CRISPR/Cas9的应用及脱靶效应研究进展

CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术在生命科学领域掀起了一场全新的技术革命,该技术可以对基因组特定位点进行靶向编辑,包括缺失、插入、修复等。CRISPR/Cas9比锌指核酸酶 (ZFNs)和转录激活因子样效应物核酸酶(TALENs)技术更易于操作,而且更高效。CRISPR/Cas9系统中的向导RNA(Single guide RNA, sgRNA)是一段与目标DNA片段匹配的RNA序列,指导Cas9蛋白对基因组进行识别。研究发现,设计的sgRNA会与非靶点DNA序列错配,引入非预期的基因突变,即脱靶效应(Off-target effects)。脱靶效应严重制约了CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术的广泛应用。为了避免脱靶效应,研究者对影响脱靶效应的因素进行了系统研究并提出了许多降低脱靶效应的方法。文章总结了CRISPR/Cas9系统的应用及脱靶效应研究进展,以期为相关领域的工作提供参考。     

Identification of the EH CRISPR-Cas9 system on a metagenome and its application to genome engineering

Non-coding RNAs (crRNAs) produced from clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) loci and CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins of the prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas systems form complexes that interfere with the spread of transmissible genetic elements through Cas-catalysed cleavage of foreign genetic material matching the guide crRNA sequences. The easily programmable targeting of nucleic acids enabled by these ribonucleoproteins has facilitated the implementation of CRISPR-based molecular biology tools for in vivo and in vitro modification of DNA and RNA targets. Despite the diversity of DNA-targeting Cas nucleases so far identified, native and engineered derivatives of the Streptococcus pyogenes SpCas9 are the most widely used for genome engineering, at least in part due to their catalytic robustness and the requirement of an exceptionally short motif (5′-NGG-3′ PAM) flanking the target sequence. However, the large size of the SpCas9 variants impairs the delivery of the tool to eukaryotic cells and smaller alternatives are desirable. Here, we identify in a metagenome a new CRISPR-Cas9 system associated with a smaller Cas9 protein (EHCas9) that targets DNA sequences flanked by 5′-NGG-3′ PAMs. We develop a simplified EHCas9 tool that specifically cleaves DNA targets and is functional for genome editing applications in prokaryotes and eukaryotic cells.     

CRISPR/Cas9基因组编辑技术在农业动物中的应用

CRISPR(Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas(CRISPR associated proteins)是在细菌和古细菌中发现的一种用来抵御病毒或质粒入侵的获得性免疫系统.目前已发现的CRISPR/Cas系统包括Ⅰ,Ⅱ和Ⅲ型,其中Ⅱ型系统的组成较简单,由其改造成的CRISPR/Cas9技术已成为一种高效的基因组编辑工具.自2013年CRISPR/Cas9技术成功用于哺乳动物基因组定点编辑以来,应用该技术进行基因组编辑的报道呈现出爆发式的增长.农业动物不仅是重要的经济动物,也是人类疾病和生物医药研究的重要模式动物.本文综述了CRISPR/Cas9技术在农业动物中的研究和应用进展,简述了该技术的脱靶效应及减少脱靶的主要方法,并展望了该技术的应用前景.     

CRISPR-Cas9技术在细菌中的研究进展及应用

CRISPR (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)最早发现于绝大多数细菌和古细菌中,帮助其防御和抵抗噬菌体和外来质粒的入侵。近年来,随着对该系统结构及功能的逐步深入认识和研究,CRISPR-Cas9技术已经发展成为一种简易高效的基因组定点编辑手段,但是在使用过程中仍存在一些问题。本文重点介绍了CRISPR-Cas9系统功能和分类,在细菌基因编辑中的应用和问题以及应对措施。     

CRISPR/Cas9系统中sgRNA设计与脱靶效应评估

基于CRISPR/Cas9系统介导的第三代基因组编辑技术,已成功应用于动物、植物和微生物等诸多物种的基因组改造。如何提高CRISPR/Cas9技术的基因组编辑效率和最大限度降低脱靶风险一直是本领域的研究热点,而使用高效且特异的sgRNA(Small guide RNA)是基因组改造成功的关键性因素之一。目前,已有多款针对CRISPR/Cas9技术的sgRNA设计和/或脱靶效应评估软件,但不同的软件各有优缺点。本文重点对16款sgRNA 设计和脱靶效应评估在线和单机版软件的特点进行了阐述,通过制定38项评估指标对不同软件进行了比较分析,最后对11种用于检测基因组编辑效率和脱靶的实验方法,以及如何筛选高效且特异的sgRNA进行了归纳总结。     

