Phosphonoacetate Modifications Enhance the Stability and Editing Yields of Guide RNAs for Cas9 Editors.

CRISPR gene editing and control systems continue to emerge and inspire novel research and clinical applications. Advances in CRISPR performance such as optimizing the duration of activity in cells, tissues, and organisms, as well as limiting off-target activities, have been extremely important for expanding the utility of CRISPR-based systems. By investigating the effects of various chemical modifications in guide RNAs (gRNAs) at defined positions and combinations, we find that 2'-O-methyl-3'-phosphonoacetate (MP) modifications can be substantially more effective than 2'-O-methyl-3'-phosphorothioate (MS) modifications at the 3' ends of single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) to promote high editing yields, in some instances showing an order of magnitude higher editing yield in human cells. MP-modified 3' ends are especially effective at promoting the activity of guide RNAs cotransfected with Cas messenger RNA (mRNA), as the gRNA must persist in cells until the Cas protein is expressed. We demonstrate such an MP enhancement for sgRNAs cotransfected with a BE4 mRNA for cytidine base editing and also demonstrate that MP at the 3' ends of prime editing guide RNAs (pegRNAs) cotransfected with PE2 mRNA can promote maximal prime editing yields. In the presence of serum, sgRNAs with MP-modified 3' ends showed marked improvements in editing efficiency over sgRNAs with MS-modified 3' ends codelivered with Cas9 mRNA and showed more modest improvements at enhancing the activity of transfected ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. Our results suggest that MP should be considered as a performance-enhancing modification for the 3' ends of synthetic gRNAs, especially in situations where the guide RNAs may be susceptible to exonuclease-mediated degradation.

Improving CRISPR-Cas specificity with chemical modifications in single-guide RNAs.

CRISPR systems have emerged as transformative tools for altering genomes in living cells with unprecedented ease, inspiring keen interest in increasing their specificity for perfectly matched targets. We have developed a novel approach for improving specificity by incorporating chemical modifications in guide RNAs (gRNAs) at specific sites in their DNA recognition sequence ('guide sequence') and systematically evaluating their on-target and off-target activities in biochemical DNA cleavage assays and cell-based assays. Our results show that a chemical modification (2'-O-methyl-3'-phosphonoacetate, or 'MP') incorporated at select sites in the ribose-phosphate backbone of gRNAs can dramatically reduce off-target cleavage activities while maintaining high on-target performance, as demonstrated in clinically relevant genes. These findings reveal a unique method for enhancing specificity by chemically modifying the guide sequence in gRNAs. Our approach introduces a versatile tool for augmenting the performance of CRISPR systems for research, industrial and therapeutic applications.

Streamlined process for the chemical synthesis of RNA using 2'-O-thionocarbamate-protected nucleoside phosphoramidites in the solid phase.

An improved method for the chemical synthesis of RNA was developed utilizing a streamlined method for the preparation of phosphoramidite monomers and a single-step deprotection of the resulting oligoribonucleotide product using 1,2-diamines under anhydrous conditions. The process is compatible with most standard heterobase protection and employs a 2'-O-(1,1-dioxo-1λ(6)-thiomorpholine-4-carbothioate) as a unique 2'-hydroxyl protective group. Using this approach, it was demonstrated that the chemical synthesis of RNA can be as simple and robust as the chemical synthesis of DNA.

An electrospray mass spectrometric method for accurate mass determination of highly acid-sensitive phosphoramidites.

An accurate mass determination method utilizing electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is described for analysis of several different types of phosphoramidites that are extremely acid-sensitive compounds. An earlier method, which applied a LiCl/acetonitrile system, was extended for this special application by using polymeric standards including poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (PDE) and poly(propylene glycol) (PPG). Concentrations of standards, samples and LiCl were optimized and potential impurities that affect the analyses were also investigated.

Synthesis and biological activity of phosphonocarboxylate DNA.

Oligodeoxynucleotides containing internucleotide phosphonoacetate esters are taken up irreversibly by cells in culture in the absence of cationic lipids. These oligonucleotides also are active in stimulating RNase H and are stable toward nucleases.

Synthesis and biochemical evaluation of phosphonoformate oligodeoxyribonucleotides.

