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Enhanced Genome Editing with Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein in Diverse Cells and Organisms
Published on: May 25, 2018
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Engineering CRISPR-Cpf1 crRNAs and mRNAs to maximize genome editing efficiency
Bin Li1, Weiyu Zhao1, Xiao Luo1
1Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Nature Biomedical Engineering
|August 26, 2017
Summary
Engineered CRISPR-Cpf1 systems enhance gene editing. Modified CRISPR RNAs and messenger RNAs significantly boost gene-cutting efficiency in human cells, enabling broader genome editing applications.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
- Genetics
Background:
- CRISPR-Cpf1 systems are powerful gene-editing tools utilizing a single RNA guide.
- Optimizing CRISPR-Cpf1 components is crucial for improving gene-editing efficiency in human cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate engineered CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for Acidaminococcus sp. Cpf1 (AsCpf1).
- To enhance the gene-cutting efficiency of AsCpf1 and related Cpf1 orthologs.
Main Methods:
- Designed and tested 42 engineered AsCpf1 crRNAs and 5 AsCpf1 mRNAs.
- Assessed gene-cutting efficiency using modified crRNAs (cr3'5F) and mRNAs (ψ-modification).
- Evaluated combinations of modified components and tested crRNAs from Cpf1 orthologs.
Main Results:
- The modified cr3'5F crRNA improved gene-cutting by 127%, and the ψ-modified AsCpf1 mRNA by 177%.
- Combining cr3'5F with modified AsCpf1 or Lachnospiraceae bacterium Cpf1 (LbCpf1) mRNAs increased efficiency by over 300%.
- 11 out of 16 tested crRNAs from Cpf1 orthologs facilitated genome editing with AsCpf1.
Conclusions:
- Engineered crRNAs and mRNAs significantly enhance CRISPR-Cpf1 gene-editing capabilities.
- Optimized CRISPR-Cpf1 systems offer a promising platform for diverse genome editing applications.
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