基于CRISPR/CasX介导的水稻基因组编辑技术的建立

Cas蛋白作为核酸酶发挥其切割活性需要识别特定的PAM序列,如SpCas9识别NGG PAM位点,LbCas12a识别TTTV PAM。已挖掘到新的能够识别TTCN PAM序列的蛋白—CasX蛋白,扩展了基因组编辑技术的编辑范围。本研究利用CasX的两个衍生型蛋白PlmCasX和DpbCasX,建立基于CRISPR/CasX介导的水稻基因编辑系统。通过PEG介导的水稻原生质体瞬时表达分析其编辑活性发现,PlmCasX和DpbCasX两个蛋白能够对水稻内源基因OsCPK16实现有效编辑。后通过水稻稳定遗传转化进一步验证,在TTCA PAM识别位点,DpbCasX蛋白对水稻内源基因OsCPK21的编辑效率为17.5%,PlmCasX蛋白对水稻内源基因OsCPK21的编辑效率为66.07%;在TTCG PAM识别位点,PlmCasX蛋白对OsCPK4的编辑效率为23.21%,而DpbCasX蛋白不能实现有效的基因编辑。并且基于MIDAS方法对PlmCasX蛋白的优化并不能提高其编辑活性。本研究证明了CRISPR/CasX系统在水稻中具有编辑活性,且其能识别TTCR PAM这一特性,扩大了基因...     

CRISPR-Cas生物传感器研究进展

成簇规律间隔短回文序列(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPR)系统是广泛存在于细菌中的一种特有的免疫防御机制,与特殊的Cas蛋白结合后能够有效的对外源的核酸分子进行特异性片段化,并进一步促进其降解。CRISPR-Cas系统具有独特的靶向性,为开发针对于核酸为底物的生物传感器提供了新的概念。越来越多的研究人员根据不同Cas蛋白的性质,建立了独特的逻辑系统对靶标物质进行准确识别,基于CRISPR技术的生物传感器也开拓了该技术在基因编辑以外领域的应用。介绍了CRISPR-Cas系统的起源、作用机制和科学分类,根据生物传感器的作用方式以及识别底物进行了分类,并对基于CRISPR-Cas系统的高效生物传感器的应用前景进行了展望。     

利用内源CRISPR-Cas系统开展乳酸菌基因编辑的研究进展北大核心CSCD

CRISPR-Cas9技术是一种高效、精准的基因编辑工具,该技术的建立推动基因组编辑进入快速发展阶段。目前应用最广泛的Cas9蛋白是来源于酿脓链球菌(Streptococcuspyogenes)的SpyCas9,该蛋白作为“基因剪刀”在哺乳动物、植物等真核生物中应用较为广泛且成熟,但是该蛋白在一些乳酸菌中的应用仍然受到多种因素的限制。乳酸菌基因组上已发现多种类型的CRISPR系统,也蕴含着多种未表征的Cas蛋白,利用乳酸菌内源CRISPR-Cas系统,结合外源导入的向导RNA和同源修复模板,也可实现对乳酸菌基因组的编辑。这种基于内源CRISPR-Cas系统实现基因编辑的方式,具有打靶载体相对较小易转化、无外源Cas9蛋白对宿主细胞产生毒性等优势,相比于CRISPR-SpyCas9更适合于乳酸菌基因组进行编辑,可能是一些乳酸菌未来开展基因组编辑的主要手段,本文重点对此部分内容进行了综述。     

CRISPR-Cas核酸酶及其人工改造变体和单碱基编辑器在植物中的应用

规律间隔成簇短回文重复序列(CRISPR)-CRISPR相关蛋白(Cas)和单碱基编辑器是植物基因编辑的基本工具。来自酿脓链球菌的Cas9(SpCas9)可以识别NGG前间区序列邻近基序(PAM),是一种广泛应用于活细胞基因组编辑的核酸酶。Cas12a核酸酶最近也在多种植物中实现了靶向识别富含T的PAM序列。     

机器学习方法在CRISPR/Cas9系统中的应用

基于CRISPR/Cas9系统介导的第三代基因组定点编辑技术,已被广泛应用于基因编辑和基因表达调控等研究领域。如何提高该技术对基因组编辑的效率与特异性、最大限度降低脱靶风险一直是该领域的难点。近年来,机器学习为解决CRISPR/Cas9系统所面临的问题提供了新思路,基于机器学习的CRISPR/Cas9系统已逐渐成为研究热点。本文阐述了CRISPR/Cas9的作用机理,总结了现阶段该技术面临的基因组编辑效率低、存在潜在的脱靶效应、前间区序列邻近基序(PAM)限制识别序列等问题,最后对机器学习应用于优化设计高效向导RNA (sgRNA)序列、预测sgRNA的活性、脱靶效应评估、基因敲除、高通量功能基因筛选等领域的研究现状与发展前景进行了展望,以期为基因组编辑领域的研究提供参考。     

