Methods for nucleic acid editing

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 9840699
  • Patent Number
    9,840,699
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 8, 2014
    10 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 12, 2017
    7 years ago
Abstract
Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a single site within the genome of a cell or subject, e.g., within the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or enzyme domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, methods for targeted nucleic acid editing are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid editing proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or domains, are provided.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Targeted editing of nucleic acid sequences, for example, the introduction of a specific modification into genomic DNA, is a highly promising approach for the study of gene function and also has the potential to provide new therapies for human genetic diseases.1 An ideal nucleic acid editing technology possesses three characteristics: (1) high efficiency of installing the desired modification; (2) minimal off-target activity; and (3) the ability to be programmed to edit precisely any site in a given nucleic acid, e.g., any site within the human genome.2 Current genome engineering tools, including engineered zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs),3 transcription activator like effector nucleases (TALENs),4 and most recently, the RNA-guided DNA endonuclease Cas9,5 effect sequence-specific DNA cleavage in a genome. This programmable cleavage can result in mutation of the DNA at the cleavage site via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or replacement of the DNA surrounding the cleavage site via homology-directed repair (HDR).6,7


One drawback to the current technologies is that both NHEJ and HDR are stochastic processes that typically result in modest gene editing efficiencies as well as unwanted gene alterations that can compete with the desired alteration.8 Since many genetic diseases in principle can be treated by effecting a specific nucleotide change at a specific location in the genome (for example, a C to T change in a specific codon of a gene associated with a disease),9 the development of a programmable way to achieve such precision gene editing would represent both a powerful new research tool, as well as a potential new approach to gene editing-based human therapeutics.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) system is a recently discovered prokaryotic adaptive immune system10 that has been modified to enable robust and general genome engineering in a variety of organisms and cell lines.11 CRISPR-Cas (CRISPR associated) systems are protein-RNA complexes that use an RNA molecule (sgRNA) as a guide to localize the complex to a target DNA sequence via base-pairing.12 In the natural systems, a Cas protein then acts as an endonuclease to cleave the targeted DNA sequence.13 The target DNA sequence must be both complementary to the sgRNA, and also contain a “protospacer-adjacent motif” (PAM) dinucleotide at the 3′-end of the complementary region in order for the system to function (FIG. 1).14 Among the known Cas proteins, S. pyogenes Cas9 has been mostly widely used as a tool for genome engineering.15 This Cas9 protein is a large, multi-domain protein containing two distinct nuclease domains. Point mutations can be introduced into Cas9 to abolish nuclease activity, resulting in a dead Cas9 (dCas9) that still retains its ability to bind DNA in a sgRNA-programmed manner.16 In principle, when fused to another protein or domain, dCas9 can target that protein to virtually any DNA sequence simply by co-expression with an appropriate sgRNA.


The potential of the dCas9 complex for genome engineering purposes is immense. Its unique ability to bring proteins to specific sites in a genome programmed by the sgRNA in theory can be developed into a variety of site-specific genome engineering tools beyond nucleases, including transcriptional activators, transcriptional repressors, histone-modifying proteins, integrases, and recombinases.11 Some of these potential applications have recently been implemented through dCas9 fusions with transcriptional activators to afford RNA-guided transcriptional activators,17,18 transcriptional repressors,16,19,20 and chromatin modification enzymes.21 Simple co-expression of these fusions with a variety of sgRNAs results in specific expression of the target genes. These seminal studies have paved the way for the design and construction of readily programmable sequence-specific effectors for the precise manipulation of genomes.


Significantly, 80-90% of protein mutations responsible for human disease arise from the substitution, deletion, or insertion of only a single nucleotide.6 No genome engineering tools, however, have yet been developed that enable the manipulation of a single nucleotide in a general and direct manner. Current strategies for single-base gene correction include engineered nucleases (which rely on the creation of double-strand breaks, DSBs, followed by stochastic, inefficient homology-directed repair, HDR), and DNA-RNA chimeric oligonucleotides.22 The latter strategy involves the design of a RNA/DNA sequence to base pair with a specific sequence in genomic DNA except at the nucleotide to be edited. The resulting mismatch is recognized by the cell's endogenous repair system and fixed, leading to a change in the sequence of either the chimera or the genome. Both of these strategies suffer from low gene editing efficiencies and unwanted gene alterations, as they are subject to both the stochasticity of HDR and the competition between HDR and non-homologous end-joining, NHEJ.23-25 HDR efficiencies vary according to the location of the target gene within the genome,26 the state of the cell cycle,27 and the type of cell/tissue.28 The development of a direct, programmable way to install a specific type of base modification at a precise location in genomic DNA with enzyme-like efficiency and no stochasticity would therefore represent a powerful new approach to gene editing-based research tools and human therapeutics.


Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a single site within a subject's genome, e.g., the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or enzyme domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, methods for targeted nucleic acid editing are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid editing proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or domains, are provided.


Some aspects of this disclosure provide fusion proteins comprising (i) a nuclease-inactive CAS9 domain; and (ii) a nucleic acid-editing domain. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-editing domain is a DNA-editing domain. In some embodiments, the nucleic-acid-editing domain is a deaminase domain. In some embodiments, the deaminase is a cytidine deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing complex (APOBEC) family deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC1 family deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). In some embodiments, the deaminase is an ACF1/ASE deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an adenosine deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an ADAT family deaminase. In some embodiments, the nucleic-acid-editing domain is fused to the N-terminus of the CAS9 domain. In some embodiments, the nucleic-acid-editing domain is fused to the C-terminus of the CAS9 domain. In some embodiments, the CAS9 domain and the nucleic-acid-editing domain are fused via a linker. In some embodiments, the linker comprises a (GGGGS)n (SEQ ID NO: 91), a (G)n, an (EAAAK)n (SEQ ID NO: 5), or an (XP)n motif, or a combination of any of these, wherein n is independently an integer between 1 and 30.


Some aspects of this disclosure provide methods for DNA editing. In some embodiments, the methods comprise contacting a DNA molecule with (a) a fusion protein comprising a nuclease-inactive Cas9 domain and a deaminase domain; and (b) an sgRNA targeting the fusion protein of (a) to a target nucleotide sequence of the DNA strand; wherein the DNA molecule is contacted with the fusion protein and the sgRNA in an amount effective and under conditions suitable for the deamination of a nucleotide base. In some embodiments, the target DNA sequence comprises a sequence associated with a disease or disorder, and wherein the deamination of the nucleotide base results in a sequence that is not associated with a disease or disorder. In some embodiments, the DNA sequence comprises a T>C or A>G point mutation associated with a disease or disorder, and wherein the deamination of the mutant C or G base results in a sequence that is not associated with a disease or disorder. In some embodiments, the deamination corrects a point mutation in the sequence associated with the disease or disorder. In some embodiments, the sequence associated with the disease or disorder encodes a protein, and wherein the deamination introduces a stop codon into the sequence associated with the disease or disorder, resulting in a truncation of the encoded protein. In some embodiments, the deamination corrects a point mutation in the PI3KCA gene, thus correcting an H1047R and/or a A3140G mutation. In some embodiments, the contacting is performed in vivo in a subject susceptible to having, having, or diagnosed with the disease or disorder. In some embodiments, the disease or disorder is a disease associated with a point mutation, or a single-base mutation, in the genome. In some embodiments, the disease is a genetic disease, a cancer, a metabolic disease, or a lysosomal storage disease.


Some aspects of this disclosure provide a reporter construct for detecting nucleic-acid-editing activity of a Cas9:DNA-editing domain fusion protein. In some embodiments, the construct comprises (a) a reporter gene comprising a target site for the Cas9 DNA-editing protein, wherein targeted DNA editing results in an increase in expression of the reporter gene; and (b) a promoter sequence that controls expression of the reporter gene. In some embodiments, the construct further comprises (c) a sequence encoding an sgRNA targeting the Cas9 DNA-editing protein to the target site of the reporter gene, wherein expression of the sgRNA is independent of the expression of the reporter gene. In some embodiments, the target site of the reporter gene comprises a premature stop codon, and wherein targeted DNA editing of the template strand by the Cas9 DNA-editing protein results in a conversion of the premature stop codon to a codon encoding an amino acid residue. In some embodiments, the reporter gene encodes a luciferase, a fluorescent protein, or an antibiotic resistance marker.


Some aspects of this disclosure provide kits comprising a nucleic acid construct that comprises a sequence encoding a nuclease-inactive Cas9 sequence, a sequence comprising a cloning site positioned to allow cloning of a sequence encoding a nucleic acid-editing enzyme or enzyme domain in-frame with the Cas9-encoding sequence, and, optionally, a sequence encoding a linker positioned between the Cas9 encoding sequence and the cloning site. In addition, in some embodiments, the kit comprises suitable reagents, buffers, and/or instructions for in-frame cloning of a sequence encoding a nucleic acid-editing enzyme or enzyme domain into the nucleic acid construct to generate a Cas9 nucleic acid editing fusion protein. In some embodiments, the sequence comprising the cloning site is N-terminal of the Cas9 sequence. In some embodiments, the sequence comprising the cloning site is C-terminal of the Cas9 sequence. In some embodiments, the encoded linker comprises a (GGGGS)n (SEQ ID NO: 91), a (G)n, an (EAAAK)n (SEQ ID NO: 5), or an (XP)n motif, or a combination of any of these, wherein n is independently an integer between 1 and 30.


Some aspects of this disclosure provide kits comprising a fusion protein comprising a nuclease-inactive Cas9 domain and a nucleic acid-editing enzyme or enzyme domain, and, optionally, a linker positioned between the Cas9 domain and the nucleic acid-editing enzyme or enzyme domain. In addition, in some embodiments, the kit comprises suitable reagents, buffers, and/or instructions for using the fusion protein, e.g., for in vitro or in vivo DNA or RNA editing. In some embodiments, the kit comprises instructions regarding the design and use of suitable sgRNAs for targeted editing of a nucleic acid sequence.