Phosphonoformate oligodeoxyribonucleotides were prepared via a solid phase synthesis strategy. The first step in the preparation of appropriate synthons was condensation of bis(N,N-diisopropylamino)phosphine and diphenylmethylsilylethyl chloroformate in the presence of sodium metal to yield formic acid, [bis(N,N-diisopropylamino)phosphino]-beta-(diphenylmethylsilylethyl) ester. The product of this reaction was then condensed with appropriately protected 2'-deoxynucleosides using 4,5-dicyanoimidazole to yield the 3'-O-phosphinoamidite reactive monomers. The exocyclic amines of cytosine, adenine, and guanine were protected with 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl, and oligodeoxyribonucleotides were synthesized on controlled pore glass using the hydroquinone-O,O'-diacetic acid linker. Synthons were sequentially added to this support using tetrazole as an activator, oxidized to phosphonoformate, and the transient 5'-protecting group was removed with acid. Following total synthesis of an oligomer, protecting groups were removed with TEMED.HF and products purified by HPLC. These analogues were resistant to nucleases, formed duplexes with complementary RNA (A-form), and, as chimeric oligomers containing phosphate at selected sites, stimulated RNase H1 activity.

Synthesis of DNA using a new two-step cycle.

For the first time a new, two-step method is described for synthesizing deoxyribonucleic acid. The approach uses 5'-carbonate protected 2'-deoxynucleoside-3'-phosphoramidites as synthons and a peroxy anion buffer that removes the carbonate protecting group and oxidizes the internucleotide linkage. Following synthesis via this two-step cycle, oligomers are isolated by standard procedures.

Oligodeoxyribonucleotide analogs functionalized with phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate diesters.

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides with phosphonoacetate or thiophosphonoacetate internucleotide linkages can be made in high yield by solid-phase synthesis and possess many advantages. They are highly stable to nucleases, water-soluble, and anionic at neutral pH. They form stable duplexes with DNA and RNA, and stimulate RNase H degradation of complementary RNA. The preparation of the N,N-(diisopropylamino)phosphinyl acetate monomers from standard protected nucleosides is described here, followed by the synthesis of phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoate oligodeoxyribonucleotides, as well as chimeric oligomers that have these modified linkages in combination with natural or phosphorothioate linkages. Purification and characterization of these oligomers is also presented.

Solid-phase oligodeoxynucleotide synthesis: a two-step cycle using peroxy anion deprotection.

A novel solid-phase phosphoramidite based oligodeoxynucleotide two-step synthesis method has been developed. Keys to this method are replacement of the 5'-dimethoxytrityl blocking group with an aryloxycarbonyl and the use of N-dimethoxytrityl protection for the exocyclic amines of adenine and cytosine. With these modifications, coupling of each 2'-deoxynucleoside 3'-phosphoramidite to the growing oligodeoxynucleotide on the solid support can be followed by treatment with an aqueous mixture of peroxy anions buffered at pH 9.6. This reagent effectively removes the carbonate protecting group and simultaneously oxidizes the phosphite internucleotide linkage. As a consequence a new two-step synthesis cycle is possible. Oligodeoxynucleotides synthesized using this approach are identical to authentic samples when tested by a variety of analytical techniques.

Biochemical properties of phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligodeoxyribonucleotides.

Phosphorus-modified phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligodeoxyribonucleotides were chemically synthesized and their biochemical properties evaluated. Under physiological pH, these DNA analogs possess negative charge and form stable, complementary A-like DNA:RNA heteroduplexes when analyzed via circular dichroism spectroscopy. Phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligomers were found to stimulate RNase H activity and to be completely resistant to degradation by snake venom phosphodiesterase, DNase I and HeLa cell nuclear extract. Further research has demonstrated that neutral, esterified forms of these analogs can be taken up by cells. Phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligomers therefore represent a new class of oligodeoxyribonucleotide analogs having phosphorus- carbon bonds with considerable potential for use in biological research.

Solid-phase chemical synthesis of phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligodeoxynucleotides.

Phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligodeoxynucleotides were prepared via a solid-phase synthesis strategy. Under Reformatsky reaction conditions, novel esterified acetic acid phosphinodiamidites were synthesized and condensed with appropriately protected 5'-O-(4, 4'-dimethoxytrityl)-2'-deoxynucleosides to yield 3'-O-phosphinoamidite reactive monomers. These synthons when activated with tetrazole were used with an automated DNA synthesizer to prepare phosphonoacetic acid modified internucleotide linkages on controlled pore glass. The phosphinoacetate coupling products were quantitatively oxidized at each step with (1S)-(+)-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridine or 3H-1,2-benzodithiol-3-one-1,1-dioxide to produce mixed sequence phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligodeoxynucleotides with an average per cycle coupling efficiency of greater than 97%. Completely deprotected, modified oligodeoxynucleotides were purified by reverse-phase HPLC and characterized by ion exchange HPLC, (31)P NMR, and MALDI/TOF mass spectroscopy. Both analogues were stable toward hydrolysis with snake venom phosphodiesterase and stimulated RNase H1 activity.