1
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Matuszek Z, Brown BL, Yrigollen CM, Keiser MS, Davidson BL. Current trends in gene therapy to treat inherited disorders of the brain. Mol Ther 2025; 33:1988-2014. [PMID: 40181540 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2025] [Revised: 03/28/2025] [Accepted: 03/28/2025] [Indexed: 04/05/2025] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy development, re-engineering, and application to patients hold promise to revolutionize medicine, including therapies for disorders of the brain. Advances in delivery modalities, expression regulation, and improving safety profiles are of critical importance. Additionally, each inherited disorder has its own unique characteristics as to regions and cell types impacted and the temporal dynamics of that impact that are essential for the design of therapeutic design strategies. Here, we review the current state of the art in gene therapies for inherited brain disorders, summarizing key considerations for vector delivery, gene addition, gene silencing, gene editing, and epigenetic editing. We provide examples from animal models, human cell lines, and, where possible, clinical trials. This review also highlights the various tools available to researchers for basic research questions and discusses our views on the current limitations in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaneta Matuszek
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Brandon L Brown
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Epilepsy and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ENDD), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Carolyn M Yrigollen
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Megan S Keiser
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Beverly L Davidson
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Epilepsy and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ENDD), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Mu H, Liu Y, Chi Y, Wang F, Meng S, Zhang Y, Wang X, Zhao D. Systematic optimization of prime editing for enhanced efficiency and versatility in genome engineering across diverse cell types. Front Cell Dev Biol 2025; 13:1589034. [PMID: 40365017 PMCID: PMC12069386 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1589034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2025] [Accepted: 04/17/2025] [Indexed: 05/15/2025] Open
Abstract
Prime editing offers remarkable versatility in genome editing, but its efficiency remains a major bottleneck. While continuous optimization of the prime editing enzymes and guide RNAs (pegRNAs) has improved editing outcomes, the method of delivery also plays a crucial role in overall performance. To maximize prime editing efficiency, we implemented a series of systematic optimizations, achieving up to 80% editing efficiency across multiple loci and cell lines. Beyond integrating the latest advancements in prime editing, our approach combined stable genomic integration of prime editors via the piggyBac transposon system, selection of integrated single clones, the use of an enhanced promoter, and lentiviral delivery of pegRNAs, ensuring robust, ubiquitous, and sustained expression of both prime editors and pegRNAs. To further assess its efficacy in challenging cell types, we validated our optimized system in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in both primed and naïve states, achieving substantial editing efficiencies of up to 50%. Collectively, our optimized prime editing strategy provides a highly efficient and versatile framework for genome engineering in vitro, serving as a roadmap for refining prime editing technologies and expanding their applications in genetic research and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiling Mu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yeyi Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmacy, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yijia Chi
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmacy, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuting Meng
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xunting Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongxin Zhao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmacy, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Li M, Lin Y, Cheng Q, Wei T. Prime Editing: A Revolutionary Technology for Precise Treatment of Genetic Disorders. Cell Prolif 2025; 58:e13808. [PMID: 40014809 PMCID: PMC11969253 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2024] [Revised: 12/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2025] [Indexed: 03/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Genetic diseases have long posed significant challenges, with limited breakthroughs in treatment. Recent advances in gene editing technologies offer new possibilities in gene therapy for the treatment of inherited disorders. However, traditional gene editing methods have limitations that hinder their potential for clinical use, such as limited editing capabilities and the production of unintended byproducts. To overcome these limitations, prime editing (PE) has been developed as a powerful tool for precise and efficient genome modification. In this review, we provide an overview of the latest advancements in PE and its potential applications in the treatment of inherited disorders. Furthermore, we examine the current delivery vehicles employed for delivering PE systems in vitro and in vivo, and analyze their respective benefits and limitations. Ultimately, we discuss the challenges that need to be addressed to fully unlock the potential of PE for the remission or cure of genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yi Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future TechnologyPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Qiang Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future TechnologyPeking UniversityBeijingChina
- Beijing Advanced Center of RNA BiologyPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Tuo Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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4
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Liu D, Cao D, Han R. Recent advances in therapeutic gene-editing technologies. Mol Ther 2025:S1525-0016(25)00200-X. [PMID: 40119516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2025] [Accepted: 03/17/2025] [Indexed: 03/24/2025] Open
Abstract
The advent of gene-editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-based systems, has revolutionized the landscape of biomedical research and gene therapy. Ongoing research in gene editing has led to the rapid iteration of CRISPR technologies, such as base and prime editors, enabling precise nucleotide changes without the need for generating harmful double-strand breaks (DSBs). Furthermore, innovations such as CRISPR fusion systems with DNA recombinases, DNA polymerases, and DNA ligases have expanded the size limitations for edited sequences, opening new avenues for therapeutic development. Beyond the CRISPR system, mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and epigenetic editors are emerging as efficient alternatives for precise large insertions or stable gene manipulation in mammalian cells. These advances collectively set the stage for next-generation gene therapy development. This review highlights recent developments of genetic and epigenetic editing tools and explores preclinical innovations poised to advance the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqi Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Di Cao
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Renzhi Han
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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5
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Fan X, Lei Y, Wang L, Wu X, Li D. Advancing CRISPR base editing technology through innovative strategies and ideas. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2025; 68:610-627. [PMID: 39231901 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-024-2699-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
The innovation of CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology has developed rapidly in recent years. It is widely used in the fields of disease animal model construction, biological breeding, disease diagnosis and screening, gene therapy, cell localization, cell lineage tracking, synthetic biology, information storage, etc. However, developing idealized editors in various fields is still a goal for future development. This article focuses on the development and innovation of non-DSB editors BE and PE in the platform-based CRISPR system. It first explains the application of ideas for improvement such as "substitution", "combination", "adaptation", and "adjustment" in BE and PE development and then catalogues the ingenious inversions and leaps of thought reflected in the innovations made to CRISPR technology. It will then elaborate on the efforts currently being made to develop small editors to solve the problem of AAV overload and summarize the current application status of editors for in vivo gene modification using AAV as a delivery system. Finally, it summarizes the inspiration brought by CRISPR/Cas innovation and assesses future prospects for development of an idealized editor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongwei Fan
- The Center for Heart Development, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China
| | - Yang Lei
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Liren Wang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Xiushan Wu
- The Center for Heart Development, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Targeted Prevention and Treatment of Heart Disease, Guangzhou, 510100, China.
| | - Dali Li
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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6
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Barber HM, Pater AA, Gagnon KT, Damha MJ, O'Reilly D. Chemical engineering of CRISPR-Cas systems for therapeutic application. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2025; 24:209-230. [PMID: 39690326 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-01086-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/28/2024] [Indexed: 12/19/2024]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology has transformed molecular biology and the future of gene-targeted therapeutics. CRISPR systems comprise a CRISPR-associated (Cas) endonuclease and a guide RNA (gRNA) that can be programmed to guide sequence-specific binding, cleavage, or modification of complementary DNA or RNA. However, the application of CRISPR-based therapeutics is challenged by factors such as molecular size, prokaryotic or phage origins, and an essential gRNA cofactor requirement, which impact efficacy, delivery and safety. This Review focuses on chemical modification and engineering approaches for gRNAs to enhance or enable CRISPR-based therapeutics, emphasizing Cas9 and Cas12a as therapeutic paradigms. Issues that chemically modified gRNAs seek to address, including drug delivery, physiological stability, editing efficiency and off-target effects, as well as challenges that remain, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halle M Barber
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Adrian A Pater
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Keith T Gagnon
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| | - Masad J Damha
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Daniel O'Reilly
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
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7
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Murray JB, Harrison PT, Scholefield J. Prime editing: therapeutic advances and mechanistic insights. Gene Ther 2025; 32:83-92. [PMID: 39609594 PMCID: PMC11946880 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-024-00499-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 10/20/2024] [Accepted: 10/25/2024] [Indexed: 11/30/2024]
Abstract
We are often confronted with a simple question, "which gene editing technique is the best?"; the simple answer is "there isn't one". In 2021, a year after prime editing first made its mark, we evaluated the landscape of this potentially transformative advance in genome engineering towards getting treatments to the clinic [1]. Nearly 20% of the papers we cited were still in pre-print at the time which serves to indicate how early-stage the knowledge base was at that time. Now, three years later, we take a look at the landscape and ask what has been learnt to ensure this tech is broadly accessible, highlighting some key advances, especially those that push this towards the clinic. A big part of the appeal of prime editing is its ability to precisely edit DNA without double stranded breaks, and to install any of the 12 possible single-nucleotide conversion events as well as small insertions and/or deletions, or essentially any combination thereof. Over the last few decades, other transformative and Nobel prize-winning technologies that rely on Watson-Crick base-pairing such as PCR, site-directed mutagenesis, RNA interference, and one might say, "classic" CRISPR, were swiftly adopted across labs around the world because of the speed with which mechanistic rules governing their efficiency were determined. Whilst this perspective focuses on the context of gene therapy applications of prime editing, we also further look at the recent studies which have increased our understanding of the mechanism of PEs and simultaneously improved the efficiency and diversity of the PE toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joss B Murray
- Department of Physiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Patrick T Harrison
- Department of Physiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Janine Scholefield
- Bioengineering and Integrated Genomics, NextGen Health, CSIR, Pretoria, South Africa.