The summary above is meant to illustrate, in a non-limiting manner, some of the embodiments, advantages, features, and uses of the technology disclosed herein. Other embodiments, advantages, features, and uses of the technology disclosed herein will be apparent from the Detailed Description, the Drawings, the Examples, and the Claims.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1. The Cas9/sgRNA-DNA complex. The 3′ end of the sgRNA forms a ribonucleoprotein complex with the Cas9 nuclease, while the 20 nt 5′ end of the sgRNA recognizes its complementary stretch of DNA. DNA binding requires the 3-nt PAM sequence 5′ to the target DNA. In the case of wtCas9, double-strand DNA cleavage occurs 3 nt from the PAM to produce blunt ends (shown by the arrows). It should be noted that the size of the bubble is unknown.



FIG. 2. Crystal structure of the catalytic domain of APOBEC3G (PDB ID 3E1U). The core secondary structure, which is believed to be conserved among the entire family, consists of a five-stranded β-sheet (arrows) flanked by six α-helices. The active center loop (active site loop), is believed to be responsible for determining deamination specificity. The Zn2+ responsible for catalytic activity is shown as a sphere.



FIG. 3. Design of luciferase-based reporter assay. The sgRNA will be varied to target numerous sequences that correspond to regions prior to and including the luciferase gene in order to target the mutated start codon (C residue underlined). A “buffer” region will be added between the start codon and the luciferase gene to include codons of only A's and T's (shown as (ZZZ)X). The Shine-Dalgarno sequence is indicated. In some embodiments, it is preferable to keep all C's base-paired to prevent off-target effects. The sequences correspond to SEQ ID NOs: 93 and 94.





DEFINITIONS

As used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the singular and the plural reference unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an agent” includes a single agent and a plurality of such agents.


The term “Cas9” or “Cas9 nuclease” refers to an RNA-guided nuclease comprising a Cas9 protein, or a fragment thereof (e.g., a protein comprising an active or inactive DNA cleavage domain of Cas9, and/or the gRNA binding domain of Cas9). A Cas9 nuclease is also referred to sometimes as a casn1 nuclease or a CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)-associated nuclease. CRISPR is an adaptive immune system that provides protection against mobile genetic elements (viruses, transposable elements and conjugative plasmids). CRISPR clusters contain spacers, sequences complementary to antecedent mobile elements, and target invading nucleic acids. CRISPR clusters are transcribed and processed into CRISPR RNA (crRNA). In type II CRISPR systems correct processing of pre-crRNA requires a trans-encoded small RNA (tracrRNA), endogenous ribonuclease 3 (rnc) and a Cas9 protein. The tracrRNA serves as a guide for ribonuclease 3-aided processing of pre-crRNA. Subsequently, Cas9/crRNA/tracrRNA endonucleolytically cleaves linear or circular dsDNA target complementary to the spacer. The target strand not complementary to crRNA is first cut endonucleolytically, then trimmed 3′-5′ exonucleolytically. In nature, DNA-binding and cleavage typically requires protein and both RNAs. However, single guide RNAs (“sgRNA”, or simply “gNRA”) can be engineered so as to incorporate aspects of both the crRNA and tracrRNA into a single RNA species. See, e.g., Jinek M., Chylinski K., Fonfara I., Hauer M., Doudna J. A., Charpentier E. Science 337:816-821(2012), the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Cas9 recognizes a short motif in the CRISPR repeat sequences (the PAM or protospacer adjacent motif) to help distinguish self versus non-self. Cas9 nuclease sequences and structures are well known to those of skill in the art (see, e.g., “Complete genome sequence of an M1 strain of Streptococcus pyogenes.” Ferretti et al., J. J., McShan W. M., Ajdic D. J., Savic D. J., Savic G., Lyon K., Primeaux C., Sezate S., Suvorov A. N., Kenton S., Lai H. S., Lin S. P., Qian Y., Jia H. G., Najar F. Z., Ren Q., Zhu H., Song L., White J., Yuan X., Clifton S. W., Roe B. A., McLaughlin R. E., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98:4658-4663(2001); “CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small RNA and host factor RNase III.” Deltcheva E., Chylinski K., Sharma C. M., Gonzales K., Chao Y., Pirzada Z. A., Eckert M. R., Vogel J., Charpentier E., Nature 471:602-607(2011); and “A programmable dual-RNA-guided DNA endonuclease in adaptive bacterial immunity.” Jinek M., Chylinski K., Fonfara I., Hauer M., Doudna J. A., Charpentier E. Science 337:816-821(2012), the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference). Cas9 orthologs have been described in various species, including, but not limited to, S. pyogenes and S. thermophilus. Additional suitable Cas9 nucleases and sequences will be apparent to those of skill in the art based on this disclosure, and such Cas9 nucleases and sequences include Cas9 sequences from the organisms and loci disclosed in Chylinski, Rhun, and Charpentier, “The tracrRNA and Cas9 families of type II CRISPR-Cas immunity systems” (2013) RNA Biology 10:5, 726-737; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, a Cas9 nuclease has an inactive (e.g., an inactivated) DNA cleavage domain.


A nuclease-inactivated Cas9 protein may interchangeably be referred to as a “dCas9” protein (for nuclease-“dead” Cas9). Methods for generating a Cas9 protein (or a fragment thereof) having an inactive DNA cleavage domain are known (See, e.g., Jinek et al., Science. 337:816-821(2012); Qi et al., “Repurposing CRISPR as an RNA-Guided Platform for Sequence-Specific Control of Gene Expression” (2013) Cell. 28; 152(5):1173-83, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference). For example, the DNA cleavage domain of Cas9 is known to include two subdomains, the HNH nuclease subdomain and the RuvC1 subdomain. The HNH subdomain cleaves the strand complementary to the gRNA, whereas the RuvC1 subdomain cleaves the non-complementary strand. Mutations within these subdomains can silence the nuclease activity of Cas9. For example, the mutations D10A and H841A completely inactivate the nuclease activity of S. pyogenes Cas9 (Jinek et al., Science. 337:816-821(2012); Qi et al., Cell. 28; 152(5):1173-83 (2013). In some embodiments, proteins comprising fragments of Cas9 are provided. For example, in some embodiments, a protein comprises one of two Cas9 domains: (1) the gRNA binding domain of Cas9; or (2) the DNA cleavage domain of Cas9. In some embodiments, proteins comprising Cas9 or fragments thereof are referred to as “Cas9 variants.” A Cas9 variant shares homology to Cas9, or a fragment thereof. For example a Cas9 variant is at least about 70% identical, at least about 80% identical, at least about 90% identical, at least about 95% identical, at least about 96% identical, at least about 97% identical, at least about 98% identical, at least about 99% identical, at least about 99.5% identical, or at least about 99.9% to wild type Cas9. In some embodiments, the Cas9 variant comprises a fragment of Cas9 (e.g., a gRNA binding domain or a DNA-cleavage domain), such that the fragment is at least about 70% identical, at least about 80% identical, at least about 90% identical, at least about 95% identical, at least about 96% identical, at least about 97% identical, at least about 98% identical, at least about 99% identical, at least about 99.5% identical, or at least about 99.9% to the corresponding fragment of wild type Cas9. In some embodiments, wild type Cas9 corresponds to Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes (NCBI










Reference Sequence: NC_017053.1, SEQ ID NO: 1 (nucleotide); SEQ ID NO: 2 (amino acid)).



(SEQ ID NO: 1)



