Project description:Cas12a CRISPR technology, unlike Cas9, allows for multiplexing guide RNAs from a single transcript, simplifying combinatorial perturbations. While Cas12a has been implemented for multiplexed knockout genetic screens, it has yet to be optimized for CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) screens in human cells. Here we develop a new Cas12a-based transactivation domain (TAD) recruitment system using the ALFA nanobody and demonstrate simultaneous activation of up to four genes. We screen a genome-wide library to identify modulators of growth and MEK inhibition, and we compare these results to those obtained with open reading frame (ORF) overexpression and Cas9-based CRISPRa. We find that the activity of multiplexed arrays is largely predictable from the best-performing guide and we provide criteria for selecting active guides. We anticipate that these results will greatly accelerate the exploration of gene function and combinatorial phenotypes at scale.
Project description:Cas12a CRISPR technology, unlike Cas9, allows for multiplexing guide RNAs from a single transcript, simplifying combinatorial perturbations. While Cas12a has been implemented for multiplexed knockout genetic screens, it has yet to be optimized for CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) screens in human cells. Here we develop a new Cas12a-based transactivation domain (TAD) recruitment system using the ALFA nanobody and demonstrate simultaneous activation of up to four genes. We screen a genome-wide library to identify modulators of growth and MEK inhibition, and we compare these results to those obtained with open reading frame (ORF) overexpression and Cas9-based CRISPRa. We find that the activity of multiplexed arrays is largely predictable from the best-performing guide and we provide criteria for selecting active guides. We anticipate that these results will greatly accelerate the exploration of gene function and combinatorial phenotypes at scale.
Project description:To evaluate the specificity of CRISPR activation by vgdCas12a on a genome-wide scale, we carried out whole-transcriptome RNA-seq of HEK293T cells with the TRE3G-GFP reporter transfected with either WT dCas12a or vgdCas12a combined with the TRE3G-targeting crRNA. We also included a non-targeting crRNA as negative control for each case.
Project description:Systematic mapping of genetic interactions and interrogation of the functions of sizeable genomic segments in mammalian cells represent important goals of biomedical research. To advance these goals, we present a CRISPR-based screening system for combinatorial genetic manipulation that employs co-expression of Cas9 and Cas12a nucleases and machine learning-optimized libraries of hybrid Cas9-Cas12a guide RNAs. This system, named CHyMErA (Cas Hybrid for Multiplexed Editing and Screening Applications), outperforms genetic screens using Cas9 or Cas12a editing alone. Application of CHyMErA to the ablation of mammalian paralog gene pairs reveals extensive genetic interactions and uncovers phenotypes normally masked by functional redundancy. Application of CHyMErA in a chemo-genetic interaction screen identifies genes that impact cell growth in response to mTOR pathway inhibition. Moreover, by systematically targeting thousands of alternative splicing events, CHyMErA identifies exons underlying human cell line fitness. CHyMErA thus represents an effective screening approach for genetic interaction mapping and the functional analysis of sizeable genomic regions, such as alternative exons.
Project description:Systematic mapping of genetic interactions and interrogation of the functions of sizeable genomic segments in mammalian cells represent important goals of biomedical research. To advance these goals, we present a CRISPR-based screening system for combinatorial genetic manipulation that employs co-expression of Cas9 and Cas12a nucleases and machine learning-optimized libraries of hybrid Cas9-Cas12a guide RNAs. This system, named CHyMErA (Cas Hybrid for Multiplexed Editing and Screening Applications), outperforms genetic screens using Cas9 or Cas12a editing alone. Application of CHyMErA to the ablation of mammalian paralog gene pairs reveals extensive genetic interactions and uncovers phenotypes normally masked by functional redundancy. Application of CHyMErA in a chemo-genetic interaction screen identifies genes that impact cell growth in response to mTOR pathway inhibition. Moreover, by systematically targeting thousands of alternative splicing events, CHyMErA identifies exons underlying human cell line fitness. CHyMErA thus represents an effective screening approach for genetic interaction mapping and the functional analysis of sizeable genomic regions, such as alternative exons.
Project description:Sequencing based approaches have led to new insights about DNA methylation. While many different techniques for genome-scale mapping of DNA methylation have been employed, throughput has been a key limitation for most. To further facilitate the mapping of DNA methylation, we describe a protocol for gel-free multiplexed reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (mRRBS) that reduces the workload dramatically and enables processing of 96 or more samples per week. mRRBS achieves similar CpG coverage as the original RRBS protocol, while the higher throughput and lower cost make it better suited for large-scale DNA methylation mapping studies including cohorts of cancer samples. Libraries of 96 human samples