Plant genome editing using xCas9 with expanded PAM compatibility

CRISPR/Cas enables robust genome editing and has revolution-ized both functional genomics and crop breeding.The specificity of Cas-directed DNA cleavage is strictly determined by a chimeric single guide RNA(SgRNA)and a short protospacer adjacent motif(PAM)in the genome(Cong et al,2013;Zetsche et al,2015).The widely used Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes(SpCas9)generally recognizes the canonical NGG PAM(where N indicates any nucleicacid base)(Miao et al.,2013;Ma et al,2015),making many regionsuntargetable by Cas9.SpCas9 VQR and VRER variants,which recog-nize the non-canonical PAM sequences of NGA and NGCG,respectively,have been used to expand targetable sequences in plants(Hu et al.,2016).In addition,the applications of other Cas endonucleases such as SaCas9(Staphylococcus aureus Cas9)(Ran et al..2015).     

A DddA ortholog-based and transactivator-assisted nuclear and mitochondrial cytosine base editors with expanded target compatibility

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Design and synthesis of dinucleotide 5'-triphosphates with expanded functionality

We propose the new approach to the synthesis of 5'-triphosphate derivatives of natural and modified dinucleotides with expanded functionality. Our strategy includes the combination of the solution phase synthesis of necessary dimers using the wide range of nucleic acids chemistry methods and the subsequent introduction of the triphosphate residue. A number of the new potential substrates for the template dependent synthesis of nucleic acids with expanded functionality are obtained, namely, 5'-triphosphates of dinucleotides containing the functionally active groups in heterocyclic bases, in carbohydrate-phosphate backbone, and the groups mimicking the residues of natural amino acids. The abilities of the proposed synthetic route are also demonstrated by the synthesis of 5'-triphosphates of dinucleotides with modified carbohydrate-phosphate backbone.     

碱基编辑技术的发展与应用

碱基编辑技术,以CRISPR/Cas系统为平台,引导胞嘧啶脱氨酶或腺嘌呤脱氨酶至特定的基因组靶点,产生靶向性的C至T或者A至G的碱基转换。自碱基编辑技术问世以来,全球多个科研团队通过优化改进得到了一系列高精准性、广靶向性、小编辑框、普适性的碱基编辑器。在应用方面,碱基编辑器能够在人体细胞、动植物细胞以及胚胎中进行高效的碱基转换,在治疗人类遗传病、构建动物疾病模型、植物育种等方面具有巨大的应用潜能。本文就碱基编辑技术的发展、优化和应用等方面进行综述和展望。     

New cytosine base editor for plant genome editing

正A large number of beneficial agronomic traits in crops are associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or point mutations (Jiao et al., 2010; Li et al., 2017; Ma et al.,2015). In the past, site-specific point mutations in a target gene can only be achieved through the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene replacement via the homology-directed repair(HDR). However, the intrinsically low HDR activity in plant cells and the lack of efficient way to supply abundant HDR templates in plant nucleus have greatly limited the success     

5 Efficient and high-fidelity copying of an RNA-like model prebiotic system

Nonenzymatic RNA replication would provide an important bridge to the RNA world. However, the demonstration of efficient and high-fidelity copying chemistry remains a great experimental challenge. It requires an efficient mechanism that can lead to both a high rate of polymerization and a high degree of fidelity in the copying chemistry. Previous experiments concerning nonenzymatic template-directed synthesis of RNA with activated monomers have led to the copying of short RNA templates, but these reactions are generally slow (taking days to weeks) and highly error-prone. Therefore, the ability to efficiently and accurately copy arbitrary template sequences remains frustratingly out of reach. N3′-P5′-linked phosphoramidate DNA is a highly reactive model for self-replicating genetic materials and has been used for studies of nonenzymatic RNA self-replication. It is also an excellent RNA mimic, due to its similar overall duplex structure, rigidity, and level of hydration (Tereshko, Gryaznov, & Egli, 1998). Our experiments show that the high reactivity imparted by the presence of an amino nucleophile allows rapid and efficient copying of all four nucleobases on both homopolymeric and mixed templates. On the other hand, G:T wobble pairing leads to a high error rate. We have, therefore, investigated the use of the modified nucleobase, 2-thio T (Ts) (Sintim & Kool, 2006), to suppress formation of the G:T wobble base-pair. Our results illustrate that the 2-thio modification can both increase polymerization rate and enhance fidelity in this self-replicating N3′-P5′-DNA system. These results suggest that this simple nucleobase modification may have played a role in primordial RNA (or proto-RNA) replication. In addition to suppressing the G:T mismatch, an additional benefit gained from its stronger base-pairing with A is that it also reduces A:C mismatch formation. Thus, simple modifications of nucleobases might provide a means of suppressing mismatches to yield better fidelity. Taken together, our results show that a high rate of polymerization and a high degree of fidelity are not mutually exclusive, but can be achieved simultaneously in nonenzymatic copying of N3′-P5′-linked phosphoramidate DNA. The structural similarity of NP-DNA to RNA suggests that these results could be translated to an RNA-only system.     

