scholarly journals CRISPR/Cpf1 mediated genome editing enhances Bombyx mori resistance to BmNPV

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhanqi Dong ◽  
Qi Qin ◽  
Zhigang Hu ◽  
Xinling Zhang ◽  
Jianghao Miao ◽  
...  

AbstractCRISPR/Cas12a (Cpf1) is a single RNA-guided endonuclease that provides new opportunities for targeted genome engineering through the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Only AsCpf1 have been developed for insect genome editing, and the novel Cas12a orthologs nucleases and editing efficiency require more study in insect. We compared three Cas12a orthologs nucleases, AsCpf1, FnCpf1, and LbCpf1, for their editing efficiencies and antiviral abilities in vitro. The three Cpf1 efficiently edited the BmNPV genome and inhibited BmNPV replication in BmN-SWU1 cells. The antiviral ability of the FnCpf1 system was more efficient than the SpCas9 system after infection by BmNPV. We created FnCpf1×gIE1 and SpCas9×sgIE1 transgenic hybrid lines and evaluated the gene editing efficiency of different systems at the same target site. We improved the antiviral ability using the FnCpf1 system in transgenic silkworm. This study demonstrated use of the CRISPR/Cpf1 system to achieve high editing efficiencies in the silkworm, and illustrates the use of this technology for increasing disease resistance.Author SummaryGenome editing is a powerful tool that has been widely used in gene function, gene therapy, pest control, and disease-resistant engineering in most parts of pathogens research. Since the establishment of CRISPR/Cas9, powerful strategies for antiviral therapy of transgenic silkworm have emerged. Nevertheless, there is still room to expand the scope of genome editing tool for further application to improve antiviral research. Here, we demonstrate that three Cpf1 endonuclease can be used efficiency editing BmNPV genome in vitro and in vivo for the first time. More importantly, this Cpf1 system could improve the resistance of transgenic silkworms to BmNPV compare with Cas9 system, and no significant cocoons difference was observed between transgenic lines infected with BmNPV and control. These broaden the range of application of CRISPR for novel genome editing methods in silkworm and also enable sheds light on antiviral therapy.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Li ◽  
Naixia Ren ◽  
Lele Yang ◽  
Junhao Liu ◽  
Qilai Huang

AbstractCRISPR/Cas9 technology has been widely used for targeted genome modification both in vivo and in vitro. However, an effective method for evaluating genome editing efficiency and screening single-cell clones for desired modification is still lacking. Here, we developed this real time PCR method based on the sensitivity of Taq DNA polymerase to nucleotide mismatch at primer 3′ end during initiating DNA replication. Applications to CRISPR gRNAs targeting EMX1, DYRK1A and HOXB13 genes in Lenti-X 293 T cells exhibited comprehensive advantages. Just in one-round qPCR analysis using genomic DNA from cells underwent CRISPR/Cas9 or BE4 treatments, the genome editing efficiency could be determined accurately and quickly, for indel, HDR as well as base editing. When applied to single-cell clone screening, the genotype of each cell colony could also be determined accurately. This method defined a rigorous and practical way in quantify genome editing events.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinyu Sun ◽  
Jianchu Wang ◽  
Donghui Zheng ◽  
Xiaorong Hu

Abstract Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9) is one of the most versatile and efficient gene editing technologies, which is derived from adaptive immune strategies for bacteria and archaea. With the remarkable development of programmable nuclease-based genome engineering these years, CRISPR-Cas9 system has developed quickly in recent 5 years and has been widely applied in countless areas, including genome editing, gene function investigation and gene therapy both in vitro and in vivo. In this paper, we briefly introduce the mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas9 tool in genome editing. More importantly, we review the recent therapeutic application of CRISPR-Cas9 in various diseases, including hematologic diseases, infectious diseases and malignant tumor. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and consider thoughtfully what advances are required in order to further develop the therapeutic application of CRISPR-Cas9 in the future.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2572
Author(s):  
Uijin Kim ◽  
Nahyun Kim ◽  
Ha Youn Shin

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which affects both adults and children, is the most common liver disorder worldwide. NAFLD is characterized by excess fat accumulation in the liver in the absence of significant alcohol use. NAFLD is strongly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, as well as specific genetic polymorphisms. Severe NAFLD cases can further progress to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or cardiovascular complications. Here, we describe the pathophysiological features and critical genetic variants associated with NAFLD. Recent advances in genome-engineering technology have provided a new opportunity to generate in vitro and in vivo models that reflect the genetic abnormalities of NAFLD. We review the currently developed NAFLD models generated using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) genome editing. We further discuss unique features of CRISPR/Cas9 and Cas9 variants, including base editors and prime editor, that are useful for replicating genetic features specific to NAFLD. We also compare advantages and limitations of currently available methods for delivering genome-editing tools necessary for optimal genome editing. This review should provide helpful guidance for selecting “good fit” genome-editing tools and appropriate gene-delivery methods for the successful development of NAFLD models and clinical therapeutics.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 3565-3571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Wang ◽  
Wenmei Zhang ◽  
Yan Ding ◽  
Xingrong Guo ◽  
Yahong Yuan ◽  
...  