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8
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Mentani A, Maresca M, Shiriaeva A. Prime Editing: Mechanistic Insights and DNA Repair Modulation. Cells 2025; 14:277. [PMID: 39996750 PMCID: PMC11853414 DOI: 10.3390/cells14040277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2024] [Revised: 01/15/2025] [Accepted: 01/24/2025] [Indexed: 02/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Prime editing is a genome editing technique that allows precise modifications of cellular DNA without relying on donor DNA templates. Recently, several different prime editor proteins have been published in the literature, relying on single- or double-strand breaks. When prime editing occurs, the DNA undergoes one of several DNA repair pathways, and these processes can be modulated with the use of inhibitors. Firstly, this review provides an overview of several DNA repair mechanisms and their modulation by known inhibitors. In addition, we summarize different published prime editors and provide a comprehensive overview of associated DNA repair mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the delivery and safety aspects of prime editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Mentani
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Science, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Marcello Maresca
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Science, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Anna Shiriaeva
- Genome Engineering, Discovery Science, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Mölndal, Sweden
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Xiong Y, Su Y, He R, Han X, Li S, Liu M, Xi X, Liu Z, Wang H, Xie S, Xu X, Li K, Zhang J, Xu J, Li X, Zhao S, Ruan J. EXPERT expands prime editing efficiency and range of large fragment edits. Nat Commun 2025; 16:1592. [PMID: 39939583 PMCID: PMC11822059 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56734-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2025] [Indexed: 02/14/2025] Open
Abstract
Prime editing systems (PEs) hold great promise in modern biotechnology. However, their editing range is limited as PEs can only modify the downstream sequences of the pegRNA nick. Here, we report the development of the extended prime editor system (EXPERT) to overcome this limitation by using an extended pegRNA (ext-pegRNA) with modified 3' extension, and an additional sgRNA (ups-sgRNA) targeting the upstream region of the ext-pegRNA. We demonstrate that EXPERT can efficiently perform editing on both sides of the ext-pegRNA nick, a task that is unattainable by canonical PEs. EXPERT exhibits prominent capacity in replacing sequences up to 88 base pairs and inserting sequences up to 100 base pairs within the upstream region of the ext-pegRNA nick. Compared to canonical PEs such as PE2, the utilization of the EXPERT strategy significantly enhances the editing efficiency for large fragment edits with an average improvement of 3.12-fold, up to 122.1 times higher. Safety wise, the use of ups-sgRNA does not increase the rates of undesirable insertions and deletions (indels), as the two nicks are on the same strand. Moreover, we do not observe increased off-target editing rates genome-wide. Our work introduces EXPERT as a PE tool with significant potential in life sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youcai Xiong
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Yinyu Su
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Ruigao He
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Xiaosong Han
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Yazhouwan National Laboratory, Sanya, PR China
| | - Sheng Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Minghuan Liu
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Xiaoning Xi
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zijia Liu
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Heng Wang
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Shengsong Xie
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Xuewen Xu
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Kui Li
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jie Xu
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xinyun Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
| | - Shuhong Zhao
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
- Yazhouwan National Laboratory, Sanya, PR China.
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
| | - Jinxue Ruan
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
- Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
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10
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Choudhery MS, Arif T, Mahmood R. Bidirectional Prime Editing: Combining Precision with Versatility for Genome Editing. Cell Reprogram 2025; 27:10-23. [PMID: 39689871 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2024.0075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome editing techniques have potential to revolutionize the field of life sciences. Several limitations associated with traditional gene editing techniques have been resolved with the development of prime editors that precisely edit the DNA without double-strand breaks (DSBs). To further improve the efficiency, several modified versions of prime editing (PE) system have been introduced. Bi-directional PE (Bi-PE), for example, uses two PE guide RNAs enabling broad and improved editing efficiency. It has the potential to alter, delete, integrate, and replace larger genome sequences and edit multiple bases at the same time. This review aims to discuss the typical gene editing methods that offer DSB-mediated repair mechanisms, followed by the latest advances in genome editing technologies with non-DSB-mediated repair. The review specifically focuses on Bi-PE being an efficient tool to edit the human genome. In addition, the review discusses the applications, limitations, and future perspectives of Bi-PE for gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood S Choudhery
- Department of Human Genetics & Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Taqdees Arif
- Department of Human Genetics & Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ruhma Mahmood
- Allama Iqbal Medical College, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
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11
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Wei R, Yu Z, Ding L, Lu Z, Yao K, Zhang H, Huang B, He M, Ma L. Improved split prime editors enable efficient in vivo genome editing. Cell Rep 2025; 44:115144. [PMID: 39745853 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 10/14/2024] [Accepted: 12/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025] Open
Abstract
Efficient prime editor (PE) delivery in vivo is critical for realizing its full potential in disease modeling and therapeutic correction. Although PE has been divided into two halves and delivered using dual adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), the editing efficiency at different gene loci varies among split sites. Furthermore, efficient split sites within Cas9 nickase (Cas9n) are limited. Here, we verified that 1115 (Asn) is an efficient split site when delivering PEs by dual AAVs. Additionally, we utilized a feature in which reverse transcriptase could be detached from the Cas9n and designed split sites in the first half of Cas9n. We found that split-PE-367 enabled high editing efficiency with Rma intein. To test the editing efficiency in vivo, split-ePE3-367 was packaged in AAV9 and achieved 17.5% precise editing in mice. Our findings establish an alternative split-PE architecture that enables robust editing efficiency, facilitating potential utility in disease modeling and correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongwei Wei
- Westlake Genetech, Ltd., No. 1 Yunmeng Road, Cloud Town, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Zhenxing Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Lihong Ding
- Westlake Genetech, Ltd., No. 1 Yunmeng Road, Cloud Town, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Zhike Lu
- Westlake Genetech, Ltd., No. 1 Yunmeng Road, Cloud Town, Hangzhou 310024, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Keyi Yao
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Westlake Genetech, Ltd., No. 1 Yunmeng Road, Cloud Town, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Binglin Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Miao He
- Westlake Genetech, Ltd., No. 1 Yunmeng Road, Cloud Town, Hangzhou 310024, China; Center for Evolutionary & Organismal Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Lijia Ma
- Westlake Genetech, Ltd., No. 1 Yunmeng Road, Cloud Town, Hangzhou 310024, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, China.
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Fei J, Zhao D, Pang C, Li J, Li S, Qiao W, Tan J, Bi C, Zhang X. Mismatch prime editing gRNA increased efficiency and reduced indels. Nat Commun 2025; 16:139. [PMID: 39747083 PMCID: PMC11696010 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55578-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025] Open
Abstract
Prime editing enables precise and efficient genome editing, but its efficacy is hindered by pegRNA's 3' extension, forming secondary structures due to high complementarity with the protospacer. The continuous presence of the prime editing system also leads to unintended indel formation, raising safety concerns for therapeutic applications. To address these challenges, we develop a mismatched pegRNA (mpegRNA) strategy that introduces mismatched bases into the pegRNA protospacer, reducing complementarity and secondary structure formation, and preventing sustained activity. Our findings show that mpegRNA enhances editing efficiency by up to 2.3 times and reduces indel levels by 76.5% without compromising performance. Combining mpegRNA with epegRNA further increases efficiency up to 14-fold, or 2.4-fold in PE4max/PE5max systems, underscoring its potential in research and therapy. AlphaFold 3 analysis suggests that the optimal mpegRNA structure contributes significantly to improved editing outcomes. Overall, mpegRNA advances prime editing technology, improving efficiency while reducing indels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jidong Fei
- College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dongdong Zhao
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China.
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China.
| | - Caiyi Pang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ju Li
- College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Siwei Li
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Wentao Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Juan Tan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Changhao Bi
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China.
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China.
| | - Xueli Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China.
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China.
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13
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Jiang C, Li Y, Wang R, Sun X, Zhang Y, Zhang Q. Development and optimization of base editors and its application in crops. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 739:150942. [PMID: 39547118 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2024] [Revised: 10/30/2024] [Accepted: 11/01/2024] [Indexed: 11/17/2024]
Abstract
Genome editing technologies hold significant potential for targeted mutagenesis in crop development, aligning with evolving agricultural needs. Point mutations, or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), define key agronomic traits in various crop species and play a pivotal role. The implementation of single nucleotide variations through genome editing-based base editing offers substantial promise in expediting crop improvement by inducing advantageous trait variations. Among many genome editing techniques, base editing stands out as an advanced next-generation technology, evolved from the CRISPR/Cas9 system.Base editing, a recent advancement in genome editing, enables precise DNA modification without the risks associated with double-strand breaks. Base editors, designed as precise genome editing tools, enable the direct and irreversible conversion of specific target bases. Base editors consist of catalytically active CRISPR-Cas9 domains, including Cas9 variants, fused with domains like cytidine deaminase, adenine deaminase, or reverse transcriptase. These fusion proteins enable the introduction of specific point mutations in target genomic regions. Currently developed are cytidine base editors (CBEs), mutating C to T; adenine base editors (ABEs), changing A to G; and prime editors (PEs), enabling arbitrary base conversions, precise insertions, and deletions. In this review, the research, development, and progress of various base editing systems, along with their potential applications in crop improvement, were intended to be summarized. The limitations of this technology will also be discussed. Finally, an outlook on the future of base editors will be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuandong Jiang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Yangyang Li
- Hunan Tobacco Research Institute, Changsha, China
| | - Ran Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Xiao Sun
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
| | - Qiang Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, China.