In-depth assessment of the PAM compatibility and editing activities of Cas9 variants

A series of Cas9 variants have been developed to improve the editing fidelity or targeting range of CRISPR–Cas9. Here, we employ a high-throughput sequencing approach primer-extension-mediated sequencing to analyze the editing efficiency, specificity and protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) compatibility of a dozen of SpCas9 variants at multiple target sites in depth, and our findings validate the high fidelity or broad editing range of these SpCas9 variants. With regard to the PAM-flexible SpCas9 variants, we detect significantly increased levels of off-target activity and propose a trade-off between targeting range and editing specificity for them, especially for the near-PAM-less SpRY. Moreover, we use a deep learning model to verify the consistency and predictability of SpRY off-target sites. Furthermore, we combine high-fidelity SpCas9 variants with SpRY to generate three new SpCas9 variants with both high fidelity and broad editing range. Finally, we also find that the existing SpCas9 variants are not effective in suppressing genome instability elicited by CRISPR–Cas9 editing, raising an urgent issue to be addressed.     

Spectral manifestations of conformation heterogeneity of a cytidine dinucleotide. A fraction with strong exciton base-base interaction

The absorption, emission and excitation luminescence spectra of CpCp have been studied in comparison with the same of Cp at 77K in the glass mixture (ethyleneglycol: water, 1:1, v/v). It is shown, that the CpCp fluorescence is of dual nature: eximer and exciton. The exciton absorption spectrum with split band (3000 cm-1) has been calculated by means of the fluorescence exciton spectrum. It corresponds to the "conservative" part of the CD spectrum.     

Efficient generation of homozygous substitutions in rice in one generation utilizing an rABE8e base editor

A new deaminase, TadA8e, was recently evolved in the laboratory. TadA8e catalyzes DNA deamination over 1,000 times faster than ABE7.10. We developed a high-efficiency adenine base editor, rABE8e (rice ABE8e), combining monomeric TadA8e, bis-bpNLS and codon optimization. rABE8e had substantially increased editing efficiencies at NG-protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) and NGG-PAM target sequences compared with ABEmax. For most targets, rABE8e exhibited nearly 100% editing efficiency and high homozygous substitution rates in the specific editing window, especially at Positions A5 and A6. The ability to rapidly generate plant materials with homozygous base substitutions will benefit gene function research and precision molecular breeding.     

Massively parallel assessment of human variants with base editor screens

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Triple resonance HNCCCH experiments for correlating exchangeable and nonexchangeable cytidine and uridine base protons in RNA

Summary A set of triple resonance experiments is presented, providing through-bond H₂N/HN to H6 connectivities in uridines and cytidines in ¹³C-/¹⁵N-labeled RNAs. These connectivities provide an important link between the sequential assignment pathways for the exchangeable and nonexchangeable proton resonances in nucleic acids. Both 2D and pseudo-3D HNCCCH experiments were applied to a 30-nucleotide lead-dependent ribozyme, known as the leadzyme. The HN to H6 connectivities for three uridines in the leadzyme were identified from one 2D H(NCCC)H experiment, and the H₂N to H6 connectivities were identified for seven of the eight cytidines from the combination of a 2D H(NCCC)H and a pseudo-3D H(NCC)CH experiment.     

BEguider:一个单碱基编辑器sgRNA设计与编辑效率预测工具

单碱基编辑器是实用且高效的基因编辑工具,其编辑效率与单向导RNA(single guide RNA, sgRNA)序列的设计密切相关。目前单碱基编辑器sgRNA序列的设计缺少特定的法则,主要依靠经验和大量尝试完成。本研究基于卷积神经网络,开发了一个单碱基编辑器sgRNA序列设计工具BEguider。BEguider利用TensorFlow 2深度学习框架建立编辑效率预测模型,能够在人基因组范围内针对NGG PAM序列依赖的单碱基编辑器ABE7.10-NGG和BE4-NGG批量设计sgRNA序列,预测编辑效率。此外,通过整合Cas-OFFinder, BEguider能够提供对sgRNA脱靶情况的评估。利用BEguider设计sgRNA序列,有助于研究人员提高实验效率,节约实验成本。     

Development of a simple and efficient method for assaying cytidine monophosphate sialic acid synthetase activity using an enzymatic reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide converting system

