Targeting DNA polymerase to DNA double-strand breaks reduces DNA deletion size and increases templated insertions generated by CRISPR/Cas9.

Most insertions or deletions generated by CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9) endonucleases are short (<25 bp), but unpredictable on-target long DNA deletions (>500 bp) can be observed. The possibility of generating long on-target DNA deletions poses safety risks to somatic genome editing and makes the outcomes of genome editing less predictable. Methods for generating refined mutations are desirable but currently unavailable. Here, we show that fusing Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I or the Klenow fragment to Cas9 greatly increases the frequencies of 1-bp deletions and decreases >1-bp deletions or insertions. Importantly, doing so also greatly decreases the generation of long deletions, including those >2 kb. In addition, templated insertions (the insertion of the nucleotide 4 nt upstream of the protospacer adjacent motif) were increased relative to other insertions. Counteracting DNA resection was one of the mechanisms perturbing deletion sizes. Targeting DNA polymerase to double-strand breaks did not increase off-targets or base substitution rates around the cleavage sites, yet increased editing efficiency in primary cells. Our strategy makes it possible to generate refined DNA mutations for improved safety without sacrificing efficiency of genome editing.

A tissue-engineered uterus supports live births in rabbits.

Bioengineered uterine tissue could provide a treatment option for women with uterine factor infertility. In large animal models, reconstruction of the uterus has been demonstrated only with xenogeneic tissue grafts. Here we use biodegradable polymer scaffolds seeded with autologous cells to restore uterine structure and function in rabbits. Rabbits underwent a subtotal uterine excision and were reconstructed with autologous cell-seeded constructs, with nonseeded scaffolds or by suturing. At 6 months postimplantation, only the cell-seeded engineered uteri developed native tissue-like structures, including organized luminal/glandular epithelium, stroma, vascularized mucosa and two-layered myometrium. Only rabbits with cell-seeded constructs had normal pregnancies (four in ten) in the reconstructed segment of the uterus and supported fetal development to term and live birth. With further development, this approach may provide a regenerative medicine solution to uterine factor infertility.

Characterization of Barium Borate Frameworks Using Raman Spectroscopy.

Systematic micro-Raman scattering investigations have been carried out on Sm+2 doped 2(BaO)-n(B2O3) matrices for n = 4, 5, 8, and 2(BaO)-(Na2O)-9(B2O3) using the 364 nm excitation of an Ar+ laser. The Raman results have been compared with the known structures of barium tetraborate, barium pentaborate, barium octaborate, and barium sodium nonaborate. An excellent correlation has been found between the BO4/BO3 composition ratios for each product and intensity ratios of the designated BO4 and BO3 Raman peaks. Furthermore, the Raman frequencies of both BO4 and BO3 groups undergo a systematic blueshift as n increases from four to nine. The shift results from a decrease of the B-O bond lengths for both BO4 and BO3 groups as the samples transition from the tetraborate to nonaborate structures. Linear relations (with negative slopes) have been determined between the measured Raman frequencies and B-O bond lengths in the frameworks.

Diminished hepatic expression of the HNF-6 transcription factor during bile duct obstruction.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 (HNF-6) is a member of the one cut family of transcription factors and potentially regulates expression of numerous target genes important for hepatocyte function. In the liver, HNF-6 is expressed not only in hepatocytes, but also in biliary epithelial cells (BEC). To evaluate the in vivo function of HNF-6, we examined the hepatic expression pattern of HNF-6 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein after bile duct ligation (BDL)-mediated liver injury. We found that HNF-6 protein levels in BEC and hepatocytes were diminished within 15 hours of BDL injury and remained suppressed through the fifth day of injury. The onset of BEC proliferation in response to bile duct obstruction was associated with diminished HNF-6 protein levels. To maintain hepatic HNF-6 protein levels during BDL liver injury, we used mouse tail vein injections with recombinant adenovirus expressing HNF-6 complementary DNA (cDNA) (AdH6). We found that maintaining hepatic HNF-6 levels with AdH6 infection resulted in significant decreases in BEC proliferation at 15 and 24 hours after biliary obstruction compared with adenovirus control. Our results showed that HNF-6 expression is diminished in BEC and hepatocytes and that maintaining hepatic HNF-6 expression hinders the normal biliary proliferative response to bile duct injury. This suggests that diminished hepatic HNF-6 levels are required for repair in response to biliary injury and that it regulates expression of genes that possess differentiation-specific function that are inhibitory to proliferation. In conclusion, we propose a biologic role for diminished HNF-6 protein levels in bile duct disease.

Early mitochondrial hyperpolarization and intracellular alkalinization in lactacystin-induced apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelial cells.

We investigated the induction and underlying mechanism of apoptosis in retinal pigment epithelial cells by the inhibition of proteasome activity using lactacystin. Rat retinal pigment epithelial cell line retinal pigment epithelial (RPE)-J was used in this study. Apoptosis was evaluated by light and electron microscopies, DNA electrophoresis, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay. The apoptosis-related proteins were localized in the cells by immunofluorescent microscopy, and the changes of their protein contents and the enzyme activation were monitored by Western blot. Mitochondrial membrane potential was quantified by measuring J aggregate (5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazol carbocyanine iodide) fluorescence. To measure changes in intracellular pH, cells were loaded with 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6')-carboxyfluorescein and assayed by flow cytometry. To elucidate the type of transport system involving intracellular pH regulation, several transporter inhibitors were used, and their effect on pH and membrane potential was assayed as described above. Lactacystin treatment significantly induced apoptosis in RPE-J cells. During the RPE cell apoptosis, 1) cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO were released into cytosol from mitochondria, 2) translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor to the nucleus was evident, 3) Bax protein seemed to translocate to mitochondria, 4) procaspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase were cleaved, and 5) nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation were clearly observed. Noticeably, a transient increase of mitochondrial membrane potential was coincidentally detected with the intracellular alkalinization after lactacystin administration. Furthermore, the lactacystin-induced early alkalinization was inhibited by 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate, an inhibitor of Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) anion exchanger, which also prevented early mitochondrial hyperpolarization and apoptosis. Lactacystin-induced apoptosis in RPE-J cells is closely associated with an early mitochondrial hyperpolarization induced by intracellular alkalinization.