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Alipanahi R, Safari L, Khanteymoori A. DTMP-prime: A deep transformer-based model for predicting prime editing efficiency and PegRNA activity. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102370. [PMID: 39654539 PMCID: PMC11626815 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 10/24/2024] [Indexed: 12/12/2024]
Abstract
Prime editors are CRISPR-based genome engineering tools with significant potential for rectifying patient mutations. However, their usage requires experimental optimization of the prime editing guide RNA (PegRNA) to achieve high editing efficiency. This paper introduces the deep transformer-based model for predicting prime editing efficiency (DTMP-Prime), a tool specifically designed to predict PegRNA activity and prime editing (PE) efficiency. DTMP-Prime facilitates the design of appropriate PegRNA and ngRNA. A transformer-based model was constructed to scrutinize a wide-ranging set of PE data, enabling the extraction of effective features of PegRNAs and target DNA sequences. The integration of these features with the proposed encoding strategy and DNABERT-based embedding has notably improved the predictive capabilities of DTMP-Prime for off-target sites. Moreover, DTMP-Prime is a promising tool for precisely predicting off-target sites in CRISPR experiments. The integration of a multi-head attention framework has additionally improved the precision and generalizability of DTMP-Prime across various PE models and cell lines. Evaluation results based on the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient demonstrate that DTMP-Prime outperforms other state-of-the-art models in predicting the efficiency and outcomes of PE experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leila Safari
- Department of Computer Engineering, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
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15
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Liu Z, Guo D, Wang D, Zhou J, Chen Q, Lai J. Prime editing: A gene precision editing tool from inception to present. FASEB J 2024; 38:e70148. [PMID: 39530600 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202401692r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Revised: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 10/21/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
Genetic mutations significantly contribute to the onset of diseases, with over half of the cases caused by single-nucleotide mutations. Advances in gene editing technologies have enabled precise editing and correction of mutated genes, offering effective treatment methods for genetic disorders. CRISPR/Cas9, despite its power, poses risks of inducing gene mutations due to DNA double-strand breaks (DSB). The advent of base editing (BE) and prime editing (PE) has mitigated these risks by eliminating the hazards associated with DNA DSBs, allowing for more precise gene editing. This breakthrough lays a solid foundation for the clinical application of gene editing technologies. This review discusses the principles, development, and applications of PE gene editing technology in various genetic mutation-induced diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Liu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Dong Guo
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Dawei Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Jinglin Zhou
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Qi Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Junzhong Lai
- The Cancer Center, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, PR China
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16
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Inen J, Han CM, Farrel DM, Bilousova G, Kogut I. CIRCLE-Seq for Interrogation of Off-Target Gene Editing. J Vis Exp 2024. [PMID: 39555799 PMCID: PMC11912817 DOI: 10.3791/67069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Circularization for In Vitro Reporting of Cleavage Effects by Sequencing (CIRCLE-seq) is a novel technique developed for the impartial identification of unintended cleavage sites of CRISPR-Cas9 through targeted sequencing of CRISPR-Cas9 cleaved DNA. The protocol involves circularizing genomic DNA (gDNA), which is subsequently treated with the Cas9 protein and a guide RNA (gRNA) of interest. Following treatment, the cleaved DNA is purified and prepared as a library for Illumina sequencing. The sequencing process generates paired-end reads, offering comprehensive data on each cleavage site. CIRCLE-seq provides several advantages over other in vitro methods, including minimal sequencing depth requirements, low background, and high enrichment for Cas9-cleaved gDNA. These advantages enhance sensitivity in identifying both intended and unintended cleavage events. This study provides a comprehensive, step-by-step procedure for examining the off-target activity of CRISPR-Cas9 using CIRCLE-seq. As an example, this protocol is validated by mapping genome-wide unintended cleavage sites of CRISPR-Cas9 during the modification of the AAVS1 locus. The entire CIRCLE-seq process can be completed in two weeks, allowing sufficient time for cell growth, DNA purification, library preparation, and Illumina sequencing. The input of sequencing data into the CIRCLE-seq pipeline facilitates streamlined interpretation and analysis of cleavage sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Inen
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus; Gates Institute, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - Chann Makara Han
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus; Gates Institute, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - David M Farrel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - Ganna Bilousova
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus; Gates Institute, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - Igor Kogut
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus; Gates Institute, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus;
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Hosseini SY, Mallick R, Mäkinen P, Ylä-Herttuala S. Insights into Prime Editing Technology: A Deep Dive into Fundamentals, Potentials, and Challenges. Hum Gene Ther 2024; 35:649-668. [PMID: 38832869 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2024.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
As the most versatile and precise gene editing technology, prime editing (PE) can establish a durable cure for most human genetic disorders. Several generations of PE have been developed based on an editor machine or prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA) to achieve any kind of genetic correction. However, due to the early stage of development, PE complex elements need to be optimized for more efficient editing. Smart optimization of editor proteins as well as pegRNA has been contemplated by many researchers, but the universal PE machine's current shortcomings remain to be solved. The modification of PE elements, fine-tuning of the host genes, manipulation of epigenetics, and blockage of immune responses could be used to reach more efficient PE. Moreover, the host factors involved in the PE process, such as repair and innate immune system genes, have not been determined, and PE cell context dependency is still poorly understood. Regarding the large size of the PE elements, delivery is a significant challenge and the development of a universal viral or nonviral platform is still far from complete. PE versions with shortened variants of reverse transcriptase are still too large to fit in common viral vectors. Overall, PE faces challenges in optimization for efficiency, high context dependency during the cell cycling, and delivery due to the large size of elements. In addition, immune responses, unpredictability of outcomes, and off-target effects further limit its application, making it essential to address these issues for broader use in nonpersonalized gene editing. Besides, due to the limited number of suitable animal models and computational modeling, the prediction of the PE process remains challenging. In this review, the fundamentals of PE, including generations, potential, optimization, delivery, in vivo barriers, and the future landscape of the technology are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Younes Hosseini
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Bacteriology and Virology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Rahul Mallick
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Petri Mäkinen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Heart Center and Gene Therapy Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
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Li B, Sun C, Li J, Gao C. Targeted genome-modification tools and their advanced applications in crop breeding. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:603-622. [PMID: 38658741 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00720-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Crop improvement by genome editing involves the targeted alteration of genes to improve plant traits, such as stress tolerance, disease resistance or nutritional content. Techniques for the targeted modification of genomes have evolved from generating random mutations to precise base substitutions, followed by insertions, substitutions and deletions of small DNA fragments, and are finally starting to achieve precision manipulation of large DNA segments. Recent developments in base editing, prime editing and other CRISPR-associated systems have laid a solid technological foundation to enable plant basic research and precise molecular breeding. In this Review, we systematically outline the technological principles underlying precise and targeted genome-modification methods. We also review methods for the delivery of genome-editing reagents in plants and outline emerging crop-breeding strategies based on targeted genome modification. Finally, we consider potential future developments in precise genome-editing technologies, delivery methods and crop-breeding approaches, as well as regulatory policies for genome-editing products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boshu Li
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Sun
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayang Li
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Caixia Gao
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Li A, Zhu Z, Yang J, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Liu J. Precise Insertion of AttB Sequences in Goat Genome Using Enhanced Prime Editor. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9486. [PMID: 39273433 PMCID: PMC11395042 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Prime editor, an editing tool based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system, allows for all 12 types of nucleotide exchanges and arbitrary indels in genomic sequences without the need for inducing DNA double-strand breaks. Despite its flexibility and precision, prime editing efficiency is still low and hindered by various factors such as target sites, editing types, and the length of the primer binding site. In this study, we developed a prime editing system by incorporating an RNA motif at the 3' terminal of the pegRNA and integrating all twin prime editor factors into a single plasmid. These two strategies enhanced prime editing efficiency at target sites by up to 3.58-fold and 2.19-fold, respectively. Subsequently, enhanced prime editor was employed in goat cells and embryos to efficiently insert a 38 bp attB sequence into the Gt(ROSA)26Sor (Rosa26) and C-C motif chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) loci. The enhanced prime editor can mediate 11.9% and 6.8% editing efficiency in parthenogenetic activation of embryos through embryo microinjection. In summary, our study introduces a modified prime editing system with improved editing and transfection efficiency, making it more suitable for inserting foreign sequences into primary cells and embryos. These results broaden the potential applications of prime editing technologies in the production of transgenic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aicong Li