ATGGATAAGAAATACTCAATAGGCTTAGATATCGGCACAAATAGCGTCGGATGGGCGGTGATCACTGATGATTATAA






GGTTCCGTCTAAAAAGTTCAAGGTTCTGGGAAATACAGACCGCCACAGTATCAAAAAAAATCTTATAGGGGCTCTTT





TATTTGGCAGTGGAGAGACAGCGGAAGCGACTCGTCTCAAACGGACAGCTCGTAGAAGGTATACACGTCGGAAGAAT





CGTATTTGTTATCTACAGGAGATTTTTTCAAATGAGATGGCGAAAGTAGATGATAGTTTCTTTCATCGACTTGAAGA





GTCTTTTTTGGTGGAAGAAGACAAGAAGCATGAACGTCATCCTATTTTTGGAAATATAGTAGATGAAGTTGCTTATC





ATGAGAAATATCCAACTATCTATCATCTGCGAAAAAAATTGGCAGATTCTACTGATAAAGCGGATTTGCGCTTAATC





TATTTGGCCTTAGCGCATATGATTAAGTTTCGTGGTCATTTTTTGATTGAGGGAGATTTAAATCCTGATAATAGTGA





TGTGGACAAACTATTTATCCAGTTGGTACAAATCTACAATCAATTATTTGAAGAAAACCCTATTAACGCAAGTAGAG





TAGATGCTAAAGCGATTCTTTCTGCACGATTGAGTAAATCAAGACGATTAGAAAATCTCATTGCTCAGCTCCCCGGT





GAGAAGAGAAATGGCTTGTTTGGGAATCTCATTGCTTTGTCATTGGGATTGACCCCTAATTTTAAATCAAATTTTGA





TTTGGCAGAAGATGCTAAATTACAGCTTTCAAAAGATACTTACGATGATGATTTAGATAATTTATTGGCGCAAATTG





GAGATCAATATGCTGATTTGTTTTTGGCAGCTAAGAATTTATCAGATGCTATTTTACTTTCAGATATCCTAAGAGTA





AATAGTGAAATAACTAAGGCTCCCCTATCAGCTTCAATGATTAAGCGCTACGATGAACATCATCAAGACTTGACTCT





TTTAAAAGCTTTAGTTCGACAACAACTTCCAGAAAAGTATAAAGAAATCTTTTTTGATCAATCAAAAAACGGATATG





CAGGTTATATTGATGGGGGAGCTAGCCAAGAAGAATTTTATAAATTTATCAAACCAATTTTAGAAAAAATGGATGGT





ACTGAGGAATTATTGGTGAAACTAAATCGTGAAGATTTGCTGCGCAAGCAACGGACCTTTGACAACGGCTCTATTCC





CCATCAAATTCACTTGGGTGAGCTGCATGCTATTTTGAGAAGACAAGAAGACTTTTATCCATTTTTAAAAGACAATC





GTGAGAAGATTGAAAAAATCTTGACTTTTCGAATTCCTTATTATGTTGGTCCATTGGCGCGTGGCAATAGTCGTTTT





GCATGGATGACTCGGAAGTCTGAAGAAACAATTACCCCATGGAATTTTGAAGAAGTTGTCGATAAAGGTGCTTCAGC





TCAATCATTTATTGAACGCATGACAAACTTTGATAAAAATCTTCCAAATGAAAAAGTACTACCAAAACATAGTTTGC





TTTATGAGTATTTTACGGTTTATAACGAATTGACAAAGGTCAAATATGTTACTGAGGGAATGCGAAAACCAGCATTT





CTTTCAGGTGAACAGAAGAAAGCCATTGTTGATTTACTCTTCAAAACAAATCGAAAAGTAACCGTTAAGCAATTAAA





AGAAGATTATTTCAAAAAAATAGAATGTTTTGATAGTGTTGAAATTTCAGGAGTTGAAGATAGATTTAATGCTTCAT





TAGGCGCCTACCATGATTTGCTAAAAATTATTAAAGATAAAGATTTTTTGGATAATGAAGAAAATGAAGATATCTTA





GAGGATATTGTTTTAACATTGACCTTATTTGAAGATAGGGGGATGATTGAGGAAAGACTTAAAACATATGCTCACCT





CTTTGATGATAAGGTGATGAAACAGCTTAAACGTCGCCGTTATACTGGTTGGGGACGTTTGTCTCGAAAATTGATTA





ATGGTATTAGGGATAAGCAATCTGGCAAAACAATATTAGATTTTTTGAAATCAGATGGTTTTGCCAATCGCAATTTT





ATGCAGCTGATCCATGATGATAGTTTGACATTTAAAGAAGATATTCAAAAAGCACAGGTGTCTGGACAAGGCCATAG





TTTACATGAACAGATTGCTAACTTAGCTGGCAGTCCTGCTATTAAAAAAGGTATTTTACAGACTGTAAAAATTGTTG





ATGAACTGGTCAAAGTAATGGGGCATAAGCCAGAAAATATCGTTATTGAAATGGCACGTGAAAATCAGACAACTCAA





AAGGGCCAGAAAAATTCGCGAGAGCGTATGAAACGAATCGAAGAAGGTATCAAAGAATTAGGAAGTCAGATTCTTAA





AGAGCATCCTGTTGAAAATACTCAATTGCAAAATGAAAAGCTCTATCTCTATTATCTACAAAATGGAAGAGACATGT





ATGTGGACCAAGAATTAGATATTAATCGTTTAAGTGATTATGATGTCGATCACATTGTTCCACAAAGTTTCATTAAA





GACGATTCAATAGACAATAAGGTACTAACGCGTTCTGATAAAAATCGTGGTAAATCGGATAACGTTCCAAGTGAAGA





AGTAGTCAAAAAGATGAAAAACTATTGGAGACAACTTCTAAACGCCAAGTTAATCACTCAACGTAAGTTTGATAATT





TAACGAAAGCTGAACGTGGAGGTTTGAGTGAACTTGATAAAGCTGGTTTTATCAAACGCCAATTGGTTGAAACTCGC





CAAATCACTAAGCATGTGGCACAAATTTTGGATAGTCGCATGAATACTAAATACGATGAAAATGATAAACTTATTCG





AGAGGTTAAAGTGATTACCTTAAAATCTAAATTAGTTTCTGACTTCCGAAAAGATTTCCAATTCTATAAAGTACGTG





AGATTAACAATTACCATCATGCCCATGATGCGTATCTAAATGCCGTCGTTGGAACTGCTTTGATTAAGAAATATCCA





AAACTTGAATCGGAGTTTGTCTATGGTGATTATAAAGTTTATGATGTTCGTAAAATGATTGCTAAGTCTGAGCAAGA





AATAGGCAAAGCAACCGCAAAATATTTCTTTTACTCTAATATCATGAACTTCTTCAAAACAGAAATTACACTTGCAA





ATGGAGAGATTCGCAAACGCCCTCTAATCGAAACTAATGGGGAAACTGGAGAAATTGTCTGGGATAAAGGGCGAGAT





TTTGCCACAGTGCGCAAAGTATTGTCCATGCCCCAAGTCAATATTGTCAAGAAAACAGAAGTACAGACAGGCGGATT





CTCCAAGGAGTCAATTTTACCAAAAAGAAATTCGGACAAGCTTATTGCTCGTAAAAAAGACTGGGATCCAAAAAAAT





ATGGTGGTTTTGATAGTCCAACGGTAGCTTATTCAGTCCTAGTGGTTGCTAAGGTGGAAAAAGGGAAATCGAAGAAG





TTAAAATCCGTTAAAGAGTTACTAGGGATCACAATTATGGAAAGAAGTTCCTTTGAAAAAAATCCGATTGACTTTTT





AGAAGCTAAAGGATATAAGGAAGTTAAAAAAGACTTAATCATTAAACTACCTAAATATAGTCTTTTTGAGTTAGAAA





ACGGTCGTAAACGGATGCTGGCTAGTGCCGGAGAATTACAAAAAGGAAATGAGCTGGCTCTGCCAAGCAAATATGTG





AATTTTTTATATTTAGCTAGTCATTATGAAAAGTTGAAGGGTAGTCCAGAAGATAACGAACAAAAACAATTGTTTGT





GGAGCAGCATAAGCATTATTTAGATGAGATTATTGAGCAAATCAGTGAATTTTCTAAGCGTGTTATTTTAGCAGATG





CCAATTTAGATAAAGTTCTTAGTGCATATAACAAACATAGAGACAAACCAATACGTGAACAAGCAGAAAATATTATT





CATTTATTTACGTTGACGAATCTTGGAGCTCCCGCTGCTTTTAAATATTTTGATACAACAATTGATCGTAAACGATA





TACGTCTACAAAAGAAGTTTTAGATGCCACTCTTATCCATCAATCCATCACTGGTCTTTATGAAACACGCATTGATT





TGAGTCAGCTAGGAGGTGACTGA





(SEQ ID NO: 2)



MDKKYSIGLDIGTNSVGWAVITDDYKVPSKKFKVLGNTDRHSIKKNLIGALLFGSGETAEATRLKRTARRRYTRRKN






RICYLQEIFSNEMAKVDDSFFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLADSTDKADLRLI





YLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQIYNQLFEENPINASRVDAKAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPG





EKRNGLFGNLIALSLGLTPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSKDTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYADLFLAAKNLSDAILLSDILRV





NSEITKAPLSASMIKRYDEHHQDLTLLKALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMDG





TEELLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGELHAILRRQEDFYPFLKDNREKIEKILTFRIPYYVGPLARGNSRF





AWMTRKSEETITPWNFEEVVDKGASAQSFIERMTNFDKNLPNEKVLPKHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVKYVTEGMRKPAF





LSGEQKKAIVDLLFKTNRKVTVKQLKEDYFKKIECFDSVEISGVEDRFNASLGAYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDNEENEDIL





EDIVLTLTLFEDRGMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTGWGRLSRKLINGIRDKQSGKTILDFLKSDGFANRNF





MQLIHDDSLTFKEDIQKAQVSGQGHSLHEQIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKIVDELVKVMGHKPENIVIEMARENQTTQ





KGQKNSRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVENTQLQNEKLYLYYLQNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSDYDVDHIVPQSFIK






DDSIDNKVLTRSDKNRGKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLITQRKFDNLTKAERGGLSELDKAGFIKRQLVETR







QITKHVAQILDSRMNTKYDENDKLIREVKVITLKSKLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREINNYHHAHDAYLNAVVGTALIKKYP







KLESEFVYGDYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYSNIMNFFKTEITLANGEIRKRPLIETNGETGEIVWDKGRD







FATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEVQTGGFSKESILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKKYGGFDSPTVAYSVLVVAKVEKGKSKK






LKSVKELLGITIMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPKYSLFELENGRKRMLASAGELQKGNELALPSKYV





NFLYLASHYEKLKGSPEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKRVILADANLDKVLSAYNKHRDKPIREQAENII





HLFTLTNLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRYTSTKEVLDATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGD


(single underline: HNH domain; double underline: RuvC domain)






In some embodiments, wild type Cas9 corresponds to, or comprises SEQ ID NO: 3 (nucleotide) and/or SEQ ID NO: 4 (amino acid):










(SEQ ID NO: 3)



