Chromosomal deletions mediated by CRISPR/Cas9 in Helicoverpa armigera

Helicoverpa armigera, cotton bollworm, is one of the most disastrous pests worldwide, threatening various food and economic crops. Functional genomic tools may provide efficient approaches for its management. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system, dependent on a single guide RNA (sgRNA), has been used to induce indels for targeted mutagenesis in cotton bollworm. However, genomic deletions may be more desirable to disrupt the function of noncoding genes or regulatory sequences. By injecting two sgRNAs with Cas9 protein targeting different exons, we obtained predictable genomic deletions of several hundred bases. We achieved this type of modification with different combinations of sgRNA pairs, including HaCad and HaABCC2. Our finding indicated that CRISPR/Cas9 can be used as an efficient tool to engineer genomes with chromosomal deletion in H. armigera.     

Chromosomal deletions and inversions mediated by TALENs and CRISPR/Cas in zebrafish

Customized TALENs and Cas9/gRNAs have been used for targeted mutagenesis in zebrafish to induce indels into protein-coding genes. However, indels are usually not sufficient to disrupt the function of non-coding genes, gene clusters or regulatory sequences, whereas large genomic deletions or inversions are more desirable for this purpose. By injecting two pairs of TALEN mRNAs or two gRNAs together with Cas9 mRNA targeting distal DNA sites of the same chromosome, we obtained predictable genomic deletions or inversions with sizes ranging from several hundred bases to nearly 1 Mb. We have successfully achieved this type of modifications for 11 chromosomal loci by TALENs and 2 by Cas9/gRNAs with different combinations of gRNA pairs, including clusters of miRNA and protein-coding genes. Seven of eight TALEN-targeted lines transmitted the deletions and one transmitted the inversion through germ line. Our findings indicate that both TALENs and Cas9/gRNAs can be used as an efficient tool to engineer genomes to achieve large deletions or inversions, including fragments covering multiple genes and non-coding sequences. To facilitate the analyses and application of existing ZFN, TALEN and CRISPR/Cas data, we have updated our EENdb database to provide a chromosomal view of all reported engineered endonucleases targeting human and zebrafish genomes.     

Efficient and Heritable Gene Targeting in Tilapia by CRISPR/Cas9

Studies of gene function in non-model animals have been limited by the approaches available for eliminating gene function. The CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated) system has recently become a powerful tool for targeted genome editing. Here, we report the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to disrupt selected genes, including nanos2, nanos3, dmrt1, and foxl2, with efficiencies as high as 95%. In addition, mutations in dmrt1 and foxl2 induced by CRISPR/Cas9 were efficiently transmitted through the germline to F₁. Obvious phenotypes were observed in the G0 generation after mutation of germ cell or somatic cell-specific genes. For example, loss of Nanos2 and Nanos3 in XY and XX fish resulted in germ cell-deficient gonads as demonstrated by GFP labeling and Vasa staining, respectively, while masculinization of somatic cells in both XY and XX gonads was demonstrated by Dmrt1 and Cyp11b2 immunohistochemistry and by up-regulation of serum androgen levels. Our data demonstrate that targeted, heritable gene editing can be achieved in tilapia, providing a convenient and effective approach for generating loss-of-function mutants. Furthermore, our study shows the utility of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for genetic engineering in non-model species like tilapia and potentially in many other teleost species.     

CRISPR/Cas系统的分类及研究现状

CRISPR技术作为一种新型的基因编辑技术,被广泛应用于微生物、动物和植物领域。对CRISPR/Cas系统的起源、分类特点等进行了阐述,重点梳理了CRISPR/Cas系统分类的发展历程,并根据最新分类方法,介绍了不同类型的CRISPR/Cas系统的作用机制、内部不同蛋白的作用特点及应用与发展,以期探寻更多的CRISPR/Cas系统,扩大该系统的应用领域。     