CRISPR-Cas9 Circular Permutants as Programmable Scaffolds for Genome Modification

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Genome editing in Bombyx mori: New opportunities for silkworm functional genomics and the sericulture industry

In recent years, research in life sciences has been remarkably revolutionized owing to the establishment, development and application of genome editing technologies. Genome editing has not only accelerated fundamental research but has also shown promising applications in agricultural breeding and therapy. In particular, the clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) technology has become an indispensable tool in molecular biology owing to its high efficacy and simplicity. Genome editing tools have also been established in silkworm (Bombyx mori), a model organism of Lepidoptera insects with high economic importance. This has remarkably improved the level and scope of silkworm research and could reveal new mechanisms or targets in basic entomology and pest management studies. In this review, we summarize the progress and potential of genome editing in silkworm and its applications in functional genomic studies for generating novel genetic materials.     

CRISPR/Cas9基因组定点编辑中脱靶现象的研究进展

近年来, CRISPR定点编辑技术发展迅猛, 在动物、植物和微生物中均得到广泛应用。其中, 备受关注的脱靶现象也是研究的热点, 迄今已取得了重要进展。该文介绍了脱靶现象的产生原理及体内和体外检测脱靶现象的方法, 评价了通过改进sgRNA设计和优化CRISPR系统等来降低脱靶率的方法。在植物基因组定点编辑过程中, 应适时检测脱靶现象, 提高脱靶检测的精确度和准确度。     

Sequential Activation of Guide RNAs to Enable Successive CRISPR-Cas9 Activities

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CRISPR/Cas9在EB病毒感染免疫中的研究进展

爱泼斯坦巴尔病毒(Epstein-Barr virus,EBV)人群感染率高,不同地区、不同年龄人群感染后引发疾病类型各异,除少数急性感染者可自愈外,大部分慢性和潜伏感染者迁延不愈,而且具有潜在的致癌风险;目前机体感染EBV后的免疫机制仍不明确,临床上缺乏有效的治疗药物和根治措施,总体预后较差。作为第三代基因编辑工具,成簇的规律间隔短回文重复序列及相关核酸酶9 (clustered regular interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9,CRISPR/Cas9)技术可在向导RNA引导下,对目的基因组序列进行靶向编辑。因其操作简便、经济高效,目前已广泛应用于农作物品种改良、动物疾病模型构建以及人类疾病精准诊治等领域。本文介绍了CRISPR/Cas9技术应用于EBV感染免疫研究的最新进展,包括EBV致病基因亚型和宿主依赖基因筛选,关键致病机制探索以及基因靶向编辑治疗EBV相关疾病等,为阐明EBV相关疾病的发病机制和探索新型抗病毒治疗策略提供理论依据。     

烟草香气相关基因CRISPR/Cas9编辑突变体库的构建

为探究CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术构建烟草突变体库的可行性,该研究以烤烟品种‘红花大金元''为实验材料筛选了100个可能参与烟草香气代谢的基因,设计相应的100个sgRNA并构建了由100个CRISPR/Cas9编辑载体组成的质粒库,获得转基因材料后分析了载体的共转化率、靶向编辑率和脱靶编辑情况。结果表明:(1)通过农杆菌介导100个sgRNA的共转化后,在172个阳性转化株中检测到了其中的77个sgRNA,共转化率为77%。(2)在77个携带sgRNA的转基因后代中,69个sgRNA对目标基因进行了靶向编辑,编辑率为89.6%。(3)脱靶位点测序检测发现,只有1个sgRNA在非目标靶位点产生了脱靶编辑,表明CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术在烟草中的脱靶概率非常低。综上所述,利用CRISPR/Cas9载体库共转化对烟草基因进行高通量靶向编辑以构建突变体库的方法切实可行,并且该方法有共转化率高、编辑率高和脱靶编辑概率低等特点。     

Hybridization Kinetics Explains CRISPR-Cas Off-Targeting Rules

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Temperature-Responsive Competitive Inhibition of CRISPR-Cas9

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Construction of a CRISPR-Cas9 System for Pig Genome Targeting

A Cas9/sgRNA RNA-guided endonuclease expression system including a codon-optimized Streptococcus pyogenes A20 Cas9 recombinant protein expression vector and a spacer-guide chimeric RNA expression vector using the porcine U6 promoter was constructed for application in pigs. Only the Flag₂-NLS₁-Cas9-NLS₂ recombinant protein in complex with sgRNA was translocated into the nucleus; the Flag₂-NLS₁-Cas9-NLS₂ protein alone was excluded from the nucleus. Up to 13% of porcine PK1 cells targeted in vitro were observed, regardless of transfection efficiency.