Development ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 124 (8) ◽  
pp. 1433-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nose ◽  
T. Umeda ◽  
M. Takeichi

Drosophila Connectin (CON) is a cell surface protein of the leucine-rich repeat family. During the formation of neuromuscular connectivity, CON is expressed on the surface of a subset of embryonic muscles and on the growth cones and axons of the motoneurons that innervate these muscles, including primarily SNa motoneurons and their synaptic targets (lateral muscles). In vitro, CON can mediate homophilic cell adhesion. In this study, we generated transgenic lines that ectopically expressed CON on all muscles. In the transformant embryos and larvae, SNa motoneurons often inappropriately innervated a neighboring non-target muscle (muscle 12) that ectopically expressed CON. Furthermore, the ectopic synapse formation was dependent on the endogenous CON expression on the SNa motoneurons. These results show that CON can function as an attractive and homophilic target recognition molecule in vivo.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Brenet ◽  
Rahma Hassan-Abdi ◽  
Nadia Soussi-Yanicostas

AbstractSuccinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs), the most widely used fungicides in agriculture today, act by blocking succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), an essential and evolutionarily conserved component of mitochondrial respiratory chain. Recent results showed that several SDHIs used as fungicides not only inhibit the SDH activity of target fungi but also block this activity in human cells in in vitro models, revealing a lack of specificity and thus a possible health risk for exposed organisms, including humans. Despite the frequent detection of SDHIs in the environment and on harvested products and their increasing use in modern agriculture, their potential toxic effects in vivo, especially on neurodevelopment, are still under-evaluated. Here we assessed the neurotoxicity of bixafen, one of the latest-generation SDHIs, which had never been tested during neurodevelopment. For this purpose, we used a well-known vertebrate model for toxicity testing, namely zebrafish transparent embryos, and live imaging using transgenic lines labelling the brain and spinal cord. Here we show that bixafen causes microcephaly and defects on motor neuron axon outgrowth and their branching during development. Our findings show that the central nervous system is highly sensitive to bixafen, thus demonstrating in vivo that bixafen is neurotoxic in vertebrates and causes neurodevelopmental defects. This work adds to our knowledge of the toxic effect of SDHIs on neurodevelopment and may help us take appropriate precautions to ensure protection against the neurotoxicity of these substances.


2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 837
Author(s):  
Sudip Biswas ◽  
Nancy J. Wahl ◽  
Michael J. Thomson ◽  
John M. Cason ◽  
Bill F. McCutchen ◽  
...  

The cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a legume consumed worldwide in the form of oil, nuts, peanut butter, and candy. Improving peanut production and nutrition will require new technologies to enable novel trait development. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR–Cas9) is a powerful and versatile genome-editing tool for introducing genetic changes for studying gene expression and improving crops, including peanuts. An efficient in vivo transient CRISPR–Cas9- editing system using protoplasts as a testbed could be a versatile platform to optimize this technology. In this study, multiplex CRISPR–Cas9 genome editing was performed in peanut protoplasts to disrupt a major allergen gene with the help of an endogenous tRNA-processing system. In this process, we successfully optimized protoplast isolation and transformation with green fluorescent protein (GFP) plasmid, designed two sgRNAs for an allergen gene, Ara h 2, and tested their efficiency by in vitro digestion with Cas9. Finally, through deep-sequencing analysis, several edits were identified in our target gene after PEG-mediated transformation in protoplasts with a Cas9 and sgRNA-containing vector. These findings demonstrated that a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated protoplast transformation system can serve as a rapid and effective tool for transient expression assays and sgRNA validation in peanut.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1862-1862
Author(s):  
Gregory J. Cost ◽  
Morayma Temoche-Diaz ◽  
Janet Mei ◽  
Cristina N. Butterfield ◽  
Christopher T. Brown ◽  
...  