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Zhenliang Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yayi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
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20
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Cattle MA, Aguado LC, Sze S, Wang DY, Papagiannakopoulos T, Smith S, Rice CM, Schneider WM, Poirier JT. An enhanced Eco1 retron editor enables precision genome engineering in human cells from a single-copy integrated lentivirus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.05.606586. [PMID: 39149392 PMCID: PMC11326160 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.05.606586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Retrons are a retroelement class found in diverse prokaryotes that can be adapted to augment CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering technology to efficiently rewrite short stretches of genetic information in bacteria and yeast; however, efficiency in human cells has been limited by unknown factors. We identified non-coding RNA (ncRNA) instability and impaired Cas9 activity as major contributors to poor retron editor efficiency. We re-engineered the Eco1 ncRNA to incorporate an exoribonuclease-resistant RNA pseudoknot from the Zika virus 3' UTR and devised an RNA processing strategy using Csy4 ribonuclease to liberate the sgRNA and ncRNA. These modifications yielded a ncRNA with 5'- and 3'-end protection and an sgRNA with minimal 5' extension. This strategy increased steady-state ncRNA levels and rescued Cas9 activity leading to enhanced efficiency of the Eco1 retron editor in human cells. The enhanced Eco1 retron editor enabled the insertion of missense mutations in human cells from a single integrated lentivirus, thereby ensuring genotype-phenotype linkage over multiple cell divisions. This work reveals a previously unappreciated role for ncRNA stability in retron editor efficiency in human cells. Here we present an enhanced Eco1 retron editor that enables efficient introduction of missense mutations in human cells from a single heritable genome copy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Cattle
- Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
| | - Lauren C. Aguado
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University
| | | | - Dylan Yueyang Wang
- Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
| | | | - Susan Smith
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Langone Health
| | - Charles M. Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University
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Masarwy R, Stotsky-Oterin L, Elisha A, Hazan-Halevy I, Peer D. Delivery of nucleic acid based genome editing platforms via lipid nanoparticles: Clinical applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 211:115359. [PMID: 38857763 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas technology presents a promising approach for treating a wide range of diseases, including cancer and genetic disorders. Despite its potential, the translation of CRISPR/Cas into effective in-vivo gene therapy encounters challenges, primarily due to the need for safe and efficient delivery mechanisms. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), FDA-approved for RNA delivery, show potential for delivering also CRISPR/Cas, offering the capability to efficiently encapsulate large mRNA molecules with single guide RNAs. However, achieving precise targeting in-vivo remains a significant obstacle, necessitating further research into optimizing LNP formulations. Strategies to enhance specificity, such as modifying LNP structures and incorporating targeting ligands, are explored to improve organ and cell type targeting. Furthermore, the development of base and prime editing technology presents a potential breakthrough, offering precise modifications without generating double-strand breaks (DSBs). Prime editing, particularly when delivered via targeted LNPs, holds promise for treating diverse diseases safely and precisely. This review assesses both the progress made and the persistent challenges faced in using LNP-encapsulated CRISPR-based technologies for therapeutic purposes, with a particular focus on clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razan Masarwy
- Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Lior Stotsky-Oterin
- Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Aviad Elisha
- Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inbal Hazan-Halevy
- Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Dan Peer
- Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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22
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Zhang G, Song Z, Huang S, Wang Y, Sun J, Qiao L, Li G, Feng Y, Han W, Tang J, Chen Y, Huang X, Liu F, Wang X, Liu J. nCas9 Engineering for Improved Target Interaction Presents an Effective Strategy to Enhance Base Editing. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2405426. [PMID: 38881503 PMCID: PMC11336945 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202405426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Base editors (BEs) are a recent generation of genome editing tools that couple a cytidine or adenosine deaminase activity to a catalytically impaired Cas9 moiety (nCas9) to enable specific base conversions at the targeted genomic loci. Given their strong application potential, BEs are under active developments toward greater levels of efficiency and safety. Here, a previously overlooked nCas9-centric strategy is explored for enhancement of BE. Based on a cytosine BE (CBE), 20 point mutations associated with nCas9-target interaction are tested. Subsequently, from the initial positive X-to-arginine hits, combinatorial modifications are applied to establish further enhanced CBE variants (1.1-1.3). Parallel nCas9 modifications in other versions of CBEs including A3A-Y130F-BE4max, YEE-BE4max, CGBE, and split-AncBE4max, as well as in the context of two adenine BEs (ABE), likewise enhance their respective activities. The same strategy also substantially improves the efficiencies of high-fidelity nCas9/BEs. Further evidence confirms that the stabilization of nCas9-substrate interactions underlies the enhanced BE activities. In support of their translational potential, the engineered CBE and ABE variants respectively enable 82% and 25% higher rates of editing than the controls in primary human T-cells. This study thus demonstrates a highly adaptable strategy for enhancing BE, and for optimizing other forms of Cas9-derived tools.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ziguo Song
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio‐BreedingMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi ProvinceCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxi712100China
| | | | - Yafeng Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical SchoolNanjing UniversityNanjing210008China
| | - Jiayuan Sun
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio‐BreedingMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi ProvinceCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxi712100China
| | - Lu Qiao
- Zhejiang LabHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Guanglei Li
- Gene Editing CenterSchool of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech University100 Haike Rd., Pudong New AreaShanghai201210China
| | | | - Wei Han
- Zhejiang LabHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Jin Tang
- Zhejiang LabHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Yulin Chen
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio‐BreedingMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi ProvinceCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxi712100China
| | | | - Furui Liu
- Zhejiang LabHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio‐BreedingMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi ProvinceCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxi712100China
| | - Jianghuai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease StudyModel Animal Research Center at Medical School of Nanjing UniversityNanjing210061China
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Wu X, Yang J, Zhang J, Song Y. Gene editing therapy for cardiovascular diseases. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e639. [PMID: 38974714 PMCID: PMC11224995 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of gene editing tools has been a significant area of research in the life sciences for nearly 30 years. These tools have been widely utilized in disease detection and mechanism research. In the new century, they have shown potential in addressing various scientific challenges and saving lives through gene editing therapies, particularly in combating cardiovascular disease (CVD). The rapid advancement of gene editing therapies has provided optimism for CVD patients. The progress of gene editing therapy for CVDs is a comprehensive reflection of the practical implementation of gene editing technology in both clinical and basic research settings, as well as the steady advancement of research and treatment of CVDs. This article provides an overview of the commonly utilized DNA-targeted gene editing tools developed thus far, with a specific focus on the application of these tools, particularly the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated genes (Cas) (CRISPR/Cas) system, in CVD gene editing therapy. It also delves into the challenges and limitations of current gene editing therapies, while summarizing ongoing research and clinical trials related to CVD. The aim is to facilitate further exploration by relevant researchers by summarizing the successful applications of gene editing tools in the field of CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious DiseasesKey Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Educationand College of Veterinary MedicineJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious DiseasesKey Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Educationand College of Veterinary MedicineJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Jiayao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious DiseasesKey Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Educationand College of Veterinary MedicineJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Yuning Song
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious DiseasesKey Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Educationand College of Veterinary MedicineJilin UniversityChangchunChina
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Liu Y, Kong J, Liu G, Li Z, Xiao Y. Precise Gene Knock-In Tools with Minimized Risk of DSBs: A Trend for Gene Manipulation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2401797. [PMID: 38728624 PMCID: PMC11267366 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Gene knock-in refers to the insertion of exogenous functional genes into a target genome to achieve continuous expression. Currently, most knock-in tools are based on site-directed nucleases, which can induce double-strand breaks (DSBs) at the target, following which the designed donors carrying functional genes can be inserted via the endogenous gene repair pathway. The size of donor genes is limited by the characteristics of gene repair, and the DSBs induce risks like genotoxicity. New generation tools, such as prime editing, transposase, and integrase, can insert larger gene fragments while minimizing or eliminating the risk of DSBs, opening new avenues in the development of animal models and gene therapy. However, the elimination of off-target events and the production of delivery carriers with precise requirements remain challenging, restricting the application of the current knock-in treatments to mainly in vitro settings. Here, a comprehensive review of the knock-in tools that do not/minimally rely on DSBs and use other mechanisms is provided. Moreover, the challenges and recent advances of in vivo knock-in treatments in terms of the therapeutic process is discussed. Collectively, the new generation of DSBs-minimizing and large-fragment knock-in tools has revolutionized the field of gene editing, from basic research to clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfeng Liu