ATGGATAAAAAGTATTCTATTGGTTTAGACATCGGCACTAATTCCGTTGGATGGGCTGTCATAACCGATGAATACAA






AGTACCTTCAAAGAAATTTAAGGTGTTGGGGAACACAGACCGTCATTCGATTAAAAAGAATCTTATCGGTGCCCTCC





TATTCGATAGTGGCGAAACGGCAGAGGCGACTCGCCTGAAACGAACCGCTCGGAGAAGGTATACACGTCGCAAGAAC





CGAATATGTTACTTACAAGAAATTTTTAGCAATGAGATGGCCAAAGTTGACGATTCTTTCTTTCACCGTTTGGAAGA





GTCCTTCCTTGTCGAAGAGGACAAGAAACATGAACGGCACCCCATCTTTGGAAACATAGTAGATGAGGTGGCATATC





ATGAAAAGTACCCAACGATTTATCACCTCAGAAAAAAGCTAGTTGACTCAACTGATAAAGCGGACCTGAGGTTAATC





TACTTGGCTCTTGCCCATATGATAAAGTTCCGTGGGCACTTTCTCATTGAGGGTGATCTAAATCCGGACAACTCGGA





TGTCGACAAACTGTTCATCCAGTTAGTACAAACCTATAATCAGTTGTTTGAAGAGAACCCTATAAATGCAAGTGGCG





TGGATGCGAAGGCTATTCTTAGCGCCCGCCTCTCTAAATCCCGACGGCTAGAAAACCTGATCGCACAATTACCCGGA





GAGAAGAAAAATGGGTTGTTCGGTAACCTTATAGCGCTCTCACTAGGCCTGACACCAAATTTTAAGTCGAACTTCGA





CTTAGCTGAAGATGCCAAATTGCAGCTTAGTAAGGACACGTACGATGACGATCTCGACAATCTACTGGCACAAATTG





GAGATCAGTATGCGGACTTATTTTTGGCTGCCAAAAACCTTAGCGATGCAATCCTCCTATCTGACATACTGAGAGTT





AATACTGAGATTACCAAGGCGCCGTTATCCGCTTCAATGATCAAAAGGTACGATGAACATCACCAAGACTTGACACT





TCTCAAGGCCCTAGTCCGTCAGCAACTGCCTGAGAAATATAAGGAAATATTCTTTGATCAGTCGAAAAACGGGTACG





CAGGTTATATTGACGGCGGAGCGAGTCAAGAGGAATTCTACAAGTTTATCAAACCCATATTAGAGAAGATGGATGGG





ACGGAAGAGTTGCTTGTAAAACTCAATCGCGAAGATCTACTGCGAAAGCAGCGGACTTTCGACAACGGTAGCATTCC





ACATCAAATCCACTTAGGCGAATTGCATGCTATACTTAGAAGGCAGGAGGATTTTTATCCGTTCCTCAAAGACAATC





GTGAAAAGATTGAGAAAATCCTAACCTTTCGCATACCTTACTATGTGGGACCCCTGGCCCGAGGGAACTCTCGGTTC





GCATGGATGACAAGAAAGTCCGAAGAAACGATTACTCCATGGAATTTTGAGGAAGTTGTCGATAAAGGTGCGTCAGC





TCAATCGTTCATCGAGAGGATGACCAACTTTGACAAGAATTTACCGAACGAAAAAGTATTGCCTAAGCACAGTTTAC





TTTACGAGTATTTCACAGTGTACAATGAACTCACGAAAGTTAAGTATGTCACTGAGGGCATGCGTAAACCCGCCTTT





CTAAGCGGAGAACAGAAGAAAGCAATAGTAGATCTGTTATTCAAGACCAACCGCAAAGTGACAGTTAAGCAATTGAA





AGAGGACTACTTTAAGAAAATTGAATGCTTCGATTCTGTCGAGATCTCCGGGGTAGAAGATCGATTTAATGCGTCAC





TTGGTACGTATCATGACCTCCTAAAGATAATTAAAGATAAGGACTTCCTGGATAACGAAGAGAATGAAGATATCTTA





GAAGATATAGTGTTGACTCTTACCCTCTTTGAAGATCGGGAAATGATTGAGGAAAGACTAAAAACATACGCTCACCT





GTTCGACGATAAGGTTATGAAACAGTTAAAGAGGCGTCGCTATACGGGCTGGGGACGATTGTCGCGGAAACTTATCA





ACGGGATAAGAGACAAGCAAAGTGGTAAAACTATTCTCGATTTTCTAAAGAGCGACGGCTTCGCCAATAGGAACTTT





ATGCAGCTGATCCATGATGACTCTTTAACCTTCAAAGAGGATATACAAAAGGCACAGGTTTCCGGACAAGGGGACTC





ATTGCACGAACATATTGCGAATCTTGCTGGTTCGCCAGCCATCAAAAAGGGCATACTCCAGACAGTCAAAGTAGTGG





ATGAGCTAGTTAAGGTCATGGGACGTCACAAACCGGAAAACATTGTAATCGAGATGGCACGCGAAAATCAAACGACT





CAGAAGGGGCAAAAAAACAGTCGAGAGCGGATGAAGAGAATAGAAGAGGGTATTAAAGAACTGGGCAGCCAGATCTT





AAAGGAGCATCCTGTGGAAAATACCCAATTGCAGAACGAGAAACTTTACCTCTATTACCTACAAAATGGAAGGGACA





TGTATGTTGATCAGGAACTGGACATAAACCGTTTATCTGATTACGACGTCGATCACATTGTACCCCAATCCTTTTTG





AAGGACGATTCAATCGACAATAAAGTGCTTACACGCTCGGATAAGAACCGAGGGAAAAGTGACAATGTTCCAAGCGA





GGAAGTCGTAAAGAAAATGAAGAACTATTGGCGGCAGCTCCTAAATGCGAAACTGATAACGCAAAGAAAGTTCGATA





ACTTAACTAAAGCTGAGAGGGGTGGCTTGTCTGAACTTGACAAGGCCGGATTTATTAAACGTCAGCTCGTGGAAACC





CGCCAAATCACAAAGCATGTTGCACAGATACTAGATTCCCGAATGAATACGAAATACGACGAGAACGATAAGCTGAT





TCGGGAAGTCAAAGTAATCACTTTAAAGTCAAAATTGGTGTCGGACTTCAGAAAGGATTTTCAATTCTATAAAGTTA





GGGAGATAAATAACTACCACCATGCGCACGACGCTTATCTTAATGCCGTCGTAGGGACCGCACTCATTAAGAAATAC





CCGAAGCTAGAAAGTGAGTTTGTGTATGGTGATTACAAAGTTTATGACGTCCGTAAGATGATCGCGAAAAGCGAACA





GGAGATAGGCAAGGCTACAGCCAAATACTTCTTTTATTCTAACATTATGAATTTCTTTAAGACGGAAATCACTCTGG





CAAACGGAGAGATACGCAAACGACCTTTAATTGAAACCAATGGGGAGACAGGTGAAATCGTATGGGATAAGGGCCGG





GACTTCGCGACGGTGAGAAAAGTTTTGTCCATGCCCCAAGTCAACATAGTAAAGAAAACTGAGGTGCAGACCGGAGG





GTTTTCAAAGGAATCGATTCTTCCAAAAAGGAATAGTGATAAGCTCATCGCTCGTAAAAAGGACTGGGACCCGAAAA





AGTACGGTGGCTTCGATAGCCCTACAGTTGCCTATTCTGTCCTAGTAGTGGCAAAAGTTGAGAAGGGAAAATCCAAG





AAACTGAAGTCAGTCAAAGAATTATTGGGGATAACGATTATGGAGCGCTCGTCTTTTGAAAAGAACCCCATCGACTT





CCTTGAGGCGAAAGGTTACAAGGAAGTAAAAAAGGATCTCATAATTAAACTACCAAAGTATAGTCTGTTTGAGTTAG





AAAATGGCCGAAAACGGATGTTGGCTAGCGCCGGAGAGCTTCAAAAGGGGAACGAACTCGCACTACCGTCTAAATAC





GTGAATTTCCTGTATTTAGCGTCCCATTACGAGAAGTTGAAAGGTTCACCTGAAGATAACGAACAGAAGCAACTTTT





TGTTGAGCAGCACAAACATTATCTCGACGAAATCATAGAGCAAATTTCGGAATTCAGTAAGAGAGTCATCCTAGCTG





ATGCCAATCTGGACAAAGTATTAAGCGCATACAACAAGCACAGGGATAAACCCATACGTGAGCAGGCGGAAAATATT





ATCCATTTGTTTACTCTTACCAACCTCGGCGCTCCAGCCGCATTCAAGTATTTTGACACAACGATAGATCGCAAACG





ATACACTTCTACCAAGGAGGTGCTAGACGCGACACTGATTCACCAATCCATCACGGGATTATATGAAACTCGGATAG





ATTTGTCACAGCTTGGGGGTGACGGATCCCCCAAGAAGAAGAGGAAAGTCTCGAGCGACTACAAAGACCATGACGGT





GATTATAAAGATCATGACATCGATTACAAGGATGACGATGACAAGGCTGCAGGA





(SEQ ID NO: 4)



MDKKYSIGLAIGTNSVGWAVITDEYKVPSKKFKVLGNTDRHSIKKNLIGALLFDSGETAEATRLKRTARRRYTRRKN






RICYLQEIFSNEMAKVDDSFFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLVDSTDKADLRLI





YLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQTYNQLFEENPINASGVDAKAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPG





EKKNGLFGNLIALSLGLTPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSKDTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYADLFLAAKNLSDAILLSDILRV





NTEITKAPLSASMIKRYDEHHQDLTLLKALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMDG





TEELLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGELHAILRRQEDFYPFLKDNREKIEKILTFRIPYYVGPLARGNSRF





AWMTRKSEETITPWNFEEVVDKGASAQSFIERMTNFDKNLPNEKVLPKHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVKYVTEGMRKPAF





LSGEQKKAIVDLLFKTNRKVTVKQLKEDYFKKIECFDSVEISGVEDRFNASLGTYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDNEENEDIL





EDIVLTLTLFEDREMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTGWGRLSRKLINGIRDKQSGKTILDFLKSDGFANRNF





MQLIHDDSLTFKEDIQKAQVSGQGDSLHEHIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKVVDELVKVMGRHKPENIVIEMARENQTT





QKGQKNSRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVENTQLQNEKLYLYYLQNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSDYDVDHIVPQSFL






KDDSIDNKVLTRSDKNRGKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLITQRKFDNLTKAERGGLSELDKAGFIKRQLVET







RQITKHVAQILDSRMNTKYDENDKLIREVKVITLKSKLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREINNYHHAHDAYLNAVVGTALIKKY







PKLESEFVYGDYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYSNIMNFFKTEITLANGEIRKRPLIETNGETGEIVWDKGR







DFATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEVQTGGFSKESILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKKYGGFDSPTVAYSVLVVAKVEKGKSK






KLKSVKELLGITIMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPKYSLFELENGRKRMLASAGELQKGNELALPSKY





VNFLYLASHYEKLKGSPEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKRVILADANLDKVLSAYNKHRDKPIREQAENI





IHLFTLTNLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRYTSTKEVLDATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGD


(single underline: HNH domain; double underline: RuvC domain)






In some embodiments, dCas9 corresponds to, or comprises in part or in whole, a Cas9 amino acid sequence having one or more mutations that inactivate the Cas9 nuclease activity. For example, in some embodiments, a dCas9 domain comprises D10A and/or H820A mutation.