Efficient Gene Targeting in Golden Syrian Hamsters by the CRISPR/Cas9 System

The golden Syrian hamster is the model of choice or the only rodent model for studying many human diseases. However, the lack of gene targeting tools in hamsters severely limits their use in biomedical research. Here, we report the first successful application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to efficiently conduct gene targeting in hamsters. We designed five synthetic single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs)—three for targeting the coding sequences for different functional domains of the hamster STAT2 protein, one for KCNQ1, and one for PPP1R12C—and demonstrated that the CRISPR/Cas9 system is highly efficient in introducing site-specific mutations in hamster somatic cells. We then developed unique pronuclear (PN) and cytoplasmic injection protocols in hamsters and produced STAT2 knockout (KO) hamsters by injecting the sgRNA/Cas9, either in the form of plasmid or mRNA, targeting exon 4 of hamster STAT2. Among the produced hamsters, 14.3% and 88.9% harbored germline-transmitted STAT2 mutations from plasmid and mRNA injection, respectively. Notably, 10.4% of the animals produced from mRNA injection were biallelically targeted. This is the first success in conducting site-specific gene targeting in hamsters and can serve as the foundation for developing other genetically engineered hamster models for human disease.     

Generation of B Cell-Deficient Pigs by Highly Efficient CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Targeting

Generating B cell-deficient mutant is the first step to produce human antibody repertoires in large animal models. In this study, we applied the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated(Cas) system to target the JHregion of the pig Ig M heavy chain gene which is crucial for B cell development and differentiation. Transfection of Ig M-targeting Cas9 plasmid in primary porcine fetal fibroblasts(PFFs) enabled inducing gene knock out(KO) in up to 53.3% of colonies analyzed, a quarter of which harbored biallelic modification, which was much higher than that of the traditional homologous recombination(HR). With the aid of somatic cell nuclear transfer(SCNT) technology, three piglets with the biallelic Ig M heavy chain gene mutation were produced. The piglets showed no antibody-producing B cells which indicated that the biallelic mutation of the Ig M heavy chain gene effectively knocked out the function of the Ig M and resulted in a B cell-deficient phenotype. Our study suggests that the CRISPR/Cas9 system combined with SCNT technology is an efficient genome-editing approach in pigs.     

靶向小鼠Idua基因的CRISPR/Cas9系统构建及打靶效率分析

黏多糖贮积症(mucopolysaccharidosis,MPS)是一种遗传代谢病.人IDUA基因编码的α-L-艾杜糖苷酶(α-L-iduronidase,IDUA)功能异常是导致Ⅰ型MPS的主要病因.本研究拟构建特异性靶向小鼠Idua基因的CRISPR/Cas9编辑系统,用以模拟人IDUA基因突变,为建立精准模拟Ⅰ型MPS的细胞模型和动物模型提供高效基因编辑系统.本研究筛查了人类IDUA基因的致病突变,并将候选突变位点定位于小鼠Idua基因上,作为拟突变位点.然后通过sgRNA的设计、表达质粒构建、转染、药物筛选、TA克隆测序等步骤证明了设计的sgRNA具有高效的打靶效力.本研究结果对深入研究MPS的致病机制和探讨MPS的治疗具有重要意义.     

CRISPR/Cas植物基因组编辑技术及其在玉米中的应用*

CRISPR/Cas 系统具有操作简单、效率高等优势,为植物功能基因研究和作物遗传改良提供了重要支撑。介绍了CRISPR/Cas植物基因组编辑技术的研究进展,并对CRISPR/Cas系统及其衍生技术进行了详细比较;结合案例综述了CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术在玉米产量、品质、抗逆性改良,以及雄性不育系创制和单倍体诱导等方面的应用;同时针对CRISPR/Cas系统未来需要迫切解决的一些问题进行了分析和展望。     

应用Surrogate 报告载体提高RISPR/Cas9 对TMEM215基因的打靶效率*

目的:构建Surrogate报告载体,并利用Surrogate报告载体提高CRISPR/Cas9对HEK293T细胞TMEM215基因打靶效率。方法:构建针对人TMEM215的CRISPR/Cas9表达载体及相应Surrogate报告载体,两者共转HEK293T细胞,通过流式分析、T7EI检测、TA克隆测序等明确Surrogate报告载体对不同sgRNA打靶效率的检测及对基因修饰细胞的筛选富集作用。结果:流式分析结果表明,Surrogate报告载体成功检测出不同sgRNA的打靶效率,并筛选出高效率sgRNA;T7EI检测及TA克隆测序显示,外加嘌呤霉素抗性筛选时,Surrogate报告载体可有效富集基因修饰细胞。结论:成功构建Surrogate报告载体,并利用Surrogate报告载体提高CRISPR/Cas9对HEK293T细胞TMEM215基因的打靶效率。     