Abstract RNA guided CRISPR genome editing systems can make specific changes to the genomes of mammalian cells and have the potential to treat a range of diseases including those that can be addressed by editing hepatocytes. Attempts to edit the liver in vivo have relied almost exclusively on the Cas9 nucleases derived from the bacteria S treptococcus pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus to which humans are commonly exposed. Pre-existing immunity to both these proteins has been reported in humans which raises concerns about their in vivo application. In silico analysis of a large metagenomics database followed by testing in mammalian cells in culture identified MG29-1, a novel CRISPR system which is a member of the Type V family but exhibits only 41 % amino acid identity to Francisella tularensis Cas12a/cpf1. MG29-1 is a 1280 amino acid RNA programmable nuclease that utilizes a single guide RNA comprised of a 22 nucleotide (nt) constant region and a 20 to 25 nt spacer, recognizes the PAM KTTN (predicted frequency 1 in 16 bp) and generates staggered cuts. MG29-1 was derived from a sample taken from a hydrothermal vent and it is therefore unlikely that humans will have developed pre-existing immunity to this protein. A screen for sgRNA targeting serum albumin in the mouse liver cell line Hepa1-6 identified 6 guides that generated more than 80% INDELS. The MG29-1 system was optimized for in vivo delivery by screening chemical modifications to the guide that improve stability in mammalian cell lysates while retaining or improving editing activity. Two lead guide chemistries were evaluated in mice using MG29-1 mRNA and sgRNA packaged in lipid nanoparticles (LNP). Three days after a single IV administration on-target editing was evaluated in the liver by Sanger sequencing. The sgRNA that was the most stable in the in vitro assay generated INDELS that ranged from 20 to 25% while a sgRNA with lower in vitro stability failed to generate detectable INDELs. The short sgRNA and small protein size compared to spCas9 makes MG29-1 an attractive alternative to spCas9 for in vivo editing applications. Evaluation of the potential of MG29-1 to perform gene knockouts and gene additions via non-homologous end joining is ongoing. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Mougiakos ◽  
Prarthana Mohanraju ◽  
Elleke F. Bosma ◽  
Valentijn Vrouwe ◽  
Max Finger Bou ◽  
...  

AbstractCRISPR-Cas9 based genome engineering tools have revolutionized fundamental research and biotechnological exploitation of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. However, the mesophilic nature of the established Cas9 systems does not allow for applications that require enhanced stability, including engineering at elevated temperatures. Here, we identify and characterize ThermoCas9: an RNA-guided DNA-endonuclease from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus thermodenitrificans T12. We show that ThermoCas9 is active in vitro between 20°C and 70°C, a temperature range much broader than that of the currently used Cas9 orthologues. Additionally, we demonstrate that ThermoCas9 activity at elevated temperatures is strongly associated with the structure of the employed sgRNA. Subsequently, we develop ThermoCas9-based engineering tools for gene deletion and transcriptional silencing at 55°C in Bacillus smithii and for gene deletion at 37°C in Pseudomonas putida. Altogether, our findings provide fundamental insights into a thermophilic CRISPR-Cas family member and establish the first Cas9-based bacterial genome editing and silencing tool with a broad temperature range.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guzide Bender ◽  
Rezan Fahrioglu Yamaci ◽  
Bahar Taneri

AbstractCRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) systems are one of the most fascinating tools of the current era in molecular biotechnology. With the ease that they provide in genome editing, CRISPR systems generate broad opportunities for targeting mutations. Specifically in recent years, disease-causing mutations targeted by the CRISPR systems have been of main research interest; particularly for those diseases where there is no current cure, including cancer. KRAS mutations remain untargetable in cancer. Mutations in this oncogene are main drivers in common cancers, including lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancers, which are severe causes of public health burden and mortality worldwide, with no cure at hand. CRISPR systems provide an opportunity for targeting cancer causing mutations. In this review, we highlight the work published on CRISPR applications targeting KRAS mutations directly, as well as CRISPR applications targeting mutations in KRAS-related molecules. In specific, we focus on lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. To date, the limited literature on CRISPR applications targeting KRAS, reflect promising results. Namely, direct targeting of mutant KRAS variants using various CRISPR systems resulted in significant decrease in cell viability and proliferation in vitro, as well as tumor growth inhibition in vivo. In addition, the effect of mutant KRAS knockdown, via CRISPR, has been observed to exert regulatory effects on the downstream molecules including PI3K, ERK, Akt, Stat3, and c-myc. Molecules in the KRAS pathway have been subjected to CRISPR applications more often than KRAS itself. The aim of using CRISPR systems in these studies was mainly to analyze the therapeutic potential of possible downstream and upstream effectors of KRAS, as well as to discover further potential molecules. Although there have been molecules identified to have such potential in treatment of KRAS-driven cancers, a substantial amount of effort is still needed to establish treatment strategies based on these discoveries. We conclude that, at this point in time, despite being such a powerful directed genome editing tool, CRISPR remains to be underutilized for targeting KRAS mutations in cancer. Efforts channelled in this direction, might pave the way in solving the long-standing challenge of targeting the KRAS mutations in cancers.


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