dCas9 (D10A and H840A):



(SEQ ID NO: 34)



MDKKYSIGLAIGTNSVGWAVITDEYKVPSKKFKVLGNTDRHSIKKNLIGALLFDSGETAEATRLKRTARRRYTRRKN






RICYLQEIFSNEMAKVDDSFFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLVDSTDKADLRLI





YLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQTYNQLFEENPINASGVDAKAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPG





EKKNGLFGNLIALSLGLTPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSKDTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYADLFLAAKNLSDAILLSDILRV





NTEITKAPLSASMIKRYDEHHQDLTLLKALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMDG





TEELLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGELHAILRRQEDFYPFLKDNREKIEKILTFRIPYYVGPLARGNSRF





AWMTRKSEETITPWNFEEVVDKGASAQSFIERMTNFDKNLPNEKVLPKHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVKYVTEGMRKPAF





LSGEQKKAIVDLLFKTNRKVTVKQLKEDYFKKIECFDSVEISGVEDRFNASLGTYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDNEENEDIL





EDIVLTLTLFEDREMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTGWGRLSRKLINGIRDKQSGKTILDFLKSDGFANRNF





MQLIHDDSLTFKEDIQKAQVSGQGDSLHEHIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKVVDELVKVMGRHKPENIVIEMARENQTT





QKGQKNSRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVENTQLQNEKLYLYYLQNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSDYDVDAIVPQSFL






KDDSIDNKVLTRSDKNRGKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLITQRKFDNLTKAERGGLSELDKAGFIKRQLVET







RQITKHVAQILDSRMNTKYDENDKLIREVKVITLKSKLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREINNYHHAHDAYLNAVVGTALIKKY







PKLESEFVYGDYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYSNIMNFFKTEITLANGEIRKRPLIETNGETGEIVWDKGR







DFATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEVQTGGFSKESILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKKYGGFDSPTVAYSVLVVAKVEKGKSK






KLKSVKELLGITIMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPKYSLFELENGRKRMLASAGELQKGNELALPSKY





VNFLYLASHYEKLKGSPEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKRVILADANLDKVLSAYNKHRDKPIREQAENI





IHLFTLTNLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRYTSTKEVLDATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGD


(single underline: HNH domain; double underline: RuvC domain)






In other embodiments, dCas9 variants having mutations other than D10A and H820A are provided, which e.g., result in nuclease inactivated Cas9 (dCas9). Such mutations, by way of example, include other amino acid substitutions at D10 and H820, or other substitutions within the nuclease domains of Cas9 (e.g., substitutions in the HNH nuclease subdomain and/or the RuvC1 subdomain). In some embodiments, variants or homologues of dCas9 (e.g., variants of SEQ ID NO: 34) are provided which are at least about 70% identical, at least about 80% identical, at least about 90% identical, at least about 95% identical, at least about 98% identical, at least about 99% identical, at least about 99.5% identical, or at least about 99.9% to SEQ ID NO:34. In some embodiments, variants of dCas9 (e.g., variants of SEQ ID NO: 34) are provided having amino acid sequences which are shorter, or longer than SEQ ID NO: 34, by about 5 amino acids, by about 10 amino acids, by about 15 amino acids, by about 20 amino acids, by about 25 amino acids, by about 30 amino acids, by about 40 amino acids, by about 50 amino acids, by about 75 amino acids, by about 100 amino acids or more.


In some embodiments, Cas9 fusion proteins as provided herein comprise the full-length amino acid of a Cas9 protein, e.g., one of the sequences provided above. In other embodiments, however, fusion proteins as provided herein do not comprise a full-length Cas9 sequence, but only a fragment thereof. For example, in some embodiments, a Cas9 fusion protein provided herein comprises a Cas9 fragment, wherein the fragment binds crRNA and tracrRNA or sgRNA, but does not comprise a functional nuclease domain, e.g., in that it comprises only a truncated version of a nuclease domain or no nuclease domain at all. Exemplary amino acid sequences of suitable Cas9 domains and Cas9 fragments are provided herein, and additional suitable sequences of Cas9 domains and fragments will be apparent to those of skill in the art.


In some embodiments, Cas9 refers to Cas9 from: Corynebacterium ulcerans (NCBI Refs: NC_015683.1, NC_017317.1); Corynebacterium diphtheria (NCBI Refs: NC_016782.1, NC_016786.1); Spiroplasma syrphidicola (NCBI Ref: NC_021284.1); Prevotella intermedia (NCBI Ref: NC_017861.1); Spiroplasma taiwanense (NCBI Ref: NC_021846.1); Streptococcus iniae (NCBI Ref: NC_021314.1); Belliella baltica (NCBI Ref: NC_018010.1); Psychroflexus torquisI (NCBI Ref: NC_018721.1); Streptococcus thermophilus (NCBI Ref: YP_820832.1); Listeria innocua (NCBI Ref: NP_472073.1); Campylobacter jejuni (NCBI Ref: YP_002344900.1); or Neisseria. meningitidis (NCBI Ref: YP_002342100.1).


The term “deaminase” refers to an enzyme that catalyzes a deamination reaction. In some embodiments, the deaminase is a cytidine deaminase, catalyzing the hydrolytic deamination of cytidine or deoxycytidine to uracil or deoxyuracil, respectively.


The term “effective amount,” as used herein, refers to an amount of a biologically active agent that is sufficient to elicit a desired biological response. For example, in some embodiments, an effective amount of a nuclease may refer to the amount of the nuclease that is sufficient to induce cleavage of a target site specifically bound and cleaved by the nuclease. In some embodiments, an effective amount of a recombinase may refer to the amount of the recombinase that is sufficient to induce recombination at a target site specifically bound and recombined by the recombinase. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the effective amount of an agent, e.g., a nuclease, a recombinase, a hybrid protein, a fusion protein, a protein dimer, a complex of a protein (or protein dimer) and a polynucleotide, or a polynucleotide, may vary depending on various factors as, for example, on the desired biological response, the specific allele, genome, target site, cell, or tissue being targeted, and the agent being used.


The term “linker,” as used herein, refers to a chemical group or a molecule linking two molecules or moieties, e.g., a binding domain and a cleavage domain of a nuclease. In some embodiments, a linker joins a gRNA binding domain of an RNA-programmable nuclease and the catalytic domain of a recombinase. In some embodiments, a linker joins a dCas9 and a recombinase. Typically, the linker is positioned between, or flanked by, two groups, molecules, or other moieties and connected to each one via a covalent bond, thus connecting the two. In some embodiments, the linker is an amino acid or a plurality of amino acids (e.g., a peptide or protein). In some embodiments, the linker is an organic molecule, group, polymer, or chemical moiety. In some embodiments, the linker is 5-100 amino acids in length, for example, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 30-35, 35-40, 40-45, 45-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-150, or 150-200 amino acids in length. Longer or shorter linkers are also contemplated.


The term “mutation,” as used herein, refers to a substitution of a residue within a sequence, e.g., a nucleic acid or amino acid sequence, with another residue, or a deletion or insertion of one or more residues within a sequence. Mutations are typically described herein by identifying the original residue followed by the position of the residue within the sequence and by the identity of the newly substituted residue. Various methods for making the amino acid substitutions (mutations) provided herein are well known in the art, and are provided by, for example, Green and Sambrook, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (4th ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (2012)).


The terms “nucleic acid” and “nucleic acid molecule,” as used herein, refer to a compound comprising a nucleobase and an acidic moiety, e.g., a nucleoside, a nucleotide, or a polymer of nucleotides. Typically, polymeric nucleic acids, e.g., nucleic acid molecules comprising three or more nucleotides are linear molecules, in which adjacent nucleotides are linked to each other via a phosphodiester linkage. In some embodiments, “nucleic acid” refers to individual nucleic acid residues (e.g. nucleotides and/or nucleosides). In some embodiments, “nucleic acid” refers to an oligonucleotide chain comprising three or more individual nucleotide residues. As used herein, the terms “oligonucleotide” and “polynucleotide” can be used interchangeably to refer to a polymer of nucleotides (e.g., a string of at least three nucleotides). In some embodiments, “nucleic acid” encompasses RNA as well as single and/or double-stranded DNA. Nucleic acids may be naturally occurring, for example, in the context of a genome, a transcript, an mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, siRNA, snRNA, a plasmid, cosmid, chromosome, chromatid, or other naturally occurring nucleic acid molecule. On the other hand, a nucleic acid molecule may be a non-naturally occurring molecule, e.g., a recombinant DNA or RNA, an artificial chromosome, an engineered genome, or fragment thereof, or a synthetic DNA, RNA, DNA/RNA hybrid, or including non-naturally occurring nucleotides or nucleosides. Furthermore, the terms “nucleic acid,” “DNA,” “RNA,” and/or similar terms include nucleic acid analogs, e.g., analogs having other than a phosphodiester backbone. Nucleic acids can be purified from natural sources, produced using recombinant expression systems and optionally purified, chemically synthesized, etc. Where appropriate, e.g., in the case of chemically synthesized molecules, nucleic acids can comprise nucleoside analogs such as analogs having chemically modified bases or sugars, and backbone modifications. A nucleic acid sequence is presented in the 5′ to 3′ direction unless otherwise indicated. In some embodiments, a nucleic acid is or comprises natural nucleosides (e.g. adenosine, thymidine, guanosine, cytidine, uridine, deoxyadenosine, deoxythymidine, deoxyguanosine, and deoxycytidine); nucleoside analogs (e.g., 2-aminoadenosine, 2-thiothymidine, inosine, pyrrolo-pyrimidine, 3-methyl adenosine, 5-methylcytidine, 2-aminoadenosine, C5-bromouridine, C5-fluorouridine, C5-iodouridine, C5-propynyl-uridine, C5-propynyl-cytidine, C5-methylcytidine, 2-aminoadenosine, 7-deazaadenosine, 7-deazaguanosine, 8-oxoadenosine, 8-oxoguanosine, O(6)-methylguanine, and 2-thiocytidine); chemically modified bases; biologically modified bases (e.g., methylated bases); intercalated bases; modified sugars (e.g., 2′-fluororibose, ribose, 2′-deoxyribose, arabinose, and hexose); and/or modified phosphate groups (e.g., phosphorothioates and 5′-N-phosphoramidite linkages).