CRISPR-Cas13a系统用于肿瘤诊断与治疗的进展

CRISPR-Cas系统是一种目前已知的基因编辑工具,其中以靶向DNA基因组编辑的CRISPR-Cas9系统的研究较为成熟。相较于靶向DNA的基因组编辑技术CRISPR-Cas9系统,近年来靶向RNA的Ⅵ型-CRISPR家族CRISPR-C2c2/Cas13a系统研究日渐增多。CRISPR-Cas13a系统具有特异性识别并结合单链RNA序列从而非特异性切割RNA的特点,可应用于检测肿瘤外周血游离核酸,对早期肿瘤患者进行筛查。同时,Cas13a在进行体内RNA切割的过程中,不涉及编码基因DNA的改变,可直接对基因转录产物mRNA进行编辑,达到基因修饰的目的,并能够同时靶向多基因转录产物从而调控基因的表达。Cas13a系统可应用于分子诊断及RNA编辑中,该系统在肿瘤的诊断与治疗中也被证实具有广阔的发展前景。基于已有的文献资料,文中综述了靶向RNA的CRISPR-Cas13a技术应用于肿瘤诊断与治疗的研究进展,探讨了CRISPR-Cas13a系统对癌症治疗的新思路及存在的局限,并展望了未来可能的研究方向。     

CRISPR/Cas9介导的基因组编辑技术及其在RNA编辑中的潜在应用

化脓链球菌里的CRISPR-Cas9系统作为基因编辑工具已经得到广泛的应用。现有研究表明这个系统具有作为通用核酸识别技术的潜在价值,即Cas9系统也能靶向识别活细胞中的RNA。将RCas9与不同的蛋白因子融合,可能会实现基因表达调控、控制RNA的定位、改变RNA的组成和使RNA可视化等。在介绍CRISPR-Cas9系统介导的免疫机制的基础上,重点比较了RCas9和先前的RNA研究方法,从转录动力学、再生医学以及合成生物学等方面,综述了其潜在的应用价值,并对该系统在未来生命科学研究的应用进行了展望,以期为CRISPR-Cas9系统在RNA编辑方面的研究提供参考。     

CRISPR-Cas9介导的基因组编辑技术的研究进展

CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated proteins)系统为细菌与古生菌中抵御外源病毒或质粒DNA入侵的获得性免疫系统。该系统在crRNA的指导下,使核酸酶Cas识别并降解外源DNA。其中,Ⅱ型CRISPR-Cas系统最为简单,仅包括一个核酸酶Cas9与tracrRNA：crRNA二聚体便可完成其生物功能。基于CRISPR-Cas9的基因组编辑技术的核心为将tracrRNA:crRNA设计为引导RNA,在引导RNA的指导下Cas9定位于特定DNA序列上,进行DNA双链切割,实现基因组的定向编辑。CRISPR-Cas9系统以设计操纵简便、编辑高效与通用性广等优势成为新一代基因组编辑技术,为基因组定向改造调控与应用等带来突破性革命。从CRISPR-Cas9介导的基因组编辑技术的发展与应用等方面综述其最新研究进展,并着重介绍该技术的关键影响因素,为相关研究者提供参考。     

CRISPR-Cas9技术在干细胞中的应用

成簇规律间隔短回文重复序列系统(Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,associated RNA guided endonuclease Cas9(CRISPR-Cas9)是细菌或古细菌在长期演化过程中形成的抵御外来遗传物质的一种获得性免疫防御机制,其中II型CRISPR-Cas系统依赖Cas9核酸内切酶靶向剪切外源DNA。Cas9内切酶在向导RNA的指导下靶向性地剪切特定基因位点,已被广泛应用在不同种属的基因编辑研究中。利用CRISPR-Cas9基因编辑系统的优势,结合现有干细胞研究技术,在小鼠、大鼠,甚至灵长类动物的功能基因组研究中,可以大幅提高各种基因修饰动物的获得效率,缩短获得的时间,从而快捷有效地研究基因功能;同时,可以建立包括灵长类疾病模型在内的多种动物疾病模型,促进生物医学的发展,造福人类。     

CRISPR-Cas系统的研究进展及应用

CRISPR-Cas系统是一种靶向基因编辑工具,操作简单,逐渐取代人工锌指核酸酶(ZFN)和类转录激活因子效应物核酸酶(TALEN)而成为近年的研究热点。Cas9蛋白能在一段小的RNA引导下特异性结合并切割DNA,在基因组结构和功能学研究中发挥重要作用。后来发现的Cas13等蛋白能特异性结合和编辑RNA,开启了转录组研究的新篇章。我们对CRISPR-Cas系统近年的研究发现做了简要概述,并对该系统作为一种工具在基础研究、生物工程、疾病治疗上的应用进行了总结。     

