scholarly journals Engineered Cpf1 Enzymes with Altered PAM Specificities

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linyi Gao ◽  
David B.T. Cox ◽  
Winston X. Yan ◽  
John Manteiga ◽  
Martin Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Saturation Mutagenesis ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Protospacer Adjacent Motif ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
High Level ◽  
Target Activity

SummaryThe RNA-guided endonuclease Cpf1 is a promising tool for genome editing in eukaryotic cells1-5. Compared to other genome editing platforms, Cpf1 offers distinct advantages, such as the ability to easily target multiple genes simultaneously3, as well as low rates of off-target activity4, 5. However, the Acidaminococcus sp. BV3L6 Cpf1 (AsCpf1), which has been successfully harnessed for genome editing, can only robustly cleave target sites preceded by a TTTV protospacer adjacent motif (PAM), which may limit its practical utility. To address this limitation, we used a structure- guided saturation mutagenesis screen to increase the targeting range of Cpf1. We engineered two variants of AsCpf1 with the mutations S542R/K607R and S542R/K548V/N552R that can cleave target sites with TYCV/CCCC and TATV PAMs, respectively, with enhanced activities in vitro and in human cells. Genome-wide assessment of off-target activity indicated that these variants retain a high level of DNA targeting specificity, which can be further improved by introducing mutations in non-PAM-interacting domains. Together, these variants increase the targeting range of AsCpf1 to one cleavage site for every ~8.7 bp in non-repetitive regions of the human genome, providing a useful addition to the CRISPR/Cas genome engineering toolbox.

scholarly journals Genome Engineering in Plant Using an Efficient CRISPR-xCas9 Toolset With an Expanded PAM Compatibility

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengwei Zhang ◽  
Guiting Kang ◽  
Xinxiang Liu ◽  
Si Zhao ◽  
Shuang Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Streptococcus Pyogenes ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Rice Plants ◽  
Potential Target ◽  
Protospacer Adjacent Motif ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
Related Plant

The CRISPR-Cas9 system enables simple, rapid, and effective genome editing in many species. Nevertheless, the requirement of an NGG protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) for the widely used canonical Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) limits the potential target sites. The xCas9, an engineered SpCas9 variant, was developed to broaden the PAM compatibility to NG, GAA, and GAT PAMs in human cells. However, no knockout rice plants were generated for GAA PAM sites, and only one edited target with a GAT PAM was reported. In this study, we used tRNA and enhanced sgRNA (esgRNA) to develop an efficient CRISPR-xCas9 genome editing system able to mutate genes at NG, GAA, GAT, and even GAG PAM sites in rice. We also developed the corresponding xCas9-based cytosine base editor (CBE) that can edit the NG and GA PAM sites. These new editing tools will be useful for future rice research or breeding, and may also be applicable for other related plant species.

scholarly journals CRISPR/Cas “non-target” sites inhibit on-target cutting rates

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eirik A. Moreb ◽  
Mitchell Hutmacher ◽  
Michael D. Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Target Site ◽  
High Fidelity ◽  
List Type ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Guide Rna ◽  
Protospacer Adjacent Motif ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Target Activity

AbstractCRISPR/Cas systems have become ubiquitous for genome editing in eukaryotic as well as bacterial systems. Cas9 associated with a guide RNA (gRNA) searches DNA for a matching sequence (target site) next to a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) and once found, cuts the DNA. The number of PAM sites in the genome are effectively a non-target pool of inhibitory substrates, competing with the target site for the Cas9/gRNA complex. We demonstrate that increasing the number of non-target sites for a given gRNA reduces on-target activity in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, we show that the use of Cas9 mutants with increased PAM specificity towards a smaller subset of PAMs (or smaller pool of competitive substrates) improves cutting rates. Decreasing the non-target pool by increasing PAM specificity provides a path towards improving on-target activity for slower high fidelity Cas9 variants. These results demonstrate the importance of competitive non-target sites on Cas9 activity and, in part, may help to explain sequence and context dependent activities of gRNAs. Engineering improved PAM specificity to reduce the competitive non-target pool offers an alternative strategy to engineer Cas9 variants with increased specificity and maintained on-target activity.HighlightsThe pool of non-target PAM sites inhibit Cas9/gRNA on-target activitynon-target PAM inhibition is dose dependentnon-target PAM inhibition is a function of gRNA sequencenon-target PAM inhibition is a function of Cas9 levels