The term “proliferative disease,” as used herein, refers to any disease in which cell or tissue homeostasis is disturbed in that a cell or cell population exhibits an abnormally elevated proliferation rate. Proliferative diseases include hyperproliferative diseases, such as pre-neoplastic hyperplastic conditions and neoplastic diseases. Neoplastic diseases are characterized by an abnormal proliferation of cells and include both benign and malignant neoplasias. Malignant neoplasia is also referred to as cancer.


The terms “protein,” “peptide,” and “polypeptide” are used interchangeably herein, and refer to a polymer of amino acid residues linked together by peptide (amide) bonds. The terms refer to a protein, peptide, or polypeptide of any size, structure, or function. Typically, a protein, peptide, or polypeptide will be at least three amino acids long. A protein, peptide, or polypeptide may refer to an individual protein or a collection of proteins. One or more of the amino acids in a protein, peptide, or polypeptide may be modified, for example, by the addition of a chemical entity such as a carbohydrate group, a hydroxyl group, a phosphate group, a farnesyl group, an isofarnesyl group, a fatty acid group, a linker for conjugation, functionalization, or other modification, etc. A protein, peptide, or polypeptide may also be a single molecule or may be a multi-molecular complex. A protein, peptide, or polypeptide may be just a fragment of a naturally occurring protein or peptide. A protein, peptide, or polypeptide may be naturally occurring, recombinant, or synthetic, or any combination thereof. The term “fusion protein” as used herein refers to a hybrid polypeptide which comprises protein domains from at least two different proteins. One protein may be located at the amino-terminal (N-terminal) portion of the fusion protein or at the carboxy-terminal (C-terminal) protein thus forming an “amino-terminal fusion protein” or a “carboxy-terminal fusion protein,” respectively. A protein may comprise different domains, for example, a nucleic acid binding domain (e.g., the gRNA binding domain of Cas9 that directs the binding of the protein to a target site) and a nucleic acid cleavage domain or a catalytic domain of a recombinase. In some embodiments, a protein comprises a proteinaceous part, e.g., an amino acid sequence constituting a nucleic acid binding domain, and an organic compound, e.g., a compound that can act as a nucleic acid cleavage agent. In some embodiments, a protein is in a complex with, or is in association with, a nucleic acid, e.g., RNA. Any of the proteins provided herein may be produced by any method known in the art. For example, the proteins provided herein may be produced via recombinant protein expression and purification, which is especially suited for fusion proteins comprising a peptide linker. Methods for recombinant protein expression and purification are well known, and include those described by Green and Sambrook, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (4th ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (2012)), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.


The term “RNA-programmable nuclease,” and “RNA-guided nuclease” are used interchangeably herein and refer to a nuclease that forms a complex with (e.g., binds or associates with) one or more RNA that is not a target for cleavage. In some embodiments, an RNA-programmable nuclease, when in a complex with an RNA, may be referred to as a nuclease:RNA complex. Typically, the bound RNA(s) is referred to as a guide RNA (gRNA). gRNAs can exist as a complex of two or more RNAs, or as a single RNA molecule. gRNAs that exist as a single RNA molecule may be referred to as single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs), though “gRNA” is used interchangeably to refer to guide RNAs that exist as either single molecules or as a complex of two or more molecules. Typically, gRNAs that exist as single RNA species comprise two domains: (1) a domain that shares homology to a target nucleic acid (e.g., and directs binding of a Cas9 complex to the target); and (2) a domain that binds a Cas9 protein. In some embodiments, domain (2) corresponds to a sequence known as a tracrRNA, and comprises a stem-loop structure. For example, in some embodiments, domain (2) is homologous to a tracrRNA as depicted in FIG. 1E of Jinek et al., Science 337:816-821(2012), the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. Other examples of gRNAs (e.g., those including domain 2) can be found in U.S. Provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 61/874,682, filed Sep. 6, 2013, entitled “Switchable Cas9 Nucleases And Uses Thereof,” and U.S. Provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 61/874,746, filed Sep. 6, 2013, entitled “Delivery System For Functional Nucleases,” the entire contents of each are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In some embodiments, a gRNA comprises two or more of domains (1) and (2), and may be referred to as an “extended gRNA.” For example, an extended gRNA will, e.g., bind two or more Cas9 proteins and bind a target nucleic acid at two or more distinct regions, as described herein. The gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence that complements a target site, which mediates binding of the nuclease/RNA complex to said target site, providing the sequence specificity of the nuclease:RNA complex. In some embodiments, the RNA-programmable nuclease is the (CRISPR-associated system) Cas9 endonuclease, for example Cas9 (Csn1) from Streptococcus pyogenes (see, e.g., “Complete genome sequence of an M1 strain of Streptococcus pyogenes.” Ferretti J. J., McShan W. M., Ajdic D. J., Savic D. J., Savic G., Lyon K., Primeaux C., Sezate S., Suvorov A. N., Kenton S., Lai H. S., Lin S. P., Qian Y., Jia H. G., Najar F. Z., Ren Q., Zhu H., Song L., White J., Yuan X., Clifton S. W., Roe B. A., McLaughlin R. E., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98:4658-4663(2001); “CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small RNA and host factor RNase III.” Deltcheva E., Chylinski K., Sharma C. M., Gonzales K., Chao Y., Pirzada Z. A., Eckert M. R., Vogel J., Charpentier E., Nature 471:602-607(2011); and “A programmable dual-RNA-guided DNA endonuclease in adaptive bacterial immunity.” Jinek M., Chylinski K., Fonfara I., Hauer M., Doudna J. A., Charpentier E. Science 337:816-821(2012), the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.


Because RNA-programmable nucleases (e.g., Cas9) use RNA:DNA hybridization to target DNA cleavage sites, these proteins are able to be targeted, in principle, to any sequence specified by the guide RNA. Methods of using RNA-programmable nucleases, such as Cas9, for site-specific cleavage (e.g., to modify a genome) are known in the art (see e.g., Cong, L. et al. Multiplex genome engineering using CRISPR/Cas systems. Science 339, 819-823 (2013); Mali, P. et al. RNA-guided human genome engineering via Cas9. Science 339, 823-826 (2013); Hwang, W. Y. et al. Efficient genome editing in zebrafish using a CRISPR-Cas system. Nature biotechnology 31, 227-229 (2013); Jinek, M. et al. RNA-programmed genome editing in human cells. eLife 2, e00471 (2013); Dicarlo, J. E. et al. Genome engineering in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using CRISPR-Cas systems. Nucleic acids research (2013); Jiang, W. et al. RNA-guided editing of bacterial genomes using CRISPR-Cas systems. Nature biotechnology 31, 233-239 (2013); the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference).


The term “subject,” as used herein, refers to an individual organism, for example, an individual mammal. In some embodiments, the subject is a human. In some embodiments, the subject is a non-human mammal. In some embodiments, the subject is a non-human primate. In some embodiments, the subject is a rodent. In some embodiments, the subject is a sheep, a goat, a cattle, a cat, or a dog. In some embodiments, the subject is a vertebrate, an amphibian, a reptile, a fish, an insect, a fly, or a nematode. In some embodiments, the subject is a research animal. In some embodiments, the subject is genetically engineered, e.g., a genetically engineered non-human subject. The subject may be of either sex and at any stage of development.


The term “target site” refers to a sequence within a nucleic acid molecule that is deaminated by a deaminase or a fusion protein comprising a deaminase, (e.g., a dCas9-deaminase fusion protein provided herein).


The terms “treatment,” “treat,” and “treating,” refer to a clinical intervention aimed to reverse, alleviate, delay the onset of, or inhibit the progress of a disease or disorder, or one or more symptoms thereof, as described herein. As used herein, the terms “treatment,” “treat,” and “treating” refer to a clinical intervention aimed to reverse, alleviate, delay the onset of, or inhibit the progress of a disease or disorder, or one or more symptoms thereof, as described herein. In some embodiments, treatment may be administered after one or more symptoms have developed and/or after a disease has been diagnosed. In other embodiments, treatment may be administered in the absence of symptoms, e.g., to prevent or delay onset of a symptom or inhibit onset or progression of a disease. For example, treatment may be administered to a susceptible individual prior to the onset of symptoms (e.g., in light of a history of symptoms and/or in light of genetic or other susceptibility factors). Treatment may also be continued after symptoms have resolved, for example, to prevent or delay their recurrence.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Some aspects of this disclosure provide fusion proteins that comprise a Cas9 domain that binds to a guide RNA (also referred to as gRNA or sgRNA), which, in turn, binds a target nucleic acid sequence via strand hybridization; and a DNA-editing domain, for example, a deaminase domain that can deaminate a nucleobase, such as, for example, cytidine. The deamination of a nucleobase by a deaminase can lead to a point mutation at the respective residue, which is referred to herein as nucleic acid editing. Fusion proteins comprising a Cas9 variant or domain and a DNA editing domain can thus be used for the targeted editing of nucleic acid sequences. Such fusion proteins are useful for targeted editing of DNA in vitro, e.g., for the generation of mutant cells or animals; for the introduction of targeted mutations, e.g., for the correction of genetic defects in cells ex vivo, e.g., in cells obtained from a subject that are subsequently re-introduced into the same or another subject; and for the introduction of targeted mutations, e.g., the correction of genetic defects or the introduction of deactivating mutations in disease-associated genes in a subject. Typically, the Cas9 domain of the fusion proteins described herein does not have any nuclease activity but instead is a Cas9 fragment or a dCas9 protein or domain. Methods for the use of Cas9 fusion proteins as described herein are also provided.


