymes engaged in the central carbon metabolism. From our data, we observed an upregulation of gene expression when dCas9–VPR was targeted next to a TF binding motif, whereas a downregulation or no change was observed when dCas9 was bound on a TF motif. This suggests a steric competition between dCas9 and the specific TF. Integrating TF binding data, therefore, proved to be useful for designing guide RNAs for CRISPR interference or CRISPR activation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bergenholm
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yasaman Dabirian
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Raphael Ferreira
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Verena Siewers
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Florian David
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jens Nielsen
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
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47
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McTague A, Rossignoli G, Ferrini A, Barral S, Kurian MA. Genome Editing in iPSC-Based Neural Systems: From Disease Models to Future Therapeutic Strategies. Front Genome Ed 2021; 3:630600. [PMID: 34713254 PMCID: PMC8525405 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.630600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic advances for neurological disorders are challenging due to limited accessibility of the human central nervous system and incomplete understanding of disease mechanisms. Many neurological diseases lack precision treatments, leading to significant disease burden and poor outcome for affected patients. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology provides human neuronal cells that facilitate disease modeling and development of therapies. The use of genome editing, in particular CRISPR-Cas9 technology, has extended the potential of iPSCs, generating new models for a number of disorders, including Alzheimers and Parkinson Disease. Editing of iPSCs, in particular with CRISPR-Cas9, allows generation of isogenic pairs, which differ only in the disease-causing mutation and share the same genetic background, for assessment of phenotypic differences and downstream effects. Moreover, genome-wide CRISPR screens allow high-throughput interrogation for genetic modifiers in neuronal phenotypes, leading to discovery of novel pathways, and identification of new therapeutic targets. CRISPR-Cas9 has now evolved beyond altering gene expression. Indeed, fusion of a defective Cas9 (dCas9) nuclease with transcriptional repressors or activation domains allows down-regulation or activation of gene expression (CRISPR interference, CRISPRi; CRISPR activation, CRISPRa). These new tools will improve disease modeling and facilitate CRISPR and cell-based therapies, as seen for epilepsy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Genome engineering holds huge promise for the future understanding and treatment of neurological disorders, but there are numerous barriers to overcome. The synergy of iPSC-based model systems and gene editing will play a vital role in the route to precision medicine and the clinical translation of genome editing-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy McTague
- Developmental Neurosciences, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giada Rossignoli
- Developmental Neurosciences, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Arianna Ferrini
- Developmental Neurosciences, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Serena Barral
- Developmental Neurosciences, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Manju A Kurian
- Developmental Neurosciences, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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48
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Abstract
Understanding the dynamic relationship between viral pathogens and cellular host factors is critical to furthering our knowledge of viral replication, disease mechanisms and development of anti-viral therapeutics. CRISPR genome editing technology has enhanced this understanding, by allowing identification of pro-viral and anti-viral cellular host factors for a wide range of viruses, most recently the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2. This review will discuss how CRISPR knockout and CRISPR activation genome-wide screening methods are a robust tool to investigate the viral life cycle and how other class 2 CRISPR systems are being repurposed for diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily N. Kirby
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia; (E.N.K.); (B.S.)
| | - Byron Shue
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia; (E.N.K.); (B.S.)
| | - Paul Q. Thomas
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5000, Australia;
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5006, Australia
- Genome Editing Program, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Michael R. Beard
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia; (E.N.K.); (B.S.)
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49
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Sun D, Evans L, Perrone F, Sokleva V, Lim K, Rezakhani S, Lutolf M, Zilbauer M, Rawlins EL. A functional genetic toolbox for human tissue-derived organoids. eLife 2021; 10:67886. [PMID: 34612202 PMCID: PMC8553336 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human organoid systems recapitulate key features of organs offering platforms for modelling developmental biology and disease. Tissue-derived organoids have been widely used to study the impact of extrinsic niche factors on stem cells. However, they are rarely used to study endogenous gene function due to the lack of efficient gene manipulation tools. Previously, we established a human foetal lung organoid system (Nikolić et al., 2017). Here, using this organoid system as an example, we have systematically developed and optimised a complete genetic toolbox for use in tissue-derived organoids. This includes ‘Organoid Easytag’, our efficient workflow for targeting all types of gene loci through CRISPR-mediated homologous recombination followed by flow cytometry for enriching correctly targeted cells. Our toolbox also incorporates conditional gene knockdown or overexpression using tightly inducible CRISPR interference and CRISPR activation which is the first efficient application of these techniques to tissue-derived organoids. These tools will facilitate gene perturbation studies in tissue-derived organoids facilitating human disease modelling and providing a functional counterpart to many ongoing descriptive studies, such as the Human Cell Atlas Project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Sun
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lewis Evans
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Development, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Kyungtae Lim
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Saba Rezakhani
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Lutolf
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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50
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Abstract
The type V-A Cas12a protein can process its CRISPR array, a feature useful for multiplexed gene editing and regulation. However, CRISPR arrays often exhibit unpredictable performance due to interference between multiple guide RNA (gRNAs). Here, we report that Cas12a array performance is hypersensitive to the GC content of gRNA spacers, as high-GC spacers can impair activity of the downstream gRNA. We analyze naturally occurring CRISPR arrays and observe that natural repeats always contain an AT-rich fragment that separates gRNAs, which we term a CRISPR separator. Inspired by this observation, we design short, AT-rich synthetic separators (synSeparators) that successfully remove the disruptive effects between gRNAs. We further demonstrate enhanced simultaneous activation of seven endogenous genes in human cells using an array containing the synSeparator. These results elucidate a previously underexplored feature of natural CRISPR arrays and demonstrate how nature-inspired engineering solutions can improve multi-gene control in mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens P Magnusson
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Antonio Ray Rios
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Lingling Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Stanford ChEM-H Institute, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
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