Project description:Prime editing is a powerful means of introducing precise changes to specific locations in mammalian genomes. However, the widely varying efficiency of prime editing across target sites of interest has limited its adoption in the context of both basic research and clinical settings. Here, we set out to exhaustively characterize the impact of the cis-chromatin environment on prime editing efficiency. Utilizing a newly developed and highly sensitive method for mapping the genomic locations of a randomly integrated “sensor”, we identify specific epigenetic features that strongly correlate with the highly variable efficiency of prime editing across different genomic locations. Next, to assess the interaction of trans-acting factors with the cis-chromatin environment, we develop and apply a pooled genetic screening approach with which the impact of knocking down various DNA repair factors on prime editing efficiency can be stratified by cis-chromatin context. Finally, we demonstrate that we can dramatically modulate the efficiency of prime editing through epigenome editing, i.e. enhancing (or restricting) local chromatin accessibility in order to increase (or decrease) the efficiency of prime editing at a target site. Looking forward, we envision that the insights and tools described here will broaden the range of both basic research and therapeutic contexts in which prime editing is useful.
Project description:Prime editing is a powerful means of introducing precise changes to specific locations in mammalian genomes. However, the widely varying efficiency of prime editing across target sites of interest has limited its adoption in the context of both basic research and clinical settings. Here, we set out to exhaustively characterize the impact of the cis-chromatin environment on prime editing efficiency. Utilizing a newly developed and highly sensitive method for mapping the genomic locations of a randomly integrated “sensor”, we identify specific epigenetic features that strongly correlate with the highly variable efficiency of prime editing across different genomic locations. Next, to assess the interaction of trans-acting factors with the cis-chromatin environment, we develop and apply a pooled genetic screening approach with which the impact of knocking down various DNA repair factors on prime editing efficiency can be stratified by cis-chromatin context. Finally, we demonstrate that we can dramatically modulate the efficiency of prime editing through epigenome editing, i.e. enhancing (or restricting) local chromatin accessibility in order to increase (or decrease) the efficiency of prime editing at a target site. Looking forward, we envision that the insights and tools described here will broaden the range of both basic research and therapeutic contexts in which prime editing is useful.
Project description:Prime editing is a powerful means of introducing precise changes to specific locations in mammalian genomes. However, the widely varying efficiency of prime editing across target sites of interest has limited its adoption in the context of both basic research and clinical settings. Here, we set out to exhaustively characterize the impact of the cis-chromatin environment on prime editing efficiency. Utilizing a newly developed and highly sensitive method for mapping the genomic locations of a randomly integrated “sensor”, we identify specific epigenetic features that strongly correlate with the highly variable efficiency of prime editing across different genomic locations. Next, to assess the interaction of trans-acting factors with the cis-chromatin environment, we develop and apply a pooled genetic screening approach with which the impact of knocking down various DNA repair factors on prime editing efficiency can be stratified by cis-chromatin context. Finally, we demonstrate that we can dramatically modulate the efficiency of prime editing through epigenome editing, i.e. enhancing (or restricting) local chromatin accessibility in order to increase (or decrease) the efficiency of prime editing at a target site. Looking forward, we envision that the insights and tools described here will broaden the range of both basic research and therapeutic contexts in which prime editing is useful.
2023-04-12 | GSE228464 | GEO
Project description:EXPERT system Expands the Editing Scope of Prime Editing and Enhances its Efficiency
Project description:CRISPR-Cas systems have been developed as important tools for plant genome engineering. Here, we demonstrate that the hypercompact CasΦ nuclease is able to generate stably inherited gene edits in Arabidopsis, and that CasΦ guide RNAs can be expressed with either the Pol-III U6 promoter or a Pol-II promoter together with ribozyme mediated RNA processing. Using the Arabidopsis fwa epiallele we show that CasΦ displays higher editing efficiency when the target locus is not DNA methylated, suggesting that CasΦ is sensitive to chromatin environment. Importantly, two CasΦ protein variants, vCasΦ and nCasΦ, both showed much higher editing efficiency relative to the wildtype CasΦ enzyme, and yielded more offspring plants with inherited edits. Extensive genomic analysis of gene edited plants showed no off-target editing, suggesting that CasΦ is highly specific. The hypercompact size, flexible PAM and wide range of working temperatures make CasΦ an excellent addition to existing plant genome editing systems.
Project description:The goal of these experiments were to test the on-target and target-adjacent editing efficiencies of different single-nucleobase editing systems. Previous studies have shown that tethering DNA mutating enzymes to Cas9-nickase-UGI complexes results in editing of chromosomal DNA. However, these editing events encompass undesirable target-adjacent nucleobase edits. Here, we characterize a novel approach that reduces the frequency of target-adjacent editing while maintaining a high level of on-target editing.
Project description:Prime editing allows precise modification of genomes. 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 (SSB). Further investigation revealed that La promotes prime editing across approaches (PE2, PE3, PE4, PE5), edit types (substitutions, insertions, deletions), guide RNA designs (pegRNAs, epegRNAs), endogenous loci, and cell types, but has no consistent effect on genome editing approaches that rely on standard, unextended guide RNAs. La binds polyuridine tracts at the 3' ends of RNA polymerase III transcripts and protects those transcripts from cellular exonucleases. We found that La stabilizes (e)pegRNAs, with particular effect on their 3' extensions, where edits are encoded. Guided by these insights, we developed a prime editing protein (PE7) fused to the RNA-binding, N-terminal domain of La. This editor improved prime editing with expressed (e)pegRNAs and synthetic pegRNAs optimized for La binding. 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.
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 editing is a versatile genome-editing technique that shows great promise for the generation and repair of patient mutations. However, some genomic sites are difficult to edit and optimal design of prime-editing tools remains elusive. Here we present a fluorescent prime editing and enrichment reporter (fluoPEER), which can be tailored to any genomic target site. This system rapidly and faithfully ranks the efficiency of prime edit guide RNAs (pegRNAs) combined with any prime editor variant. We apply fluoPEER to instruct correction of pathogenic variants in patient cells and find that plasmid-editing enriches for genomic editing up to 3-fold compared to conventional enrichment strategies. DNA repair and cell cycle-related genes are enriched in the transcriptome of edited cells. Stalling cells in the G1/S boundary increases prime editing efficiency up to 30%. Together, our results show that fluoPEER can be employed for rapid and efficient correction of patient cells, selection of gene-edited cells, and elucidation of cellular mechanisms needed for successful prime editing.