Structural insights into target DNA recognition and cleavage by the CRISPR-Cas12c1 system

Cas12c is the recently characterized dual RNA-guided DNase effector of type V-C CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein) systems. Due to minimal requirements for a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM), Cas12c is an attractive candidate for genome editing. Here we report the crystal structure of Cas12c1 in complex with single guide RNA (sgRNA) and target double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) containing the 5′-TG-3′ PAM. Supported by biochemical and mutation assays, this study reveals distinct structural features of Cas12c1 and the associated sgRNA, as well as the molecular basis for PAM recognition, target dsDNA unwinding, heteroduplex formation and recognition, and cleavage of non-target and target DNA strands. Cas12c1 recognizes the PAM through a mechanism that is interdependent on sequence identity and Cas12c1-induced conformational distortion of the PAM region. Another special feature of Cas12c1 is the cleavage of both non-target and target DNA strands at a single, uniform site with indistinguishable cleavage capacity and order. Location of the sgRNA seed region and minimal length of target DNA required for triggering Cas12c1 DNase activity were also determined. Our findings provide valuable information for developing the CRISPR-Cas12c1 system into an efficient, high-fidelity genome editing tool.     

Phylogeny of Cas9 determines functional exchangeability of dual-RNA and Cas9 among orthologous type II CRISPR-Cas systems

The CRISPR-Cas-derived RNA-guided Cas9 endonuclease is the key element of an emerging promising technology for genome engineering in a broad range of cells and organisms. The DNA-targeting mechanism of the type II CRISPR-Cas system involves maturation of tracrRNA:crRNA duplex (dual-RNA), which directs Cas9 to cleave invading DNA in a sequence-specific manner, dependent on the presence of a Protospacer Adjacent Motif (PAM) on the target. We show that evolution of dual-RNA and Cas9 in bacteria produced remarkable sequence diversity. We selected eight representatives of phylogenetically defined type II CRISPR-Cas groups to analyze possible coevolution of Cas9 and dual-RNA. We demonstrate that these two components are interchangeable only between closely related type II systems when the PAM sequence is adjusted to the investigated Cas9 protein. Comparison of the taxonomy of bacterial species that harbor type II CRISPR-Cas systems with the Cas9 phylogeny corroborates horizontal transfer of the CRISPR-Cas loci. The reported collection of dual-RNA:Cas9 with associated PAMs expands the possibilities for multiplex genome editing and could provide means to improve the specificity of the RNA-programmable Cas9 tool.     

Non-viral and viral delivery systems for CRISPR-Cas9 technology in the biomedical field

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)-associated protein 9(CRISPR-Cas9) system provides a novel genome editing technology that can precisely target a genomic site to disrupt or repair a specific gene. Some CRISPR-Cas9 systems from different bacteria or artificial variants have been discovered or constructed by biologists, and Cas9 nucleases and single guide RNAs(sgRNA) are the major components of the CRISPR-Cas9 system. These Cas9 systems have been extensively applied for identifying therapeutic targets, identifying gene functions, generating animal models, and developing gene therapies.Moreover, CRISPR-Cas9 systems have been used to partially or completely alleviate disease symptoms by mutating or correcting related genes. However, the efficient transfer of CRISPR-Cas9 system into cells and target organs remains a challenge that affects the robust and precise genome editing activity. The current review focuses on delivery systems for Cas9 mRNA, Cas9 protein, or vectors encoding the Cas9 gene and corresponding sgRNA. Non-viral delivery of Cas9 appears to help Cas9 maintain its on-target effect and reduce off-target effects, and viral vectors for sgRNA and donor template can improve the efficacy of genome editing and homology-directed repair. Safe, efficient, and producible delivery systems will promote the application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in human gene therapy.     

Genome editing in plants with MAD7 nuclease

MAD7 is an engineered nuclease of the Class 2 type V-A CRISPR-Cas(Cas12 a/Cpf1) family with a low level of homology to canonical Cas12 a nucleases. It has been publicly released as a royalty-free nuclease for both academic and commercial use. Here, we demonstrate that the CRISPR-MAD7 system can be used for genome editing and recognizes T-rich PAM sequences(YTTN) in plants. Its editing efficiency in rice and wheat is comparable to that of the widely used CRISPR-Lb Cas12 a system. We develop two variants,MAD7-RR and MAD7-RVR that increase the target range of MAD7, as well as an M-AFID(a MAD7-APOBEC fusion-induced deletion) system that creates predictable deletions from 50-deaminated Cs to the MAD7-cleavage site. Moreover, we show that MAD7 can be used for multiplex gene editing and that it is effective in generating indels when combined with other CRISPR RNA orthologs. Using the CRISPR-MAD7 system, we have obtained regenerated mutant rice and wheat plants with up to 65.6% efficiency.     

