Project description:Genome editing with programmable nucleases has shown great promise for clinical translation but also revealed the risk of genotoxicity caused by chromosomal translocations or the insertion of mutations at off-target sites. Here, we describe CAST-Seq, an innovative assay to identify and quantify chromosomal aberrations derived from on- and off-target activities of CRISPR-Cas nucleases or TALENs. CAST-Seq also detected novel types of chromosomal rearrangements, including homology-mediated translocations that are mediated by homologous recombination. Depending on the employed designer nuclease, translocations occurred in 0–0.5% of gene-edited human stem cells and some 20% of target loci harbored gross aberrations. In conclusion, CAST-Seq analyses are particularly relevant for therapeutic editing of stem cells to enable a thorough risk assessment before clinical application of gene editing products.
Project description:Programmable nucleases and designer-recombinases are prominent genome editing tools that hold great potential for the treatment of human genetic disorders. However, both of these tools alone are not optimal for clinical applications. We present an approach that combines the ease of targeting of programmable nucleases with editing safety and accuracy of site-specific recombinases. We find that insertional fusions of zinc-finger DNA-binding domains (ZFDs) into the coding sequence of designer-recombinases generate conditional enzymes that are inactive, unless the ZFD binds its target site placed in the vicinity of the recombinase binding site. This induced-fit activity is transferable to a recombinase with relaxed specificity, representing the prototype of a new class of genome editing enzymes that opens exciting perspectives for flexible, seamless, and precise genome surgery.
Project description:X-CGD (X-linked chronic granulomatous disease) patient derived CD34+ cells were reprogrammed into two X-CGD iPSC clones (7 and 25) and subsequently corrected using ZFN (clone 7) and TALEN (clone 25) by integrating a therapeutic gp91phox expression cassette into the AAVS1 "safe harbor" locus Three condition experiment: before and after reprogramming and before and after genome editing.
Project description:Genome editing research of human ES/iPS cells has been accelerated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) technologies. However, the efficiency of biallelic genetic engineering in transcriptionally inactive genes is still low, unlike that in transcriptionally active genes. To enhance the biallelic homologous recombination efficiency in human ES/iPS cells, we performed screenings of accessorial genes and compounds. We found that RAD51 overexpression and valproic acid treatment enhanced biallelic-targeting efficiency in human ES/iPS cells regardless of the transcriptional activity of the targeted locus. Importantly, RAD51 overexpression and valproic acid treatment synergistically increased the biallelic homologous recombination efficiency. Our findings would facilitate genome editing study using human ES/iPS cells.
Project description:We aimed to identify the effect of AGO2 depletion by genome editing on the mRNA expression profile of human cells. The experimental model used is the human cell line HeLaS3. All copies of AGO2 gene were disrupted by targeted genome editing using ZNF nucleases.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:Kynureninase is a member of a large family of catalytically diverse but structurally homologous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes known as the aspartate aminotransferase superfamily or alpha-family. The Homo sapiens and other eukaryotic constitutive kynureninases preferentially catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to produce 3-hydroxyanthranilate and l-alanine, while l-kynurenine is the substrate of many prokaryotic inducible kynureninases. The human enzyme was cloned with an N-terminal hexahistidine tag, expressed, and purified from a bacterial expression system using Ni metal ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals classic Michaelis-Menten behavior, with a Km of 28.3 +/- 1.9 microM and a specific activity of 1.75 micromol min-1 mg-1 for 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine. Crystals of recombinant kynureninase that diffracted to 2.0 A were obtained, and the atomic structure of the PLP-bound holoenzyme was determined by molecular replacement using the Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase structure (PDB entry 1qz9) as the phasing model. A structural superposition with the P. fluorescens kynureninase revealed that these two structures resemble the "open" and "closed" conformations of aspartate aminotransferase. The comparison illustrates the dynamic nature of these proteins' small domains and reveals a role for Arg-434 similar to its role in other AAT alpha-family members. Docking of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine into the human kynureninase active site suggests that Asn-333 and His-102 are involved in substrate binding and molecular discrimination between inducible and constitutive kynureninase substrates.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
Project description:As the evolution of miRNA genes has been found to be one of the important factors in formation of the modern type of man, we performed a comparative analysis of the evolution of miRNA genes in two archaic hominines, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens denisova, and elucidated the expression of their target mRNAs in bain.A comparative analysis of the genomes of primates, including species in the genus Homo, identified a group of miRNA genes having fixed substitutions with important implications for the evolution of Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens denisova. The mRNAs targeted by miRNAs with mutations specific for Homo sapiens denisova exhibited enhanced expression during postnatal brain development in modern humans. By contrast, the expression of mRNAs targeted by miRNAs bearing variations specific for Homo sapiens neanderthalensis was shown to be enhanced in prenatal brain development.Our results highlight the importance of changes in miRNA gene sequences in the course of Homo sapiens denisova and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis evolution. The genetic alterations of miRNAs regulating the spatiotemporal expression of multiple genes in the prenatal and postnatal brain may contribute to the progressive evolution of brain function, which is consistent with the observations of fine technical and typological properties of tools and decorative items reported from archaeological Denisovan sites. The data also suggest that differential spatial-temporal regulation of gene products promoted by the subspecies-specific mutations in the miRNA genes might have occurred in the brains of Homo sapiens denisova and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, potentially contributing to the cultural differences between these two archaic hominines.