Regulation of Gene Editing Activity Directed by Single-Stranded Oligonucleotides and CRISPR/Cas9 Systems

Single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides (ssODNs) can direct the repair of a single base mutation in human genes. While the regulation of this gene editing reaction has been partially elucidated, the low frequency with which repair occurs has hampered development toward clinical application. In this work a CRISPR/Cas9 complex is employed to induce double strand DNA breakage at specific sites surrounding the nucleotide designated for exchange. The result is a significant elevation in ssODN-directed gene repair, validated by a phenotypic readout. By analysing reaction parameters, we have uncovered restrictions on gene editing activity involving CRISPR/Cas9 complexes. First, ssODNs that hybridize to the non-transcribed strand direct a higher level of gene repair than those that hybridize to the transcribed strand. Second, cleavage must be proximal to the targeted mutant base to enable higher levels of gene editing. Third, DNA cleavage enables a higher level of gene editing activity as compared to single-stranded DNA nicks, created by modified Cas9 (Nickases). Fourth, we calculated the hybridization potential and free energy levels of ssODNs that are complementary to the guide RNA sequences of CRISPRs used in this study. We find a correlation between free energy potential and the capacity of single-stranded oligonucleotides to inhibit specific DNA cleavage activity, thereby indirectly reducing gene editing activity. Our data provide novel information that might be taken into consideration in the design and usage of CRISPR/Cas9 systems with ssODNs for gene editing.     

Targeted Chromosomal Translocations and Essential Gene Knockout Using CRISPR/Cas9 Technology in Caenorhabditis elegans

Many genes play essential roles in development and fertility; their disruption leads to growth arrest or sterility. Genetic balancers have been widely used to study essential genes in many organisms. However, it is technically challenging and laborious to generate and maintain the loss-of-function mutations of essential genes. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been successfully applied for gene editing and chromosome engineering. Here, we have developed a method to induce chromosomal translocations and produce genetic balancers using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology and have applied this approach to edit essential genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. The co-injection of dual small guide RNA targeting genes on different chromosomes resulted in reciprocal translocation between nonhomologous chromosomes. These animals with chromosomal translocations were subsequently crossed with animals that contain normal sets of chromosomes. The F1 progeny were subjected to a second round of Cas9-mediated gene editing. Through this method, we successfully produced nematode strains with specified chromosomal translocations and generated a number of loss-of-function alleles of two essential genes (csr-1 and mes-6). Therefore, our method provides an easy and efficient approach to generate and maintain loss-of-function alleles of essential genes with detailed genetic background information.     

新生儿短肠综合征的肠内营养研究进展

从喂养方式、喂养过程、营养成分、护理重点等多方面综述新生儿短肠综合征肠内营养的研究进展,并结合患儿的实际病情以及实验室检查结果等指标,提出对患儿进行持续性的肠内营养支持的具体做法：（1）在现实情况允许的条件下,保证用母乳喂养患儿,无法提供母乳的情况下合理配比奶粉,并根据实际需要添加一些纤维和脂类的补充剂,保障患儿健康发育;（2）在给予肠内营养的过程中全程无菌化处理,调节适宜的温度,合理选择药物;（3）应用大规模对照试验方式,通过大数据对比总结出持续肠内营养对短肠综合征患儿的影响,为儿科护理工作提供科学依据。     

Targeted integration in human cells through single crossover mediated by ZFN or CRISPR/Cas9

Background

Targeted DNA integration is widely used in basic research and commercial applications because it eliminates positional effects on transgene expression. Targeted integration in mammalian cells is generally achieved through a double crossover event between the genome and a linear donor containing two homology arms flanking the gene of interest. However, this strategy is generally less efficient at introducing larger DNA fragments. Using the homology-independent NHEJ mechanism has recently been shown to improve efficiency of integrating larger DNA fragments at targeted sites, but integration through this mechanism is direction-independent. Therefore, developing new methods for direction-dependent integration with improved efficiency is desired.