scholarly journals Engineered Campylobacter jejuni Cas9 variant with enhanced activity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryoya Nakagawa ◽  
Soh Ishiguro ◽  
Sae Okazaki ◽  
Hideto Mori ◽  
Mamoru Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Campylobacter Jejuni ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Cytosine Deaminase ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
Cleavage Activity ◽  
Protospacer Adjacent Motif ◽  
Its Gene

Abstract The RNA-guided DNA endonuclease Cas9 is a versatile genome-editing tool. However, the molecular weight of the commonly used Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 is relatively large. Consequently, its gene cannot be efficiently packaged into an adeno-associated virus vector, thereby limiting its applications for therapeutic genome editing. Here, we biochemically characterized the compact Cas9 from Campylobacter jejuni (CjCas9) and found that CjCas9 has a previously unrecognized preference for the N3VRYAC protospacer adjacent motif. We thus rationally engineered a CjCas9 variant (enCjCas9), which exhibits enhanced cleavage activity and a broader targeting range both in vitro and in human cells, as compared with CjCas9. Furthermore, a nickase version of enCjCas9, but not CjCas9, fused with a cytosine deaminase mediated C-to-T conversions in human cells. Overall, our findings expand the CRISPR-Cas toolbox for therapeutic genome engineering.

scholarly journals Cas12a is a dynamic and precise RNA-guided nuclease without off-target activity on λ-DNA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bijoya Paul ◽  
Loic Chaubet ◽  
Emma Verver ◽  
Guillermo Montoya
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Genome Editing ◽  
Optical Tweezers ◽  
Target Site ◽  
Target Dna ◽  
Multiple Binding ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
Dna Binding And Cleavage ◽  
Target Activity ◽  
Insight Into

Cas12a is an RNA-guided endonuclease that is emerging as a powerful genome-editing tool. Here we combined optical tweezers with fluorescence to monitor Cas12a binding onto λ-DNA, providing insight into its DNA binding and cleavage mechanisms. At low forces Cas12a binds DNA specifically with two off-target sites, while at higher forces numerous binding events appear driven by the mechanical distortion of the DNA and partial matches to the crRNA. Despite the multiple binding events, cleavage is only observed on the target site at low forces, when the DNA is flexible. Activity assays show that the preferential off-target sites are not cleaved, and the λ-DNA is severed at the target site. This precision is also observed in Cas12a variants where the specific dsDNA and the unspecific ssDNA cleavage are dissociated or nick the target DNA. We propose that Cas12a and its variants are precise endonucleases that efficiently scan the DNA for its target but only cleave the selected site in the λ-DNA.

scholarly journals Characterizing a thermostable Cas9 for bacterial genome editing and silencing

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Mougiakos ◽  
Prarthana Mohanraju ◽  
Elleke F. Bosma ◽  
Valentijn Vrouwe ◽  
Max Finger Bou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Gene Deletion ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Bacterial Genome ◽  
Thermophilic Bacterium ◽  
Geobacillus Thermodenitrificans ◽  
Temperature Range ◽  
Fundamental Research

AbstractCRISPR-Cas9 based genome engineering tools have revolutionized fundamental research and biotechnological exploitation of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. However, the mesophilic nature of the established Cas9 systems does not allow for applications that require enhanced stability, including engineering at elevated temperatures. Here, we identify and characterize ThermoCas9: an RNA-guided DNA-endonuclease from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus thermodenitrificans T12. We show that ThermoCas9 is active in vitro between 20°C and 70°C, a temperature range much broader than that of the currently used Cas9 orthologues. Additionally, we demonstrate that ThermoCas9 activity at elevated temperatures is strongly associated with the structure of the employed sgRNA. Subsequently, we develop ThermoCas9-based engineering tools for gene deletion and transcriptional silencing at 55°C in Bacillus smithii and for gene deletion at 37°C in Pseudomonas putida. Altogether, our findings provide fundamental insights into a thermophilic CRISPR-Cas family member and establish the first Cas9-based bacterial genome editing and silencing tool with a broad temperature range.