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
- Mudi Meng Honors CollegeChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Jianping Kong
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Gongyu Liu
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Zhaoxing Li
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
- Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical UniversityChongqing401135China
| | - Yibei Xiao
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
- Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical UniversityChongqing401135China
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25
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Liu B, Dong X, Zheng C, Keener D, Chen Z, Cheng H, Watts JK, Xue W, Sontheimer EJ. Targeted genome editing with a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase and exogenous DNA-containing templates. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:1039-1045. [PMID: 37709915 PMCID: PMC12054351 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01947-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Reverse transcriptases, used in prime editing systems, exhibit lower fidelity, processivity and dNTP affinity than many DNA-dependent DNA polymerases. We report that a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase (phi29), untethered from Cas9, enables editing from a synthetic, end-stabilized DNA-containing template at up to 60% efficiency in human cells. Compared to prime editing, DNA polymerase editing avoids autoinhibitory intramolecular base pairing of the template, facilitates template synthesis and supports larger insertions (>100 nucleotides).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Xiaolong Dong
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Tessera Therapeutics, Somerville, MA, USA
| | - Chunwei Zheng
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - David Keener
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Zexiang Chen
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Haoyang Cheng
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan K Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Wen Xue
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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26
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Zhang W, Petri K, Ma J, Lee H, Tsai CL, Joung JK, Yeh JRJ. Enhancing CRISPR prime editing by reducing misfolded pegRNA interactions. eLife 2024; 12:RP90948. [PMID: 38847802 PMCID: PMC11161173 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR prime editing (PE) requires a Cas9 nickase-reverse transcriptase fusion protein (known as PE2) and a prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA), an extended version of a standard guide RNA (gRNA) that both specifies the intended target genomic sequence and encodes the desired genetic edit. Here, we show that sequence complementarity between the 5' and the 3' regions of a pegRNA can negatively impact its ability to complex with Cas9, thereby potentially reducing PE efficiency. We demonstrate this limitation can be overcome by a simple pegRNA refolding procedure, which improved ribonucleoprotein-mediated PE efficiencies in zebrafish embryos by up to nearly 25-fold. Further gains in PE efficiencies of as much as sixfold could also be achieved by introducing point mutations designed to disrupt internal interactions within the pegRNA. Our work defines simple strategies that can be implemented to improve the efficiency of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiting Zhang
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownUnited States
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Karl Petri
- Molecular Pathology Unit and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownUnited States
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownUnited States
| | - Junyan Ma
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownUnited States
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Medical College, Dalian UniversityDalianChina
| | - Hyunho Lee
- Molecular Pathology Unit and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownUnited States
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownUnited States
| | - Chia-Lun Tsai
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General HospitalBostonUnited States
| | - J Keith Joung
- Molecular Pathology Unit and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownUnited States
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownUnited States
| | - Jing-Ruey Joanna Yeh
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownUnited States
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
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27
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Villiger L, Joung J, Koblan L, Weissman J, Abudayyeh OO, Gootenberg JS. CRISPR technologies for genome, epigenome and transcriptome editing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:464-487. [PMID: 38308006 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00697-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Our ability to edit genomes lags behind our capacity to sequence them, but the growing understanding of CRISPR biology and its application to genome, epigenome and transcriptome engineering is narrowing this gap. In this Review, we discuss recent developments of various CRISPR-based systems that can transiently or permanently modify the genome and the transcriptome. The discovery of further CRISPR enzymes and systems through functional metagenomics has meaningfully broadened the applicability of CRISPR-based editing. Engineered Cas variants offer diverse capabilities such as base editing, prime editing, gene insertion and gene regulation, thereby providing a panoply of tools for the scientific community. We highlight the strengths and weaknesses of current CRISPR tools, considering their efficiency, precision, specificity, reliance on cellular DNA repair mechanisms and their applications in both fundamental biology and therapeutics. Finally, we discuss ongoing clinical trials that illustrate the potential impact of CRISPR systems on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Villiger
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julia Joung
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Luke Koblan
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan Weissman
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Omar O Abudayyeh
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Jonathan S Gootenberg
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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28
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Yan J, Oyler-Castrillo P, Ravisankar P, Ward CC, Levesque S, Jing Y, Simpson D, Zhao A, Li H, Yan W, Goudy L, Schmidt R, Solley SC, Gilbert LA, Chan MM, Bauer DE, Marson A, Parsons LR, Adamson B. Improving prime editing with an endogenous small RNA-binding protein. Nature 2024; 628:639-647. [PMID: 38570691 PMCID: PMC11023932 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07259-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Prime editing enables the precise modification of genomes through reverse transcription of template sequences appended to the 3' ends of CRISPR-Cas guide RNAs1. To identify cellular determinants of prime editing, we developed scalable prime editing reporters and performed genome-scale CRISPR-interference screens. From these screens, a single factor emerged as the strongest mediator of prime editing: the small RNA-binding exonuclease protection factor La. Further investigation revealed that La promotes prime editing across approaches (PE2, PE3, PE4 and PE5), edit types (substitutions, insertions and deletions), endogenous loci and cell types but has no consistent effect on genome-editing approaches that rely on standard, unextended guide RNAs. Previous work has shown that La binds polyuridine tracts at the 3' ends of RNA polymerase III transcripts2. We found that La functionally interacts with the 3' ends of polyuridylated prime editing guide RNAs (pegRNAs). Guided by these results, we developed a prime editor protein (PE7) fused to the RNA-binding, N-terminal domain of La. This editor improved prime editing with expressed pegRNAs and engineered pegRNAs (epegRNAs), as well as with synthetic pegRNAs optimized for La binding. Together, our results provide key insights into how prime editing components interact with the cellular environment and suggest general strategies for stabilizing exogenous small RNAs therein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Paul Oyler-Castrillo
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Purnima Ravisankar
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carl C Ward
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sébastien Levesque
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yangwode Jing
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Danny Simpson
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Anqi Zhao
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Weihao Yan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Laine Goudy
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Arc Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Ralf Schmidt
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabrina C Solley
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Luke A Gilbert
- Arc Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michelle M Chan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Daniel E Bauer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander Marson
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lance R Parsons
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Britt Adamson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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29
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Chen Y, Luo X, Kang R, Cui K, Ou J, Zhang X, Liang P. Current therapies for osteoarthritis and prospects of CRISPR-based genome, epigenome, and RNA editing in osteoarthritis treatment. J Genet Genomics 2024; 51:159-183. [PMID: 37516348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases worldwide, causing pain, disability, and decreased quality of life. The balance between regeneration and inflammation-induced degradation results in multiple etiologies and complex pathogenesis of OA. Currently, there is a lack of effective therapeutic strategies for OA treatment. With the development of CRISPR-based genome, epigenome, and RNA editing tools, OA treatment has been improved by targeting genetic risk factors, activating chondrogenic elements, and modulating inflammatory regulators. Supported by cell therapy and in vivo delivery vectors, genome, epigenome, and RNA editing tools may provide a promising approach for personalized OA therapy. This review summarizes CRISPR-based genome, epigenome, and RNA editing tools that can be applied to the treatment of OA and provides insights into the development of CRISPR-based therapeutics for OA treatment. Moreover, in-depth evaluations of the efficacy and safety of these tools in human OA treatment are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Xiao Luo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Rui Kang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Kaixin Cui
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Jianping Ou
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China
| | - Xiya Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China.
| | - Puping Liang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China.