Non-limiting, exemplary nuclease-inactive Cas9 domains are provided herein. One exemplary suitable nuclease-inactive Cas9 domain is the D10A/H840A Cas9 domain mutant: MDKKYSIGLAIGTNSVGWAVITDEYKVPSKKFKVLGNTDRHSIKKNLIGALLFDSGETA EATRLKRTARRRYTRRKNRICYLQEIFSNEMAKVDDSFFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIF GNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLVDSTDKADLRLIYLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNS DVDKLFIQLVQTYNQLFEENPINASGVDAKAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPGEKKNGLFG NLIALSLGLTPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSKDTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYADLFLAAKNLSD AILLSDILRVNTEITKAPLSASMIKRYDEHHQDLTLLKALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGY AGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMDGTEELLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGEL HAILRRQEDFYPFLKDNREKIEKILTFRIPYYVGPLARGNSRFAWMTRKSEETITPWNFEE VVDKGASAQSFIERMTNFDKNLPNEKVLPKHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVKYVTEGMRKPA FLSGEQKKAIVDLLFKTNRKVTVKQLKEDYFKKIECFDSVEISGVEDRFNASLGTYHDLL KIIKDKDFLDNEENEDILEDIVLTLTLFEDREMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTG WGRLSRKLINGIRDKQSGKTILDFLKSDGFANRNFMQLIHDDSLTFKEDIQKAQVSGQG DSLHEHIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKVVDELVKVMGRHKPENIVIEMARENQTTQKGQKN SRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVENTQLQNEKLYLYYLQNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSD YDVDAIVPQSFLKDDSIDNKVLTRSDKNRGKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLIT QRKFDNLTKAERGGLSELDKAGFIKRQLVETRQITKHVAQILDSRMNTKYDENDKLIRE VKVITLKSKLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREINNYHHAHDAYLNAVVGTALIKKYPKLESEFVYG DYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYSNIMNFFKTEITLANGEIRKRPLIETNGETGEI VWDKGRDFATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEVQTGGFSKESILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKK YGGFDSPTVAYSVLVVAKVEKGKSKKLKSVKELLGITIMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKE VKKDLIIKLPKYSLFELENGRKRMLASAGELQKGNELALPSKYVNFLYLASHYEKLKGS PEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKRVILADANLDKVLSAYNKHRDKPIREQAENI IHLFTLTNLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRYTSTKEVLDATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGD (SEQ ID NO: 37; see, e.g., Qi et al., Repurposing CRISPR as an RNA-guided platform for sequence-specific control of gene expression. Cell. 2013; 152(5):1173-83, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference).


Additional suitable nuclease-inactive Cas9 domains will be apparent to those of skill in the art based on this disclosure. Such additional exemplary suitable nuclease-inactive Cas9 domains include, but are not limited to, D10A, D10A/D839A/H840A, and D10A/D839A/H840A/N863A mutant domains (See, e.g., Mali et al., CAS9 transcriptional activators for target specificity screening and paired nickases for cooperative genome engineering. Nature Biotechnology. 2013; 31(9): 833-838, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference).


Fusion Proteins Between Cas9 and Nucleic Acid Editing Enzymes or Domains


Some aspects of this disclosure provide fusion proteins comprising (i) a nuclease-inactive Cas9 enzyme or domain; and (ii) a nucleic acid-editing enzyme or domain. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-editing enzyme or domain is a DNA-editing enzyme or domain. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-editing enzyme possesses deaminase activity. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-editing enzyme or domain comprises or is a deaminase domain. In some embodiments, the deaminase is a cytidine deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing complex (APOBEC) family deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC1 family deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). In some embodiments, the deaminase is an ACF1/ASE deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an adenosine deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an ADAT family deaminase. Some nucleic-acid editing enzymes and domains as well as Cas9 fusion proteins including such enzymes or domains are described in detail herein. Additional suitable nucleic acid-editing enzymes or domains will be apparent to the skilled artisan based on this disclosure.


The instant disclosure provides Cas9:nucleic acid-editing enzyme/domain fusion proteins of various configurations. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-editing enzyme or domain is fused to the N-terminus of the Cas9 domain. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-editing enzyme or domain is fused to the C-terminus of the Cas9 domain. In some embodiments, the Cas9 domain and the nucleic acid-editing-editing enzyme or domain are fused via a linker. In some embodiments, the linker comprises a (GGGGS)n (SEQ ID NO: 91), a (G)n, an (EAAAK)n (SEQ ID NO: 5), or an (XP)n motif, or a combination of any of these, wherein n is independently an integer between 1 and 30. In some embodiments, n is independently 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30, or, if more than one linker or more than one linker motif is present, any combination thereof. Additional suitable linker motifs and linker configurations will be apparent to those of skill in the art. In some embodiments, suitable linker motifs and configurations include those described in Chen et al., Fusion protein linkers: property, design and functionality. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2013; 65(10):1357-69, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Additional suitable linker sequences will be apparent to those of skill in the art based on the instant disclosure.


In some embodiments, the general architecture of exemplary Cas9 fusion proteins provided herein comprises the structure:

    • [NH2]-[nucleic acid-editing enzyme or domain]-[Cas9]-[COOH] or
    • [NH2]-[Cas9]-[nucleic acid-editing enzyme or domain]-[COOH],


      wherein NH2 is the N-terminus of the fusion protein, and COOH is the C-terminus of the fusion protein.


Additional features may be present, for example, one or more linker sequences between the NLS and the rest of the fusion protein and/or between the nucleic acid-editing enzyme or domain and the Cas9. Other exemplary features that may be present are localization sequences, such as nuclear localization sequences, cytoplasmic localization sequences, export sequences, such as nuclear export sequences, or other localization sequences, as well as sequence tags that are useful for solubilization, purification, or detection of the fusion proteins. Suitable localization signal sequences and sequences of protein tags are provided herein, and include, but are not limited to, biotin carboxylase carrier protein (BCCP) tags, myc-tags, calmodulin-tags, FLAG-tags, hemagglutinin (HA)-tags, polyhistidine tags, also referred to as histidine tags or His-tags, maltose binding protein (MBP)-tags, nus-tags, glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-tags, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tags, thioredoxin-tags, S-tags, Softags (e.g., Softag 1, Softag 3), strep-tags, biotin ligase tags, FlAsH tags, V5 tags, and SBP-tags. Additional suitable sequences will be apparent to those of skill in the art.


In some embodiments, the nucleic acid-editing enzyme or domain is a deaminase. For example, in some embodiments, the general architecture of exemplary Cas9 fusion proteins with a deaminase enzyme or domain comprises the structure:

    • [NH2]-[NLS]-[Cas9]-[deaminase]-[COOH],
    • [NH2]-[NLS]-[deaminase]-[Cas9]-[COOH],
    • [NH2]-[Cas9]-[deaminase]-[COOH], or
    • [NH2]-[deaminase]-[Cas9]-[COOH]


      wherein NLS is a nuclear localization signal, NH2 is the N-terminus of the fusion protein, and COOH is the C-terminus of the fusion protein. In some embodiments, a linker is inserted between the Cas9 and the deaminase. In some embodiments, the NLS is located C-terminal of the deaminase and/or the Cas9 domain. In some embodiments, the NLS is located between the deaminase and the Cas9 domain. Additional features, such as sequence tags, may also be present


One exemplary suitable type of nucleic acid-editing enzymes and domains are cytosine deaminases, for example, of the APOBEC family. The apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing complex (APOBEC) family of cytosine deaminase enzymes encompasses eleven proteins that serve to initiate mutagenesis in a controlled and beneficial manner.29 One family member, activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), is responsible for the maturation of antibodies by converting cytosines in ssDNA to uracils in a transcription-dependent, strand-biased fashion.30 The apolipoprotein B editing complex 3 (APOBEC3) enzyme provides protection to human cells against a certain HIV-1 strain via the deamination of cytosines in reverse-transcribed viral ssDNA.31 These proteins all require a Zn2+-coordinating motif (His-X-Glu-X23-26-Pro-Cys-X2-4-Cys) and bound water molecule for catalytic activity. The Glu residue acts to activate the water molecule to a zinc hydroxide for nucleophilic attack in the deamination reaction. Each family member preferentially deaminates at its own particular “hotspot”, ranging from WRC (W is A or T, R is A or G) for hAID, to TTC for hAPOBEC3F.32 A recent crystal structure of the catalytic domain of APOBEC3G (FIG. 2) revealed a secondary structure comprised of a five-stranded β-sheet core flanked by six α-helices, which is believed to be conserved across the entire family.33 The active center loops have been shown to be responsible for both ssDNA binding and in determining “hotspot” identity.34 Overexpression of these enzymes has been linked to genomic instability and cancer, thus highlighting the importance of sequence-specific targeting.35


Another exemplary suitable type of nucleic acid-editing enzymes and domains are adenosine deaminases. For example, an ADAT family adenosine deaminase can be fused to a Cas9 domain, e.g., a nuclease-inactive Cas9 domain, thus yielding a Cas9-ADAT fusion protein.


Some aspects of this disclosure provide a systematic series of fusions between Cas9 and deaminase enzymes, e.g., cytosine deaminase enzymes such as APOBEC enzymes, or adenosine deaminase enzymes such as ADAT enzymes, that has been generated in order to direct the enzymatic activities of these deaminases to a specific site in genomic DNA. The advantages of using Cas9 as the recognition agent are twofold: (1) the sequence specificity of Cas9 can be easily altered by simply changing the sgRNA sequence; and (2) Cas9 binds to its target sequence by denaturing the dsDNA, resulting in a stretch of DNA that is single-stranded and therefore a viable substrate for the deaminase. Successful fusion proteins have been generated with human and mouse deaminase domains, e.g., AID domains. A variety of other fusion proteins between the catalytic domains of human and mouse AID and Cas9 are also contemplated. It will be understood that other catalytic domains, or catalytic domains from other deaminases, can also be used to generate fusion proteins with Cas9, and that the disclosure is not limited in this regard.