scholarly journals CTCF Interacts with and Recruits the Largest Subunit of RNA Polymerase II to CTCF Target Sites Genome-Wide

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1631-1648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Chernukhin ◽  
Shaharum Shamsuddin ◽  
Sung Yun Kang ◽  
Rosita Bergström ◽  
Yoo-Wook Kwon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Ctcf Binding ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
On Chip

ABSTRACT CTCF is a transcription factor with highly versatile functions ranging from gene activation and repression to the regulation of insulator function and imprinting. Although many of these functions rely on CTCF-DNA interactions, it is an emerging realization that CTCF-dependent molecular processes involve CTCF interactions with other proteins. In this study, we report the association of a subpopulation of CTCF with the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) protein complex. We identified the largest subunit of Pol II (LS Pol II) as a protein significantly colocalizing with CTCF in the nucleus and specifically interacting with CTCF in vivo and in vitro. The role of CTCF as a link between DNA and LS Pol II has been reinforced by the observation that the association of LS Pol II with CTCF target sites in vivo depends on intact CTCF binding sequences. “Serial” chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis revealed that both CTCF and LS Pol II were present at the β-globin insulator in proliferating HD3 cells but not in differentiated globin synthesizing HD3 cells. Further, a single wild-type CTCF target site (N-Myc-CTCF), but not the mutant site deficient for CTCF binding, was sufficient to activate the transcription from the promoterless reporter gene in stably transfected cells. Finally, a ChIP-on-ChIP hybridization assay using microarrays of a library of CTCF target sites revealed that many intergenic CTCF target sequences interacted with both CTCF and LS Pol II. We discuss the possible implications of our observations with respect to plausible mechanisms of transcriptional regulation via a CTCF-mediated direct link of LS Pol II to the DNA.

scholarly journals Amplification-free long-read sequencing reveals unforeseen CRISPR-Cas9 off-target activity

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida Höijer ◽  
Josefin Johansson ◽  
Sanna Gudmundsson ◽  
Chen-Shan Chin ◽  
Ignas Bunikis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Dna ◽  
Human Fibroblasts ◽  
Target Prediction ◽  
Human Cell Line ◽  
Cleavage Sites ◽  
Guide Rna ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
Long Read ◽  
Target Activity

Abstract Background One ongoing concern about CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing is that unspecific guide RNA (gRNA) binding may induce off-target mutations. However, accurate prediction of CRISPR-Cas9 off-target activity is challenging. Here, we present SMRT-OTS and Nano-OTS, two novel, amplification-free, long-read sequencing protocols for detection of gRNA-driven digestion of genomic DNA by Cas9 in vitro. Results The methods are assessed using the human cell line HEK293, re-sequenced at 18x coverage using highly accurate HiFi SMRT reads. SMRT-OTS and Nano-OTS are first applied to three different gRNAs targeting HEK293 genomic DNA, resulting in a set of 55 high-confidence gRNA cleavage sites identified by both methods. Twenty-five of these sites are not reported by off-target prediction software, either because they contain four or more single nucleotide mismatches or insertion/deletion mismatches, as compared with the human reference. Additional experiments reveal that 85% of Cas9 cleavage sites are also found by other in vitro-based methods and that on- and off-target sites are detectable in gene bodies where short-reads fail to uniquely align. Even though SMRT-OTS and Nano-OTS identify several sites with previously validated off-target editing activity in cells, our own CRISPR-Cas9 editing experiments in human fibroblasts do not give rise to detectable off-target mutations at the in vitro-predicted sites. However, indel and structural variation events are enriched at the on-target sites. Conclusions Amplification-free long-read sequencing reveals Cas9 cleavage sites in vitro that would have been difficult to predict using computational tools, including in dark genomic regions inaccessible by short-read sequencing.