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30
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Zhang H, Ma J, Wu Z, Chen X, Qian Y, Chen W, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Zhu H, Huang X, Ji Q. BacPE: a versatile prime-editing platform in bacteria by inhibiting DNA exonucleases. Nat Commun 2024; 15:825. [PMID: 38280845 PMCID: PMC10821919 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45114-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Prime editing allows precise installation of any single base substitution and small insertions and deletions without requiring homologous recombination or double-strand DNA breaks in eukaryotic cells. However, the applications in bacteria are hindered and the underlying mechanisms that impede efficient prime editing remain enigmatic. Here, we report the determination of vital cellular factors that affect prime editing in bacteria. Genetic screening of 129 Escherichia coli transposon mutants identified sbcB, a 3'→5' DNA exonuclease, as a key genetic determinant in impeding prime editing in E. coli, combinational deletions of which with two additional 3'→5' DNA exonucleases, xseA and exoX, drastically enhanced the prime editing efficiency by up to 100-fold. Efficient prime editing in wild-type E. coli can be achieved by simultaneously inhibiting the DNA exonucleases via CRISPRi. Our results pave the way for versatile applications of prime editing for bacterial genome engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyuan Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jiacheng Ma
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Zhaowei Wu
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xiaoyang Chen
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Yangyang Qian
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Weizhong Chen
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315832, China
| | - Zhipeng Wang
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Ya Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Huanhu Zhu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Quanjiang Ji
- School of Physical Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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31
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Volodina OV, Fabrichnikova AR, Anuchina AA, Mishina OS, Lavrov AV, Smirnikhina SA. Evolution of Prime Editing Systems: Move Forward to the Treatment of Hereditary Diseases. Curr Gene Ther 2024; 25:46-61. [PMID: 38623982 DOI: 10.2174/0115665232295117240405070809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The development of gene therapy using genome editing tools recently became relevant. With the invention of programmable nucleases, it became possible to treat hereditary diseases due to introducing targeted double strand break in the genome followed by homology directed repair (HDR) or non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) reparation. CRISPR-Cas9 is more efficient and easier to use in comparison with other programmable nucleases. To improve the efficiency and safety of this gene editing tool, various modifications CRISPR-Cas9 basis were created in recent years, such as prime editing - in this system, Cas9 nickase is fused with reverse transcriptase and guide RNA, which contains a desired correction. Prime editing demonstrates equal or higher correction efficiency as HDR-mediated editing and much less off-target effect due to inducing nick. There are several studies in which prime editing is used to correct mutations in which researchers reported little or no evidence of off-target effects. The system can also be used to functionally characterize disease variants. However, prime editing still has several limitations that could be further improved. The effectiveness of the method is not yet high enough to apply it in clinical trials. Delivery of prime editors is also a big challenge due to their size. In the present article, we observe the development of the platform, and discuss the candidate proteins for efficiency enhancing, main delivery methods and current applications of prime editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V Volodina
- Laboratory of Genome Editing, Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Arina A Anuchina
- Laboratory of Genome Editing, Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olesya S Mishina
- Laboratory of Genome Editing, Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander V Lavrov
- Laboratory of Genome Editing, Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522, Moscow, Russia
| | - Svetlana A Smirnikhina
- Laboratory of Genome Editing, Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 115522, Moscow, Russia
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32
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Hosseini SY, Mallick R, Mäkinen P, Ylä-Herttuala S. Navigating the prime editing strategy to treat cardiovascular genetic disorders in transforming heart health. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2024; 22:75-89. [PMID: 38494784 DOI: 10.1080/14779072.2024.2328642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION After understanding the genetic basis of cardiovascular disorders, the discovery of prime editing (PE), has opened new horizons for finding their cures. PE strategy is the most versatile editing tool to change cardiac genetic background for therapeutic interventions. The optimization of elements, prediction of efficiency, and discovery of the involved genes regulating the process have not been completed. The large size of the cargo and multi-elementary structure makes the in vivo heart delivery challenging. AREAS COVERED Updated from recent published studies, the fundamentals of the PEs, their application in cardiology, potentials, shortcomings, and the future perspectives for the treatment of cardiac-related genetic disorders will be discussed. EXPERT OPINION The ideal PE for the heart should be tissue-specific, regulatable, less immunogenic, high transducing, and safe. However, low efficiency, sup-optimal PE architecture, the large size of required elements, the unclear role of transcriptomics on the process, unpredictable off-target effects, and its context-dependency are subjects that need to be considered. It is also of great importance to see how beneficial or detrimental cell cycle or epigenomic modifier is to bring changes into cardiac cells. The PE delivery is challenging due to the size, multi-component properties of the editors and liver sink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Younes Hosseini
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Bacteriology and Virology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Rahul Mallick
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Petri Mäkinen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Heart Center and Gene Therapy Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
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33
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Vu TV, Nguyen NT, Kim J, Hong JC, Kim J. Prime editing: Mechanism insight and recent applications in plants. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 22:19-36. [PMID: 37794706 PMCID: PMC10754014 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Prime editing (PE) technology utilizes an extended prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA) to direct a fusion peptide consisting of nCas9 (H840) and reverse transcriptase (RT) to a specific location in the genome. This enables the installation of base changes at the targeted site using the extended portion of the pegRNA through RT activity. The resulting product of the RT reaction forms a 3' flap, which can be incorporated into the genomic site through a series of biochemical steps involving DNA repair and synthesis pathways. PE has demonstrated its effectiveness in achieving almost all forms of precise gene editing, such as base conversions (all types), DNA sequence insertions and deletions, chromosomal translocation and inversion and long DNA sequence insertion at safe harbour sites within the genome. In plant science, PE could serve as a groundbreaking tool for precise gene editing, allowing the creation of desired alleles to improve crop varieties. Nevertheless, its application has encountered limitations due to efficiency constraints, particularly in dicotyledonous plants. In this review, we discuss the step-by-step mechanism of PE, shedding light on the critical aspects of each step while suggesting possible solutions to enhance its efficiency. Additionally, we present an overview of recent advancements and future perspectives in PE research specifically focused on plants, examining the key technical considerations of its applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien V. Vu
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research CenterGyeongsang National UniversityJinjuKorea
| | - Ngan Thi Nguyen
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research CenterGyeongsang National UniversityJinjuKorea
| | - Jihae Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research CenterGyeongsang National UniversityJinjuKorea
| | - Jong Chan Hong
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research CenterGyeongsang National UniversityJinjuKorea
| | - Jae‐Yean Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research CenterGyeongsang National UniversityJinjuKorea
- Division of Life ScienceGyeongsang National UniversityJinjuKorea
- Nulla Bio Inc.JinjuKorea
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Yu X, Huo G, Yu J, Li H, Li J. Prime editing: Its systematic optimization and current applications in disease treatment and agricultural breeding. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127025. [PMID: 37769783 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome-editing technology has accelerated the development of the life sciences. Prime editing has raised genome editing to a new level because it allows for all 12 types of base substitutions, targeted insertions and deletions, large DNA fragment integration, and even combinations of these edits without generating DNA double-strand breaks. This versatile and game-changing technology has successfully been applied to human cells and plants, and it currently plays important roles in basic research, gene therapy, and crop breeding. Although prime editing has substantially expanded the range of possibilities for genome editing, its efficiency requires improvement. In this review, we briefly introduce prime editing and highlight recent optimizations that have improved the efficiency of prime editors. We also describe how the dual-pegRNA strategy has expanded current editing capabilities, and we summarize the potential of prime editing in treating mammalian diseases and improving crop breeding. Finally, we discuss the limitations of current prime editors and future prospects for optimizing these editors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Guanzhong Huo
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Jintai Yu
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China; College of Modern Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Huiyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China.
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Petrova IO, Smirnikhina SA. The Development, Optimization and Future of Prime Editing. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17045. [PMID: 38069367 PMCID: PMC10707272 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242317045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Prime editing is a rapidly developing method of CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing. The increasing number of novel PE applications and improved versions demands constant analysis and evaluation. The present review covers the mechanism of prime editing, the optimization of the method and the possible next step in the evolution of CRISPR/Cas9-associated genome editing. The basic components of a prime editing system are a prime editor fusion protein, consisting of nickase and reverse transcriptase, and prime editing guide RNA, consisting of a protospacer, scaffold, primer binding site and reverse transcription template. Some prime editing systems include other parts, such as additional RNA molecules. All of these components were optimized to achieve better efficiency for different target organisms and/or compactization for viral delivery. Insights into prime editing mechanisms allowed us to increase the efficiency by recruiting mismatch repair inhibitors. However, the next step in prime editing evolution requires the incorporation of new mechanisms. Prime editors combined with integrases allow us to combine the precision of prime editing with the target insertion of large, several-kilobase-long DNA fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina O. Petrova
- Laboratory of Genome Editing, Research Center for Medical Genetics, Moskvorechye 1, 115478 Moscow, Russia
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36
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Zhang M, Zhu Z, Xun G, Zhao H. To Cut or not to Cut: Next-generation Genome Editors for Precision Genome Engineering. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2023; 28:100489. [PMID: 37593347 PMCID: PMC10430874 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2023.100489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Since the original report of repurposing the CRISPR/Cas9 system for genome engineering, the past decade has witnessed profound improvement in our ability to efficiently manipulate the mammalian genome. However, significant challenges lie ahead that hinder the translation of CRISPR-based gene editing technologies into safe and effective therapeutics. The CRISPR systems often have a limited target scope due to PAM restrictions, and the off-target activity also poses serious risks for therapeutic applications. Moreover, the first-generation genome editors typically achieve desired genomic modifications by inducing double-strand breaks (DSBs) at target site(s). Despite being highly efficient, this "cut and fix" strategy is less favorable in clinical settings due to drawbacks associated with the nuclease-induced DSBs. In this review, we focus on recent advances that help address these challenges, including the engineering and discovery of novel CRISPR/Cas systems with improved functionalities and the development of DSB-free genome editors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Zhixin Zhu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Guanhua Xun
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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Chen Z, Kelly K, Cheng H, Dong X, Hedger AK, Li L, Sontheimer EJ, Watts JK. In Vivo Prime Editing by Lipid Nanoparticle Co-delivery of Chemically Modified pegRNA and Prime Editor mRNA. GEN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 2:490-502. [PMID: 39850578 PMCID: PMC11756591 DOI: 10.1089/genbio.2023.0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2025]
Abstract
Prime editing has gained significant attention as a next-generation gene editing technology, owing to its unique advantages. However, realizing its potential in vivo requires effective delivery strategies. While adeno-associated virus (AAV) has been employed for in vivo delivery of prime editors in research settings, it presents inherent limitations related to vector size, ongoing expression, and inability to re-dose patients. Conversely, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) do not face these limitations and are emerging as a leading non-viral approach for the delivery of gene editors. In this study, we demonstrate successful co-delivery of chemically modified pegRNA and prime editor mRNA using LNPs for in vivo prime editing. We investigate the impact of pegRNA chemical modifications on editing efficiency and explore different re-dosing regimens. In a daily-repeat dose regimen, we saw striking liver toxicity and no increase in editing; by contrast, weekly-repeat dosing was well tolerated and enabled 1.8-fold increase in editing efficacy. Furthermore, in the NSG immunodeficient mouse model, the efficacy of LNP-delivered prime editing was enhanced by 2.8-fold. In addition, the nature of the ionizable lipids and phospholipids strongly influenced prime editing efficiency in vivo. Overall, these findings will greatly contribute to the future development of LNPs as a robust platform for delivering prime editors in vivo, fostering progress in prime editing research and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexiang Chen
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Haoyang Cheng