Results

We generated site-specific double-strand breaks using ZFNs or CRISPR/Cas9 in the human CCR5 gene and a donor plasmid containing a 1.6-kb fragment homologous to the CCR5 gene in the genome. These DSBs efficiently drove the direction-dependent integration of 6.4-kb plasmids into the genomes of two human cell lines through single-crossover recombination. The integration was direction-dependent and resulted in the duplication of the homology region in the genome, allowing the integration of another copy of the donor plasmid. The CRISPR/Cas9 system tended to disrupt the sgRNA-binding site within the duplicated homology region, preventing the integration of another plasmid donor. In contrast, ZFNs were less likely to completely disrupt their binding sites, allowing the successive integration of additional plasmid donor copies. This could be useful in promoting multi-copy integration for high-level expression of recombinant proteins. Targeted integration through single crossover recombination was highly efficient (frequency: 33%) as revealed by Southern blot analysis of clonal cells. This is more efficient than a previously described NHEJ-based method (0.17–0.45%) that was used to knock in an approximately 5-kb long DNA fragment.

Conclusion

We developed a method for the direction-dependent integration of large DNA fragments through single crossover recombination. We compared and contrasted our method to a previously reported technique for the direction-independent integration of DNA cassettes into the genomes of cultured cells via NHEJ. Our method, due to its directionality and ability to efficiently integrate large fragments, is an attractive strategy for both basic research and industrial application.

     

Targeting DNA polymerase to DNA double-strand breaks reduces DNA deletion size and increases templated insertions generated by CRISPR/Cas9

Most insertions or deletions generated by CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9) endonucleases are short (<25 bp), but unpredictable on-target long DNA deletions (>500 bp) can be observed. The possibility of generating long on-target DNA deletions poses safety risks to somatic genome editing and makes the outcomes of genome editing less predictable. Methods for generating refined mutations are desirable but currently unavailable. Here, we show that fusing Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I or the Klenow fragment to Cas9 greatly increases the frequencies of 1-bp deletions and decreases >1-bp deletions or insertions. Importantly, doing so also greatly decreases the generation of long deletions, including those >2 kb. In addition, templated insertions (the insertion of the nucleotide 4 nt upstream of the protospacer adjacent motif) were increased relative to other insertions. Counteracting DNA resection was one of the mechanisms perturbing deletion sizes. Targeting DNA polymerase to double-strand breaks did not increase off-targets or base substitution rates around the cleavage sites, yet increased editing efficiency in primary cells. Our strategy makes it possible to generate refined DNA mutations for improved safety without sacrificing efficiency of genome editing.     

利用CRISPR/Cas9对基因组中高度同源DNA片段编辑多样性的遗传学研究

在基因组中,编码区存在许多高度相似的基因簇或基因群(多拷贝基因),非编码区也存在大量的重复序列。这些重复序列能通过改变染色体的三维结构调控基因的转录,对于生物体的遗传与进化起到了重要的作用。其高度同源的特征使得利用CRISPR/Cas9技术进行基因组编辑时面临更加复杂的状况。如果编辑的片段是二倍体或多倍体,还会产生各条染色单体上的编辑情况不相同的现象。为此本文选择了2个位于同一染色体相距11 kb的高度同源300 bp片段(L1和L2)进行CRISPR介导的DNA片段编辑。采用一对sgRNA(分别共同靶向两片段的上、下游位点)引导Cas9对HepG2细胞两个高度相似的DNA片段进行切割。片段编辑的细胞进一步单克隆化后,对获得的22个L1/L2编辑的CRISPR单克隆细胞株进行详细的基因型鉴定。结果发现除了这两个DNA片段本身被删除外,它们之间的大片段也存在被删除的现象,三个片段的各种反转组合也很频繁。该研究结果对于采用CRISPR/Cas9系统编辑多拷贝基因或重复序列,尤其是对二倍体或多倍体生物进行基因组编辑时具有重要的借鉴和参考价值。     