Advances in therapeutic application of CRISPR-Cas9

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinyu Sun ◽  
Jianchu Wang ◽  
Donghui Zheng ◽  
Xiaorong Hu
Keyword(s):  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Genome Editing ◽  
Malignant Tumor ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Therapeutic Application ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Efficient Gene

Abstract Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9) is one of the most versatile and efficient gene editing technologies, which is derived from adaptive immune strategies for bacteria and archaea. With the remarkable development of programmable nuclease-based genome engineering these years, CRISPR-Cas9 system has developed quickly in recent 5 years and has been widely applied in countless areas, including genome editing, gene function investigation and gene therapy both in vitro and in vivo. In this paper, we briefly introduce the mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas9 tool in genome editing. More importantly, we review the recent therapeutic application of CRISPR-Cas9 in various diseases, including hematologic diseases, infectious diseases and malignant tumor. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and consider thoughtfully what advances are required in order to further develop the therapeutic application of CRISPR-Cas9 in the future.

scholarly journals Circadian Rhythm Is Disrupted by ZNF704 in Breast Carcinogenesis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Yang ◽  
Jiajing Wu ◽  
Xinhua Liu ◽  
Yue Wang ◽  
Beibei Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Copy Number Gain ◽  
Breast Carcinogenesis ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Important Regulator ◽  
High Level

AbstractCopy number gain in chromosome 8q21 is considered as the prototype of genetic abnormalities associated with development of breast cancer, yet the oncogenic potential underlying this amplicon in breast carcinogenesis remains to be delineated. We report here that ZNF704, a gene mapped to 8q21, is recurrently amplified in various malignancies including breast cancer. We found that ZNF704 acts as transcription repressor and interacts with the transcription corepressor SIN3A complex. Genome-wide interrogation of the transcriptional targets identifies that the ZNF704/SIN3A complex represses a panel of genes including PER2 that are critically involved in the function of circadian clock. Indeed, ZNF704 overexpression prolongs the period and dampens the amplitude of circadian clock. We showed that ZNF704 promotes the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro and accelerates the growth and metastasis of breast cancer in vivo. Consistently, the level of ZNF704 expression is inversely correlated with that of PER2 in breast carcinomas, and high level of ZNF704 correlates with advanced histological grades, lymph node positivity, and poor prognosis of breast cancer patients, especially those with HER2+ and basal-like subtypes. These results indicate that ZNF704 is an important regulator of circadian clock and a potential driver for breast carcinogenesis.

scholarly journals Tandem paired nicking promotes precise genome editing with scarce interference by p53

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshinori Hyodo ◽  
Md Lutfur Rahman ◽  
Sivasundaram Karnan ◽  
Takuji Ito ◽  
Atsushi Toyoda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Dna Cleavage ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Dna Recombination ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Cas9 Nuclease ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
P53 Activation ◽  
Additional Nucleotide

SummaryTargeted knock-in mediated by double-stranded DNA cleavage is accompanied by unwanted insertions and deletions (indels) at on-target and off-target sites. A nick-mediated approach scarcely generates indels but exhibits reduced efficiency of targeted knock-in. Here, we demonstrate that tandem paired nicking, a method for targeted knock-in involving two Cas9 nickases that create nicks at the homologous regions of the donor DNA and the genome in the same strand, scarcely creates indels at the edited genomic loci, while permitting the efficiency of targeted knock-in largely equivalent to that of the Cas9 nuclease-based approach. Tandem paired nicking seems to accomplish targeted knock-in via DNA recombination analogous to Holliday’s model, and creates intended genetic changes in the genome without introducing additional nucleotide changes such as silent mutations. Targeted knock-in through tandem paired nicking neither triggers significant p53 activation nor occurs preferentially in p53-suppressed cells. These properties of tandem paired nicking demonstrate its utility in precision genome engineering.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document