RESUMO
Programmable RNA editing enables reversible recoding of RNA information for research and disease treatment. Previously, we developed a programmable adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing approach by fusing catalytically inactivate RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13 (dCas13) with the adenine deaminase domain of ADAR2. Here, we report a cytidine-to-uridine (C-to-U) RNA editor, referred to as RNA Editing for Specific C-to-U Exchange (RESCUE), by directly evolving ADAR2 into a cytidine deaminase. RESCUE doubles the number of mutations targetable by RNA editing and enables modulation of phosphosignaling-relevant residues. We apply RESCUE to drive ß-catenin activation and cellular growth. Furthermore, RESCUE retains A-to-I editing activity, enabling multiplexed C-to-U and A-to-I editing through the use of tailored guide RNAs.
Assuntos
Adenosina Desaminase/genética , Citidina/genética , Citosina Desaminase/genética , Engenharia de Proteínas/métodos , Edição de RNA , Proteínas de Ligação a RNA/genética , Uridina/genética , Adenosina/genética , Adenosina Desaminase/química , Citosina Desaminase/química , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Inosina/genética , Domínios Proteicos , Proteínas de Ligação a RNA/química , beta Catenina/química , beta Catenina/genética , beta Catenina/metabolismoRESUMO
Nucleic acid editing holds promise for treating genetic disease, particularly at the RNA level, where disease-relevant sequences can be rescued to yield functional protein products. Type VI CRISPR-Cas systems contain the programmable single-effector RNA-guided ribonuclease Cas13. We profiled type VI systems in order to engineer a Cas13 ortholog capable of robust knockdown and demonstrated RNA editing by using catalytically inactive Cas13 (dCas13) to direct adenosine-to-inosine deaminase activity by ADAR2 (adenosine deaminase acting on RNA type 2) to transcripts in mammalian cells. This system, referred to as RNA Editing for Programmable A to I Replacement (REPAIR), which has no strict sequence constraints, can be used to edit full-length transcripts containing pathogenic mutations. We further engineered this system to create a high-specificity variant and minimized the system to facilitate viral delivery. REPAIR presents a promising RNA-editing platform with broad applicability for research, therapeutics, and biotechnology.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Endonucleases/metabolismo , Técnicas de Silenciamento de Genes , Edição de RNA , Adenosina Desaminase/genética , Adenosina Desaminase/metabolismo , Proteínas de Bactérias/classificação , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Biotecnologia , Diabetes Insípido Nefrogênico/genética , Diabetes Insípido Nefrogênico/terapia , Endonucleases/classificação , Endonucleases/genética , Anemia de Fanconi/genética , Anemia de Fanconi/terapia , Terapia Genética , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Mutagênese , Engenharia de Proteínas/métodos , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismoRESUMO
RNA has important and diverse roles in biology, but molecular tools to manipulate and measure it are limited. For example, RNA interference can efficiently knockdown RNAs, but it is prone to off-target effects, and visualizing RNAs typically relies on the introduction of exogenous tags. Here we demonstrate that the class 2 type VI RNA-guided RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas effector Cas13a (previously known as C2c2) can be engineered for mammalian cell RNA knockdown and binding. After initial screening of 15 orthologues, we identified Cas13a from Leptotrichia wadei (LwaCas13a) as the most effective in an interference assay in Escherichia coli. LwaCas13a can be heterologously expressed in mammalian and plant cells for targeted knockdown of either reporter or endogenous transcripts with comparable levels of knockdown as RNA interference and improved specificity. Catalytically inactive LwaCas13a maintains targeted RNA binding activity, which we leveraged for programmable tracking of transcripts in live cells. Our results establish CRISPR-Cas13a as a flexible platform for studying RNA in mammalian cells and therapeutic development.
Assuntos
Proteínas Associadas a CRISPR/metabolismo , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Edição de Genes , Técnicas de Silenciamento de Genes/métodos , Leptotrichia/enzimologia , RNA/genética , RNA/metabolismo , Biocatálise , Proteínas Associadas a CRISPR/química , Proteínas Associadas a CRISPR/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular , Escherichia coli/genética , Genes Reporter/genética , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Leptotrichia/genética , Células Vegetais/metabolismo , RNA/análise , Interferência de RNA , Estresse Fisiológico , Especificidade por SubstratoRESUMO
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is prevalent, deadly, and seldom cured due to the persistence of viral episomal DNA (cccDNA) in infected cells. Newly developed genome engineering tools may offer the ability to directly cleave viral DNA, thereby promoting viral clearance. Here, we show that the CRISPR/Cas9 system can specifically target and cleave conserved regions in the HBV genome, resulting in robust suppression of viral gene expression and replication. Upon sustained expression of Cas9 and appropriately chosen guide RNAs, we demonstrate cleavage of cccDNA by Cas9 and a dramatic reduction in both cccDNA and other parameters of viral gene expression and replication. Thus, we show that directly targeting viral episomal DNA is a novel therapeutic approach to control the virus and possibly cure patients.