Allosteric regulation in CRISPR/Cas1-Cas2 protospacer acquisition mediated by DNA and Cas2

Cas1 and Cas2 are highly conserved proteins across clustered-regularly-interspaced-short-palindromic-repeat-Cas systems and play a significant role in protospacer acquisition. Based on crystal structure of twofold symmetric Cas1-Cas2 in complex with dual-forked protospacer DNA (psDNA), we conducted all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to study the psDNA binding, recognition, and response to cleavage on the protospacer-adjacent-motif complementary sequence, or PAMc, of Cas1-Cas2. In the simulation, we noticed that two active sites of Cas1 and Cas1’ bind asymmetrically to two identical PAMc on the psDNA captured from the crystal structure. For the modified psDNA containing only one PAMc, as that to be recognized by Cas1-Cas2 in general, our simulations show that the non-PAMc association site of Cas1-Cas2 remains destabilized until after the stably bound PAMc being cleaved at the corresponding association site. Thus, long-range correlation appears to exist upon the PAMc cleavage between the two active sites (∼10 nm apart) on Cas1-Cas2, which can be allosterically mediated by psDNA and Cas2 and Cas2’ in bridging. To substantiate such findings, we conducted repeated runs and further simulated Cas1-Cas2 in complex with synthesized psDNA sequences psL and psH, which have been measured with low and high frequency in acquisition, respectively. Notably, such intersite correlation becomes even more pronounced for the Cas1-Cas2 in complex with psH but remains low for the Cas1-Cas2 in complex with psL. Hence, our studies demonstrate that PAMc recognition and cleavage at one active site of Cas1-Cas2 may allosterically regulate non-PAMc association or even cleavage at the other site, and such regulation can be mediated by noncatalytic Cas2 and DNA protospacer to possibly support the ensued psDNA acquisition.     

Friendly Fire: Biological Functions and Consequences of Chromosomal Targeting by CRISPR-Cas Systems

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) systems in bacteria and archaea target foreign elements, such as bacteriophages and conjugative plasmids, through the incorporation of short sequences (termed spacers) from the foreign element into the CRISPR array, thereby allowing sequence-specific targeting of the invader. Thus, CRISPR-Cas systems are typically considered a microbial adaptive immune system. While many of these incorporated spacers match targets on bacteriophages and plasmids, a noticeable number are derived from chromosomal DNA. While usually lethal to the self-targeting bacteria, in certain circumstances, these self-targeting spacers can have profound effects in regard to microbial biology, including functions beyond adaptive immunity. In this minireview, we discuss recent studies that focus on the functions and consequences of CRISPR-Cas self-targeting, including reshaping of the host population, group behavior modification, and the potential applications of CRISPR-Cas self-targeting as a tool in microbial biotechnology. Understanding the effects of CRISPR-Cas self-targeting is vital to fully understanding the spectrum of function of these systems.     

利用CRISPR/Cas9技术靶向KRAS或TP53突变抑制SW620细胞的增殖

摘要 目的：运用CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑工具研究靶向SW620细胞系中KRAS或TP53突变对细胞增殖活性的影响。方法：针对SW620细胞中KRAS和TP53的突变位点设计sgRNA,并利用TIDE法检测sgRNA的切割效率。通过细胞增殖实验检测靶向KRAS或TP53突变后SW620细胞增殖活性的改变,并应用Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法检测细胞凋亡水平的变化。结果：分别构建了靶向SW620细胞系中KRAS和TP53突变的sgRNA质粒,并通过TIDE分析验证了sgRNA的内源切割效率;细胞增殖实验及细胞凋亡检测显示,靶向突变的KRAS或TP53基因后,SW620细胞增殖活性明显减弱,凋亡水平明显升高（P<0.05）。结论：本研究基于CRISPR/Cas9技术实现了对SW620细胞系中突变的KRAS和TP53的基因编辑,发现靶向KRAS或TP53突变能够明显抑制SW620细胞的增殖活性并促进细胞凋亡,为结直肠癌相关靶点治疗提供了体外实验依据。