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Nguyen LT, Macaluso NC, Rakestraw NR, Carman DR, Pizzano BLM, Hautamaki RC, Rananaware SR, Roberts IE, Jain PK. Harnessing noncanonical crRNAs to improve functionality of Cas12a orthologs. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113777. [PMID: 38358883 PMCID: PMC11031708 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a broad diversity among Cas12a endonucleases that possess nucleic acid detection and gene-editing capabilities, but few are studied extensively. Here, we present an exhaustive investigation of 23 Cas12a orthologs, with a focus on their cis- and trans-cleavage activities in combination with noncanonical crRNAs. Through biochemical assays, we observe that some noncanonical crRNA:Cas12a effector complexes outperform their corresponding wild-type crRNA:Cas12a. Cas12a can recruit crRNA with modifications such as loop extensions and split scaffolds. Moreover, the tolerance of Cas12a to noncanonical crRNA is also observed in mammalian cells through the formation of indels. We apply the adaptability of Cas12a:crRNA complexes to detect SARS-CoV-2 in clinical nasopharyngeal swabs, saliva samples, and tracheal aspirates. Our findings further expand the toolbox for next-generation CRISPR-based diagnostics and gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long T Nguyen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nicolas C Macaluso
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Noah R Rakestraw
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Dylan R Carman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Brianna L M Pizzano
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Raymond C Hautamaki
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Isabel E Roberts
- Department of Chemical Engineering, John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Piyush K Jain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Nguyen LT, Rananaware SR, Yang LG, Macaluso NC, Ocana-Ortiz JE, Meister KS, Pizzano BLM, Sandoval LSW, Hautamaki RC, Fang ZR, Joseph SM, Shoemaker GM, Carman DR, Chang L, Rakestraw NR, Zachary JF, Guerra S, Perez A, Jain PK. Engineering highly thermostable Cas12b via de novo structural analyses for one-pot detection of nucleic acids. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101037. [PMID: 37160120 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas-based diagnostics have the potential to elevate nucleic acid detection. CRISPR-Cas systems can be combined with a pre-amplification step in a one-pot reaction to simplify the workflow and reduce carryover contamination. Here, we report an engineered Cas12b with improved thermostability that falls within the optimal temperature range (60°C-65°C) of reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). Using de novo structural analyses, we introduce mutations to wild-type BrCas12b to tighten its hydrophobic cores, thereby enhancing thermostability. The one-pot detection assay utilizing the engineered BrCas12b, called SPLENDID (single-pot LAMP-mediated engineered BrCas12b for nucleic acid detection of infectious diseases), exhibits robust trans-cleavage activity up to 67°C in a one-pot setting. We validate SPLENDID clinically in 80 serum samples for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 66 saliva samples for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with high specificity and accuracy. We obtain results in as little as 20 min, and with the extraction process, the entire assay can be performed within an hour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long T Nguyen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Santosh R Rananaware
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lilia G Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nicolas C Macaluso
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Julio E Ocana-Ortiz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR, USA
| | - Katelyn S Meister
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Brianna L M Pizzano
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Luke Samuel W Sandoval
- Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Raymond C Hautamaki
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Zoe R Fang
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sara M Joseph
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Grace M Shoemaker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Dylan R Carman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Liwei Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Quantum Theory Project, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Noah R Rakestraw
- Department of Graduate Education, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jon F Zachary
- Department of Graduate Education, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sebastian Guerra
- Genetics Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Alberto Perez
- Department of Chemistry and Quantum Theory Project, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Piyush K Jain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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