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Xiaolong Dong
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Present address: Tessera Therapeutics, Somerville, MA, USA
| | - Adam K Hedger
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Li Li
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan K Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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38
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Qian Y, Wang D, Niu W, Shi Z, Wu M, Zhao D, Li J, Gao X, Zhang Z, Lai L, Li Z. Development of a highly efficient prime editor system in mice and rabbits. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:346. [PMID: 37924393 PMCID: PMC11072004 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
The recently developed prime-editing (PE) technique is more precise than previously available techniques and permits base-to-base conversion, replacement, and insertions and deletions in the genome. However, previous reports show that the efficiency of prime editing is insufficient to produce genome-edited animals. In fact, prime-guide RNA (pegRNA) designs have posed a challenge in achieving favorable editing efficiency. Here, we designed prime binding sites (PBS) with a melting temperature (Tm) of 42 °C, leading to optimal performance in cells, and we found that the optimal Tm was affected by the culture temperature. In addition, the ePE3max system was developed by updating the PE architecture to PEmax and expressing engineered pegRNA (epegRNA) based on the original PE3 system. The updated ePE3max system can efficiently induce gene editing in mouse and rabbit embryos. Furthermore, we successfully generated a Hoxd13 (c. 671 G > T) mutation in mice and a Tyr (c. 572 del) mutation in rabbits by ePE3max. Overall, the editing efficiency of modified ePE3max systems is superior to that of the original PE3 system in producing genome-edited animals, which can serve as an effective and versatile genome-editing tool for precise genome modification in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqiang Qian
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Di Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Wenchao Niu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Zheng Shi
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Mao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Ding Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Jinze Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xun Gao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Zhongtian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Liangxue Lai
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
| | - Zhanjun Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
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Koeppel J, Weller J, Peets EM, Pallaseni A, Kuzmin I, Raudvere U, Peterson H, Liberante FG, Parts L. Prediction of prime editing insertion efficiencies using sequence features and DNA repair determinants. Nat Biotechnol 2023; 41:1446-1456. [PMID: 36797492 PMCID: PMC10567557 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01678-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Most short sequences can be precisely written into a selected genomic target using prime editing; however, it remains unclear what factors govern insertion. We design a library of 3,604 sequences of various lengths and measure the frequency of their insertion into four genomic sites in three human cell lines, using different prime editor systems in varying DNA repair contexts. We find that length, nucleotide composition and secondary structure of the insertion sequence all affect insertion rates. We also discover that the 3' flap nucleases TREX1 and TREX2 suppress the insertion of longer sequences. Combining the sequence and repair features into a machine learning model, we can predict relative frequency of insertions into a site with R = 0.70. Finally, we demonstrate how our accurate prediction and user-friendly software help choose codon variants of common fusion tags that insert at high efficiency, and provide a catalog of empirically determined insertion rates for over a hundred useful sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ivan Kuzmin
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Uku Raudvere
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Hedi Peterson
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Leopold Parts
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
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40
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Lan T, Chen H, Tang C, Wei Y, Liu Y, Zhou J, Zhuang Z, Zhang Q, Chen M, Zhou X, Chi Y, Wang J, He Y, Lai L, Zou Q. Mini-PE, a prime editor with compact Cas9 and truncated reverse transcriptase. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 33:890-897. [PMID: 37680986 PMCID: PMC10480570 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Prime editor (PE) is a versatile genome editing tool that does not need extra DNA donors or inducing double-strand breaks. However, in vivo implementation of PE remains a challenge because of its oversized composition. In this study, we screened out the smallest truncated Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV) reverse transcriptase (RT) with the F155Y mutation to keep gene editing efficiency. We discovered the most efficient gene editing variants of MMLV RT with the smallest size. After optimization of the pegRNAs and incorporation with nick sgRNAs, the mini-PE delivered up to 10% precise editing at target sites in human and mouse cells. It also edited the mouse Hsf1 gene in the mouse retina precisely after delivery with adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), although the editing efficiency was lower than 1%. We will focus on improving the editing efficiency of mini-PE and exploiting its therapeutic potential against human genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Lan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Huangyao Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Chengcheng Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Yuhui Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Yang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Jizeng Zhou
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhenpeng Zhuang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Quanjun Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Min Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Xiaoqing Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Yue Chi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Jinling Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Yu He
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, Guangdong 529000, China
| | - Liangxue Lai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Qingjian Zou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
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Popovitz J, Sharma R, Hoshyar R, Soo Kim B, Murthy N, Lee K. Gene editing therapeutics based on mRNA delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:115026. [PMID: 37516409 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
The field of gene editing has received much attention in recent years due to its immense therapeutic potential. In particular, gene editing therapeutics, such as the CRISPR-Cas systems, base editors, and other emerging gene editors, offer the opportunity to address previously untreatable disorders. This review aims to summarize the therapeutic applications of gene editing based on mRNA delivery. We introduce gene editing therapeutics using mRNA and focus on engineering and improvement of gene editing technology. We subsequently examine ex vivo and in vivo gene editing techniques and conclude with an exploration of the next generation of CRISPR and base editing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Reyhane Hoshyar
- GenEdit, 681 Gateway Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Beob Soo Kim
- GenEdit, 681 Gateway Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Niren Murthy
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA.
| | - Kunwoo Lee
- GenEdit, 681 Gateway Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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42
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Xu Z, Ma D, Su H, Jia X, Li Y, Lu Y, Xie Z. Explore the dominant factor in prime editing via a view of DNA processing. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2023; 8:371-377. [PMID: 37325180 PMCID: PMC10265487 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2023.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Prime editing is a revolutionary gene-editing method that is capable of introducing insertions, deletions and base substitutions into the genome. However, the editing efficiency of Prime Editor (PE) is limited by the DNA repair process. Here, we show that overexpression of the flap structure-specific endonuclease 1 (FEN1) and the DNA ligase 1 (LIG1) increases the efficiency of prime editing, which is similar to the dominant negative mutL homolog 1 (MLH1dn). In addition, MLH1 is still the dominant factor over FEN1 and LIG1 in prime editing. Our results help to further understand the relationship of proteins involved in prime editing and envisage future directions for the development of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimeng Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Division, Center for Synthetic and System Biology, Department of Automation, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Dacheng Ma
- Research Center for Biological Computation, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou, 311100, China
| | - Houzhen Su
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Division, Center for Synthetic and System Biology, Department of Automation, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xiaodong Jia
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Centre, The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yinqing Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yinying Lu
- Comprehensive Liver Cancer Centre, The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Division, Center for Synthetic and System Biology, Department of Automation, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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43
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Doman JL, Pandey S, Neugebauer ME, An M, Davis JR, Randolph PB, McElroy A, Gao XD, Raguram A, Richter MF, Everette KA, Banskota S, Tian K, Tao YA, Tolar J, Osborn MJ, Liu DR. Phage-assisted evolution and protein engineering yield compact, efficient prime editors. Cell 2023; 186:3983-4002.e26. [PMID: 37657419 PMCID: PMC10482982 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Prime editing enables a wide variety of precise genome edits in living cells. Here we use protein evolution and engineering to generate prime editors with reduced size and improved efficiency. Using phage-assisted evolution, we improved editing efficiencies of compact reverse transcriptases by up to 22-fold and generated prime editors that are 516-810 base pairs smaller than the current-generation editor PEmax. We discovered that different reverse transcriptases specialize in different types of edits and used this insight to generate reverse transcriptases that outperform PEmax and PEmaxΔRNaseH, the truncated editor used in dual-AAV delivery systems. Finally, we generated Cas9 domains that improve prime editing. These resulting editors (PE6a-g) enhance therapeutically relevant editing in patient-derived fibroblasts and primary human T-cells. PE6 variants also enable longer insertions to be installed in vivo following dual-AAV delivery, achieving 40% loxP insertion in the cortex of the murine brain, a 24-fold improvement compared to previous state-of-the-art prime editors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan L Doman
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Smriti Pandey
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Monica E Neugebauer
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Meirui An
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jessie R Davis
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Peyton B Randolph
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amber McElroy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Xin D Gao
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aditya Raguram
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michelle F Richter
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kelcee A Everette
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samagya Banskota
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kathryn Tian
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Y Allen Tao
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jakub Tolar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mark J Osborn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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44
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Zhang W, Petri K, Ma J, Lee H, Tsai CL, Joung JK, Yeh JRJ. Enhancing CRISPR prime editing by reducing misfolded pegRNA interactions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.14.553324. [PMID: 37645936 PMCID: PMC10462064 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.14.553324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR prime editing (PE) requires a Cas9 nickase-reverse transcriptase fusion protein (known as PE2) and a prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA), an extended version of a standard guide RNA (gRNA) that both specifies the intended target genomic sequence and encodes the desired genetic edit. Here we show that sequence complementarity between the 5' and the 3' regions of a pegRNA can negatively impact its ability to complex with Cas9, thereby potentially reducing PE efficiency. We demonstrate this limitation can be overcome by a simple pegRNA refolding procedure, which improved ribonucleoprotein-mediated PE efficiencies in zebrafish embryos by up to nearly 25-fold. Further gains in PE efficiencies of as much as 6-fold could also be achieved by introducing point mutations designed to disrupt internal interactions within the pegRNA. Our work defines simple strategies that can be implemented to improve the efficiency of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiting Zhang
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Karl Petri
- Molecular Pathology Unit and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Junyan Ma
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian 116622, China
| | - Hyunho Lee
- Molecular Pathology Unit and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Chia-Lun Tsai
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - J. Keith Joung
- Molecular Pathology Unit and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jing-Ruey Joanna Yeh
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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45
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Zhang Z, Bao X, Lin CP. Progress and Prospects of Gene Editing in Pluripotent Stem Cells. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2168. [PMID: 37626665 PMCID: PMC10452926 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Applying programmable nucleases in gene editing has greatly shaped current research in basic biology and clinical translation. Gene editing in human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), is highly relevant to clinical cell therapy and thus should be examined with particular caution. First, since all mutations in PSCs will be carried to all their progenies, off-target edits of editors will be amplified. Second, due to the hypersensitivity of PSCs to DNA damage, double-strand breaks (DSBs) made by gene editing could lead to low editing efficiency and the enrichment of cell populations with defective genomic safeguards. In this regard, DSB-independent gene editing tools, such as base editors and prime editors, are favored due to their nature to avoid these consequences. With more understanding of the microbial world, new systems, such as Cas-related nucleases, transposons, and recombinases, are also expanding the toolbox for gene editing. In this review, we discuss current applications of programmable nucleases in PSCs for gene editing, the efforts researchers have made to optimize these systems, as well as new tools that can be potentially employed for differentiation modeling and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chao-Po Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; (Z.Z.); (X.B.)