Targeted gene disruption by CRISPR/xCas9 system in Drosophila melanogaster

Although the Cas9 protein from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) is the most widely used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) variant in genome engineering experiments, it does have certain limitations. First, the stringent requirement for the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence limits the target DNA that can be manipulated using this method in insects. Second, its complementarity specifications are not very stringent, meaning that it can sometimes cause off-target effects at the target site. A recent study reported that an evolved SpCas9 variant, xCas9(3.7), with preference for various 5′-NG-3′ PAM sequences not only has the broadest PAM compatibility but also has much greater DNA specificity and lower genome-wide off-target activity than SpCas9 in mammalian cells. Here we applied the CRISPR/xCas9 system to target the white gene in Drosophila melanogaster, testing the genome-editing efficiency of xCas9 at different PAM sites. On the GGG PAM site, xCas9 showed less activity than SpCas9. For the non-NGG PAM site TGA, xCas9 could produce DNA cleavage and indel-mediated disruption on the target gene. However, for other non-NGG PAM sites, xCas9 showed no activity. These findings show that the evolved Cas9 variant with broad PAM compatibility is functional in Drosophila to induce heritable gene alterations, increasing the targeting range for the applications of genome editing in insects.     

Efficient Genome Editing in Clostridium cellulolyticum via CRISPR-Cas9 Nickase

The CRISPR-Cas9 system is a powerful and revolutionary genome-editing tool for eukaryotic genomes, but its use in bacterial genomes is very limited. Here, we investigated the use of the Streptococcus pyogenes CRISPR-Cas9 system in editing the genome of Clostridium cellulolyticum, a model microorganism for bioenergy research. Wild-type Cas9-induced double-strand breaks were lethal to C. cellulolyticum due to the minimal expression of nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) components in this strain. To circumvent this lethality, Cas9 nickase was applied to develop a single-nick-triggered homologous recombination strategy, which allows precise one-step editing at intended genomic loci by transforming a single vector. This strategy has a high editing efficiency (>95%) even using short homologous arms (0.2 kb), is able to deliver foreign genes into the genome in a single step without a marker, enables precise editing even at two very similar target sites differing by two bases preceding the seed region, and has a very high target site density (median interval distance of 9 bp and 95.7% gene coverage in C. cellulolyticum). Together, these results establish a simple and robust methodology for genome editing in NHEJ-ineffective prokaryotes.     

Advances in CRISPR-Cas systems for RNA targeting,tracking and editing

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) systems, especially type II (Cas9) systems, have been widely used in gene/genome targeting. Modifications of Cas9 enable these systems to become platforms for precise DNA manipulations. However, the utilization of CRISPR-Cas systems in RNA targeting remains preliminary. The discovery of type VI CRISPR-Cas systems (Cas13) shed light on RNA-guided RNA targeting. Cas13d, the smallest Cas13 protein, with a length of only ~930 amino acids, is a promising platform for RNA targeting compatible with viral delivery systems. Much effort has also been made to develop Cas9, Cas13a and Cas13b applications for RNA-guided RNA targeting. The discovery of new RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas systems as well as the development of RNA-targeting platforms with Cas9 and Cas13 will promote RNA-targeting technology substantially. Here, we review new advances in RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas systems as well as advances in applications of these systems in RNA targeting, tracking and editing. We also compare these Cas protein-based technologies with traditional technologies for RNA targeting, tracking and editing. Finally, we discuss remaining questions and prospects for the future.     

The structure of AcrIE4-F7 reveals a common strategy for dual CRISPR inhibition by targeting PAM recognition sites

Bacteria and archaea use the CRISPR-Cas system to fend off invasions of bacteriophages and foreign plasmids. In response, bacteriophages encode anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins that potently inhibit host Cas proteins to suppress CRISPR-mediated immunity. AcrIE4-F7, which was isolated from Pseudomonas citronellolis, is a fused form of AcrIE4 and AcrIF7 that inhibits both type I-E and type I-F CRISPR-Cas systems. Here, we determined the structure of AcrIE4-F7 and identified its Cas target proteins. The N-terminal AcrIE4 domain adopts a novel α-helical fold that targets the PAM interaction site of the type I-E Cas8e subunit. The C-terminal AcrIF7 domain exhibits an αβ fold like native AcrIF7, which disables target DNA recognition by the PAM interaction site in the type I-F Cas8f subunit. The two Acr domains are connected by a flexible linker that allows prompt docking onto their cognate Cas8 targets. Conserved negative charges in each Acr domain are required for interaction with their Cas8 targets. Our results illustrate a common mechanism by which AcrIE4-F7 inhibits divergent CRISPR-Cas types.