Project description:Precise genome editing is crucial for establishing isogenic human disease models and ex vivo stem cell therapy from the patient-derived human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Unlike Cas9-mediated knock-in, cytosine base editor (CBE) and prime editor (PE) achieve the desirable gene correction without inducing DNA double strand breaks. However, hPSCs possess highly active DNA repair pathways and are particularly susceptible to p53-dependent cell death. These unique characteristics impede the efficiency of gene editing in hPSCs. Here, we demonstrate that dual inhibition of p53-mediated cell death and distinct activation of the DNA damage repair system upon DNA damage by CBE or PE additively enhanced editing efficiency in hPSCs. The BE4stem system comprised of dominant negative p53 (p53DD) and three UNG inhibitor (UGI), engineered to specifically diminish base excision repair (BER), improved CBE efficiency in hPSCs. Addition of dominant negative MLH1 to inhibit mismatch repair activity and p53DD in the conventional PE system also significantly enhanced PE efficiency in hPSCs. Thus, combined inhibition of the unique cellular cascades engaged in hPSCs upon gene editing could significantly enhance precise genome editing in these cells.
Project description:Precise genome editing is crucial for establishing isogenic human disease models and ex vivo stem cell therapy from the patient-derived human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Unlike Cas9-mediated knock-in, cytosine base editor (CBE) and prime editor (PE) achieve the desirable gene correction without inducing DNA double strand breaks. However, hPSCs possess highly active DNA repair pathways and are particularly susceptible to p53-dependent cell death. These unique characteristics impede the efficiency of gene editing in hPSCs. Here, we demonstrate that dual inhibition of p53-mediated cell death and distinct activation of the DNA damage repair system upon DNA damage by CBE or PE additively enhanced editing efficiency in hPSCs. The BE4stem system comprised of dominant negative p53 (p53DD) and three UNG inhibitor (UGI), engineered to specifically diminish base excision repair (BER), improved CBE efficiency in hPSCs. Addition of dominant negative MLH1 to inhibit mismatch repair activity and p53DD in the conventional PE system also significantly enhanced PE efficiency in hPSCs. Thus, combined inhibition of the unique cellular cascades engaged in hPSCs upon gene editing could significantly enhance precise genome editing in these cells.
Project description:Prime editor (PE) has been recently developed to induce efficient and precise on-target editing, whereas its guide RNA (gRNA)-independent off-target effects remain unknown. Here, we used whole-genome and whole-transcriptome sequencing to determine gRNA-independent off-target mutations in cells expanded from single colonies, in which PE generated precise editing at on-target sites. We found that PE triggered no observable gRNA-independent off-target mutation genome-wide or transcriptome-wide in transfected human cells, highlighting its high specificity.
Project description:Prime editor (PE) has been recently developed to induce efficient and precise on-target editing, whereas its guide RNA (gRNA)-independent off-target effects remain unknown. Here, we used whole-genome and whole-transcriptome sequencing to determine gRNA-independent off-target mutations in cells expanded from single colonies, in which PE generated precise editing at on-target sites. We found that PE triggered no observable gRNA-independent off-target mutation genome-wide or transcriptome-wide in transfected human cells, highlighting its high specificity.
Project description:Prime editing is a highly versatile CRISPR-based genome editing technology with the potential to correct the vast majority of genetic defects1. However, correction of a disease phenotype in vivo in somatic tissues has not been achieved yet. Here, we establish proof-of-concept for in vivo prime editing, that resulted in rescue of a metabolic liver disease. We first develop a size-reduced prime editor (PE) lacking the RNaseH domain of the reverse transcriptase (SpCas9-PERnH), and a linker- and NLS-optimized intein-split PE construct (SpCas9-PE p.1153) for delivery by adeno-associated viruses (AAV). Systemic dual AAV-mediated delivery of this variant in neonatal mice enables installation of a transversion mutation at the Dnmt1 locus with 15% efficiency on average. Next, we targeted the disease-causing mutation in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (Pah)enu2 mouse model for phenylketonuria (PKU). Correction rates of 1.5% using the dual AAV approach could be increased to up to 14% by delivery of full-length SpCas9-PE via adenoviral vector 5 (AdV5), leading to full restoration of physiological blood phenylalanine (L-Phe) levels below 120 µmol/L. Our study demonstrates in vivo prime editing in the liver at two independent loci, emphasizing the potential of PEs for future therapeutic applications.
Project description:Purpose: The goals of this study are to introduce a new genome editing tool, which has the higher editing scope than the original genome editing tools. Methods: First, we transfected PE2 (the original prime editing tool, prime editor2), PE3 (the original prime editing tool, prime editor3) and HOPE (the new tool we developed in this study) vectors into human cells, respectively. Then, we harvested the genomic DNA form the transfected cells and amplified the specified amplicons. Finally, we used targeted amplicon sequencing approach to compare the editing efficiency and presion of the new tool with the original reported tools. Results: Our new genome editing tool improves the editing efficiency of prime editing without increasing the risk of undesired indels formation. Conclusions: We deleveped a new genome editing tool to increase the likelihood of successful gene engineering.
Project description:Prime editor (PE) is a precise genome-editing tool capable of all possible base conversions, as well as insertions and deletions without DSBs or donor DNA. The efficient delivery of PE 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), editing efficiency at different gene loci varies among split sites, and efficient split sites within Cas9 nickase are limited. In this study, by screening multiple split sites, we demonstrated a series of efficient split site when delivering PE by dual-AAV. Additionally, we utilized a feature reported by others recently that RNase could be detached from the Cas9n and designed split sites in the first half of Cas9n. To test the editing efficiency in vivo, a novel dual-AAV split-ePE3 was packaged in AAV9 and delivered via tail vein injection in mice, achieving 24.4% precise genome editing 3 weeks post-injection. Our findings establish an alternative split-PE architecture that could achieve robust gene editing efficiency, facilitating the potential utility both in model organisms and as a therapeutic modality.
Project description:Prime editor (PE) is a precise genome-editing tool capable of all possible base conversions, as well as insertions and deletions without DSBs or donor DNA. The efficient delivery of PE 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), editing efficiency at different gene loci varies among split sites, and efficient split sites within Cas9 nickase are limited. In this study, by screening multiple split sites, we demonstrated a series of efficient split site when delivering PE by dual-AAV. Additionally, we utilized a feature reported by others recently that RNase could be detached from the Cas9n and designed split sites in the first half of Cas9n. To test the editing efficiency in vivo, a novel dual-AAV split-ePE3 was packaged in AAV9 and delivered via tail vein injection in mice, achieving 24.4% precise genome editing 3 weeks post-injection. Our findings establish an alternative split-PE architecture that could achieve robust gene editing efficiency, facilitating the potential utility both in model organisms and as a therapeutic modality.
Project description:Emerging base and prime editing may provide safer and more precise genetic engineering than nuclease-based approaches bypassing the dependence on DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). However, little is known about cellular responses and genotoxicity. Here, we comparatively assessed state-of-the-art base and prime editors (B/PE) versus Cas9 in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). BE and PE induced detrimental transcriptional responses constraining editing efficiency and/or HSPC repopulation in xenotransplants, albeit to a lesser extent than Cas9. DNA DSBs and their genotoxic byproducts, including deletions and translocations, were less frequent but not abrogated by BE and PE, particularly for cytidine BE due to suboptimal inhibition of base excision repair. Tailoring timing and B/PE expression enabled highly efficient and precise editing of long-term repopulating HSPCs. However, we uncovered a genome-wide effect of BEs on the mutational landscape of HSPCs, raising concerns for a potential genotoxic impact and calling for further investigations and improvements in view of clinical application.