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46
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Weller J, Pallaseni A, Koeppel J, Parts L. Predicting Mutations Generated by Cas9, Base Editing, and Prime Editing in Mammalian Cells. CRISPR J 2023; 6:325-338. [PMID: 37339457 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2023.0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The first fruits of the CRISPR-Cas revolution are starting to enter the clinic, with gene editing therapies offering solutions to previously incurable genetic diseases. The success of such applications hinges on control over the mutations that are generated, which are known to vary depending on the targeted locus. In this review, we present the current state of understanding and predicting CRISPR-Cas cutting, base editing, and prime editing outcomes in mammalian cells. We first provide an introduction to the basics of DNA repair and machine learning that the models rely on. We then overview the datasets and methods created for characterizing edits at scale, as well as the insights that have been derived from them. The predictions generated from these models serve as a foundation for designing efficient experiments across the broad contexts where these tools are applied.
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47
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Song Z, Zhang G, Huang S, Liu Y, Li G, Zhou X, Sun J, Gao P, Chen Y, Huang X, Liu J, Wang X. PE-STOP: A versatile tool for installing nonsense substitutions amenable for precise reversion. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104942. [PMID: 37343700 PMCID: PMC10365944 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid advances in genome editing technologies have revolutionized the study of gene functions in cell or animal models. The recent generation of double-stranded DNA cleavage-independent base editors has been suitably adapted for interrogation of protein-coding genes on the basis of introducing premature stop codons or disabling the start codons. However, such versions of stop/start codon-oriented genetic tools still present limitations on their versatility, base-level precision, and target specificity. Here, we exploit a newly developed prime editor (PE) that differs from base editors by its adoption of a reverse transcriptase activity, which enables incorporation of various types of precise edits templated by a specialized prime editing guide RNA. Based on such a versatile platform, we established a prime editing-empowered method (PE-STOP) for installation of nonsense substitutions, providing a complementary approach to the present gene-targeting tools. PE-STOP is bioinformatically predicted to feature substantially expanded coverage in the genome space. In practice, PE-STOP introduces stop codons with good efficiencies in human embryonic kidney 293T and N2a cells (with medians of 29% [ten sites] and 25% [four sites] editing efficiencies, respectively), while exhibiting minimal off-target effects and high on-target precision. Furthermore, given the fact that PE installs prime editing guide RNA-templated mutations, we introduce a unique strategy for precise genetic rescue of PE-STOP-dependent nonsense mutation via the same PE platform. Altogether, the present work demonstrates a versatile and specific tool for gene inactivation and for functional interrogation of nonsense mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziguo Song
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guiquan Zhang
- Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center at Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuhong Huang
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yao Liu
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guanglei Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianhui Zhou
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jiayuan Sun
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Pengfei Gao
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yulin Chen
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianghuai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center at Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
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48
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Choi EH, Suh S, Sears AE, Hołubowicz R, Kedhar SR, Browne AW, Palczewski K. Genome editing in the treatment of ocular diseases. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:1678-1690. [PMID: 37524870 PMCID: PMC10474087 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01057-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-editing technologies have ushered in a new era in gene therapy, providing novel therapeutic strategies for a wide range of diseases, including both genetic and nongenetic ocular diseases. These technologies offer new hope for patients suffering from previously untreatable conditions. The unique anatomical and physiological features of the eye, including its immune-privileged status, size, and compartmentalized structure, provide an optimal environment for the application of these cutting-edge technologies. Moreover, the development of various delivery methods has facilitated the efficient and targeted administration of genome engineering tools designed to correct specific ocular tissues. Additionally, advancements in noninvasive ocular imaging techniques and electroretinography have enabled real-time monitoring of therapeutic efficacy and safety. Herein, we discuss the discovery and development of genome-editing technologies, their application to ocular diseases from the anterior segment to the posterior segment, current limitations encountered in translating these technologies into clinical practice, and ongoing research endeavors aimed at overcoming these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot H Choi
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Susie Suh
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Avery E Sears
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Rafał Hołubowicz
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sanjay R Kedhar
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Andrew W Browne
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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49
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Zhao Z, Shang P, Mohanraju P, Geijsen N. Prime editing: advances and therapeutic applications. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1000-1012. [PMID: 37002157 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas)-mediated genome editing has revolutionized biomedical research and will likely change the therapeutic and diagnostic landscape. However, CRISPR-Cas9, which edits DNA by activating DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways, is not always sufficient for gene therapy applications where precise mutation repair is required. Prime editing, the latest revolution in genome-editing technologies, can achieve any possible base substitution, insertion, or deletion without the requirement for DSBs. However, prime editing is still in its infancy, and further development is needed to improve editing efficiency and delivery strategies for therapeutic applications. We summarize latest developments in the optimization of prime editor (PE) variants with improved editing efficiency and precision. Moreover, we highlight some potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Zhao
- Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), Leiden node, The Netherlands
| | - Peng Shang
- Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), Leiden node, The Netherlands
| | - Prarthana Mohanraju
- Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), Leiden node, The Netherlands.
| | - Niels Geijsen
- Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), Leiden node, The Netherlands.
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50
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Qian Y, Wang D, Niu W, Zhao D, Li J, Liu Z, Gao X, Han Y, Lai L, Li Z. A new compact adenine base editor generated through deletion of HNH and REC2 domain of SpCas9. BMC Biol 2023; 21:155. [PMID: 37434184 PMCID: PMC10337206 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01644-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adenine base editors (ABEs) are promising therapeutic gene editing tools that can efficiently convert targeted A•T to G•C base pairs in the genome. However, the large size of commonly used ABEs based on SpCas9 hinders its delivery in vivo using certain vectors such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) during preclinical applications. Despite a number of approaches having previously been attempted to overcome that challenge, including split Cas9-derived and numerous domain-deleted versions of editors, whether base editor (BE) and prime editor (PE) systems can also allow deletion of those domains remains to be proven. In this study, we present a new small ABE (sABE) with significantly reduced size. RESULTS We discovered that ABE8e can tolerate large single deletions in the REC2 (Δ174-296) and HNH (Δ786-855) domains of SpCas9, and these deletions can be stacked together to create a new sABE. The sABE showed higher precision than the original ABE8e, with proximally shifted protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) editing windows (A3- A15), and comparable editing efficiencies to 8e-SaCas9-KKH. The sABE system efficiently generated A-G mutations at disease-relevant loci (T1214C in GAA and A494G in MFN2) in HEK293T cells and several canonical Pcsk9 splice sites in N2a cells. Moreover, the sABE enabled in vivo delivery in a single adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector with slight efficiency. Furthermore, we also successfully edited the genome of mouse embryos by microinjecting mRNA and sgRNA of sABE system into zygotes. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a substantially smaller sABE system that expands the targeting scope and offers higher precision of genome editing. Our findings suggest that the sABE system holds great therapeutic potential in preclinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqiang Qian
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Di Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Wenchao Niu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Ding Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Jinze Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Zhiquan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xun Gao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Yang Han
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
| | - Liangxue Lai
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
| | - Zhanjun Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
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