A new reliable method to assay the activity of cytidine monophosphate sialic acid (CMP-Sia) synthetase (CSS) has been developed. The activation of sialic acids (Sia) to CMP-Sia is a prerequisite for the de novo synthesis of sialoglycoconjugates. In vertebrates, CSS has been cloned from human, mouse, and rainbow trout, and the crystal structure has been resolved for the mouse enzyme. The mouse and rainbow trout enzyme have been compared with respect to substrate specificity, demonstrating that the mouse enzyme exhibits a pronounced specificity for N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), while the rainbow trout CSS is equally active with either of three Sia species, Neu5Ac, N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), and deaminoneuraminic acid (KDN). However, molecular details that explain the pronounced substrate specificities are unknown. Understanding the catalytic mechanisms of these enzymes is of major importance, since CSSs play crucial roles in cellular sialylation patterns and thus are potential drug targets in a number of pathophysiological situations. The availability of the cDNAs and the obtained structural data enable rational approaches; however, these efforts are limited by the lack of a reliable high-throughput assay system. Here we describe a new assay system that allows product quantification in a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-dependent color reaction. The activation reaction catalyzed by CSS, CTP+Sia-->CMP-Sia+pyrophosphate, was evaluated by a consumption of Sia, which corresponds to that of NADH on the following two successive reactions: (i) Sia-->pyruvate+ManNAc (or Man), catalyzed by a sialic acid lyase (SAL), and (ii) pyruvate+NADH-->lactate+oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), catalyzed by a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Consumption of NADH can be photometrically monitored on a microtiter plate reader for a number of test samples at the same time. Furthermore, based on the quantification of CSS used in the SAL/LDH assay, relative activities toward Sia derivatives have been obtained. The preference of mouse CSS toward Neu5Ac and the ability of the rainbow trout enzyme to activate both KDN and Neu5Ac were confirmed. Thus, this simple and time-saving method is suitable for a systematic comparison of enzyme activity of structurally mutated enzymes based on the relative specific activity.     

A cytosine base editor toolkit with varying activity windows and target scopes for versatile gene manipulation in plants

CRISPR/Cas-derived base editing tools empower efficient alteration of genomic cytosines or adenines associated with essential genetic traits in plants and animals. Diversified target sequences and customized editing products call for base editors with distinct features regarding the editing window and target scope. Here we developed a toolkit of plant base editors containing AID10, an engineered human AID cytosine deaminase. When fused to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the conventional Cas9 nickase (nSpCas9), AID10 exhibited a broad or narrow activity window at the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)-distal and -proximal protospacer, respectively, while AID10 fused to both termini conferred an additive activity window. We further replaced nSpCas9 with orthogonal or PAM-relaxed Cas9 variants to widen target scopes. Moreover, we devised dual base editors with AID10 located adjacently or distally to the adenine deaminase ABE8e, leading to juxtaposed or spaced cytosine and adenine co-editing at the same target sequence in plant cells. Furthermore, we expanded the application of this toolkit in plants for tunable knockdown of protein-coding genes via creating upstream open reading frame and for loss-of-function analysis of non-coding genes, such as microRNA sponges. Collectively, this toolkit increases the functional diversity and versatility of base editors in basic and applied plant research.     

Efficient DNA interrogation of SpCas9 governed by its electrostatic interaction with DNA beyond the PAM and protospacer

Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9), a programmable RNA-guided DNA endonuclease, has been widely repurposed for biological and medical applications. Critical interactions between SpCas9 and DNA confer the high specificity of the enzyme in genome engineering. Here, we unveil that an essential SpCas9–DNA interaction located beyond the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) is realized through electrostatic forces between four positively charged lysines among SpCas9 residues 1151–1156 and the negatively charged DNA backbone. Modulating this interaction by substituting lysines with amino acids that have distinct charges revealed a strong dependence of DNA target binding and cleavage activities of SpCas9 on the charge. Moreover, the SpCas9 mutants show markedly distinguishable DNA interaction sites beyond the PAM compared with wild-type SpCas9. Functionally, this interaction governs DNA sampling and participates in protospacer DNA unwinding during DNA interrogation. Overall, a mechanistic and functional understanding of this vital interaction explains how SpCas9 carries out efficient DNA interrogation.     

Development of a base editor for protein evolution via in situ mutation in vivo

Protein evolution has significantly enhanced the development of life science. However, it is difficult to achieve in vitro evolution of some special proteins because of difficulties with heterologous expression, purification, and function detection. To achieve protein evolution via in situ mutation in vivo, we developed a base editor by fusing nCas with a cytidine deaminase in Bacillus subtilis through genome integration. The base editor introduced a cytidine-to-thymidine mutation of approximately 100% across a 5 nt editable window, which was much higher than those of other base editors. The editable window was expanded to 8 nt by extending the length of sgRNA, and conversion efficiency could be regulated by changing culture conditions, which was suitable for constructing a mutant protein library efficiently in vivo. As proof-of-concept, the Sec-translocase complex and bacitracin-resistance-related protein BceB were successfully evolved in vivo using the base editor. A Sec mutant with 3.6-fold translocation efficiency and the BceB mutants with different sensitivity to bacitracin were obtained. As the construction of the base editor does not rely on any additional or host-dependent factors, such base editors (BEs) may be readily constructed and applicable to a wide range of bacteria for protein evolution via in situ mutation.