In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and AID are provided. In an effort to engineer Cas9 fusion proteins to increase mutation rates in ssDNA, both mouse and human AID were tethered to gene V of filamentous phage (a nonspecific ssDNA binding protein). The resulting fusion proteins exhibited enhanced mutagenic activities compared to the wild type enzymes in a cell-based assay. This work demonstrates that the enzymatic activity of these proteins is maintained in and can be successfully targeted to genetic sequences with fusion proteins.36


No crystal structure has yet been reported of Cas9 bound to its target DNA, and thus the portion of DNA that is single stranded in the Cas9-DNA complex (the size of the Cas9-DNA bubble) has not been delineated. However, it has been shown in a dCas9 system with a sgRNA specifically designed for the complex to interfere with transcription that transcriptional interference only occurs when the sgRNA binds to the non-template strand. This result suggests that certain portions of the DNA in the DNA-Cas9 complex are unguarded by Cas9, and could potentially be targeted by AID in the fusion protein.16 Accordingly, both N-terminal and C-terminal fusions of Cas9 with a deaminase domain are useful according to aspects of this disclosure.


In some embodiments, the deaminase domain and the Cas9 domain are fused to each other via a linker. Various linker lengths and flexibilities between the deaminase domain (e.g., AID) and the Cas9 domain can be employed (e.g., ranging from very flexible linkers of the form (GGGGS)n (SEQ ID NO: 91) and (G)n to more rigid linkers of the form (EAAAK)n (SEQ ID NO: 5) and (XP)n)37 in order to achieve the optimal length for deaminase activity for the specific application.


Some exemplary suitable nucleic-acid editing enzymes and domains, e.g., deaminases and deaminase domains, that can be fused to Cas9 domains according to aspects of this disclosure are provided below. It will be understood that, in some embodiments, the active domain of the respective sequence can be used, e.g., the domain without a localizing signal (nuclear localizing signal, without nuclear export signal, cytoplasmic localizing signal).










Human AID:



(SEQ ID NO: 6)




MDSLLMNRRKFLYQFKNVRWAKGRRETYLCYVVKRRDSATSFSLDFGYLRNKNGCHVELLFLRYISDWDLDPGRCYRVTWF







TSWSPCYDCARHVADFLRGNPNLSLRIFTARLYFCEDRKAEPEGLRRLHRAGVQIAIMTFKDYFYCWNTFVENHERTFKAW





EGLHENSVRLSRQLRRILLPLYEVDDLRDAFRTLGL


(underline: nuclear localization signal; double underline: nuclear export signal)





Mouse AID:


(SEQ ID NO: 7)




MDSLLMKQKKFLYHFKNVRWAKGRHETYLCYVVKRRDSATSCSLDFGHLRNKSGCHVELLFLRYISDWDLDPGRCYRVTWF







TSWSPCYDCARHVAEFLRWNPNLSLRIFTARLYFCEDRKAEPEGLRRLHRAGVQIGIMTFKDYFYCWNTFVENRERTFKAW





EGLHENSVRLTRQLRRILLPLYEVDDLRDAFRMLGF


(underline: nuclear localization signal; double underline: nuclear export signal)





Dog AID:


(SEQ ID NO: 8)




MDSLLMKQRKFLYHFKNVRWAKGRHETYLCYVVKRRDSATSFSLDFGHLRNKSGCHVELLFLRYISDWDLDPGRCYRVTWF







TSWSPCYDCARHVADFLRGYPNLSLRIFAARLYFCEDRKAEPEGLRRLHRAGVQIAIMTFKDYFYCWNTFVENREKTFKAW





EGLHENSVRLSRQLRRILLPLYEVDDLRDAFRTLGL


(underline: nuclear localization signal; double underline: nuclear export signal)





Bovine AID:


(SEQ ID NO: 9)




MDSLLKKQRQFLYQFKNVRWAKGRHETYLCYVVKRRDSPTSFSLDFGHLRNKAGCHVELLFLRYISDWDLDPGRCYRVTWF







TSWSPCYDCARHVADFLRGYPNLSLRIFTARLYFCDKERKAEPEGLRRLHRAGVQIAIMTFKDYFYCWNTFVENHERTFKA





WEGLHENSVRLSRQLRRILLPLYEVDDLRDAFRTLGL


(underline: nuclear localization signal; double underline: nuclear export signal)





Mouse APOBEC-3:


(SEQ ID NO: 10)



MGPFCLGCSHRKCYSPIRNLISQETFKFHFKNLGYAKGRKDTFLCYEVTRKDCDSPVSLHHGVFKNKDNIHAEICFLYWFH







DKVLKVLSPREEFKITWYMSWSPCFECAEQIVRFLATHHNLSLDIFSSRLYNVQDPETQQNLCRLVQEGAQVAAMDLYEFK






KCWKKFVDNGGRRFRPWKRLLTNFRYQDSKLQEILRPCYIPVPSSSSSTLSNICLTKGLPETRFCVEGRRMDPLSEEEFYS





QFYNQRVKHLCYYHRMKPYLCYQLEQFNGQAPLKGCLLSEKGKQHAEILFLDKIRSMELSQVTITCYLTWSPCPNCAWQLA





AFKRDRPDLILHIYTSRLYFHWKRPFQKGLCSLWQSGILVDVMDLPQFTDCWTNFVNPKRPFWPWKGLEIISRRTQRRLRR





IKESWGLQDLVNDFGNLQLGPPMS


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain)





Rat APOBEC-3:


(SEQ ID NO: 11)



MGPFCLGCSHRKCYSPIRNLISQETFKFHFKNLRYAIDRKDTFLCYEVTRKDCDSPVSLHHGVFKNKDNIHAEICFLYWFH







DKVLKVLSPREEFKITWYMSWSPCFECAEQVLRFLATHHNLSLDIFSSRLYNIRDPENQQNLCRLVQEGAQVAAMDLYEFK






KCWKKFVDNGGRRFRPWKKLLTNFRYQDSKLQEILRPCYIPVPSSSSSTLSNICLTKGLPETRFCVERRRVHLLSEEEFYS





QFYNQRVKHLCYYHGVKPYLCYQLEQFNGQAPLKGCLLSEKGKQHAEILFLDKIRSMELSQVIITCYLTWSPCPNCAWQLA





AFKRDRPDLILHIYTSRLYFHWKRPFQKGLCSLWQSGILVDVMDLPQFTDCWTNFVNPKRPFWPWKGLEIISRRTQRRLHR





IKESWGLQDLVNDFGNLQLGPPMS


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain)





Rhesus macaque APOBEC-3G:


(SEQ ID NO: 12)




MVEPMDPRTFVSNFNNRPILSGLNTVWLCCEVKTKDPSGPPLDAKIFQGKVYSKAKYHPEM
RFLRWFHKWRQLHHDQEYKV








TWYVSWSPCTRCANSVATFLAKDPKVTLTIFVARLYYFWKPDYQQALRILCQKRGGPHATMKIMNYNEFQDCWNKFVDGRG






KPFKPRNNLPKHYTLLQATLGELLRHLMDPGTFTSNFNNKPWVSGQHETYLCYKVERLHNDTWVPLNQHRGFLRNQAPNIH





GFPKGRHAELCFLDLIPFWKLDGQQYRVTCFTSWSPCFSCAQEMAKFISNNEHVSLCIFAARIYDDQGRYQEGLRALHRDG





AKIAMMNYSEFEYCWDTFVDRQGRPFQPWDGLDEHSQALSGRLRAI


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain; underline: cytoplasmic localization signal)





Chimpanzee APOBEC-3G:


(SEQ ID NO: 13)




MKPHFRNPVERMYQDTFSDNFYNRPILSHRNTVWLCYEVKTKGPSRPPLDAKIFRGQVYSKLKYHPEMRFFHWFSKWRKLH








RDQEYEVTWYISWSPCTKCTRDVATFLAEDPKVTLTIFVARLYYFWDPDYQEALRSLCQKRDGPRATMKIMNYDEFQHCWS






KFVYSQRELFEPWNNLPKYYILLHIMLGEILRHSMDPPTFTSNFNNELWVRGRHETYLCYEVERLHNDTWVLLNQRRGFLC





NQAPHKHGFLEGRHAELCFLDVIPFWKLDLHQDYRVTCFTSWSPCFSCAQEMAKFISNNKHVSLCIFAARIYDDQGRCQEG





LRTLAKAGAKISIMTYSEFKHCWDTFVDHQGCPFQPWDGLEEHSQALSGRLRAILQNQGN


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain; underline: cytoplasmic localization signal)





Green monkey APOBEC-3G:


(SEQ ID NO: 14)




MNPQIRNMVEQMEPDIFVYYFNNRPILSGRNTVWLCYEVKTKDPSGPPLDANIFQGKLYPEAKDHPEMKFLHWFRKWRQLH








RDQEYEVTWYVSWSPCTRCANSVATFLAEDPKVTLTIFVARLYYFWKPDYQQALRILCQERGGPHATMKIIVINYNEFQHC






WNEFVDGQGKPFKPRKNLPKHYTLLHATLGELLRHVMDPGTFTSNFNNKPWVSGQRETYLCYKVERSHNDTWVLLNQHRGF





LRNQAPDRHGFPKGRHAELCFLDLIPFWKLDDQQYRVTCFTSWSPCFSCAQKMAKFISNNKHVSLCIFAARIYDDQGRCQE





GLRTLHRDGAKIAVMNYSEFEYCWDTFVDRQGRPFQPWDGLDEHSQALSGRLRAI


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain; underline: cytoplasmic localization signal)





Human APOBEC-3G:


(SEQ ID NO: 15)




MKPHFRNTVERMYRDTFSYNFYNRPILSRRNTVWLCYEVKTKGPSRPPLDAKIFRGQVYSELKYHPEMRFFHWFSKWRKLH








RDQEYEVTWYISWSPCTKCTRDMATFLAEDPKVTLTIFVARLYYFWDPDYQEALRSLCQKRDGPRATMKIMNYDEFQHCWS






KFVYSQRELFEPWNNLPKYYILLHIMLGEILRHSMDPPTFTFNFNNEPWVRGRHETYLCYEVERMHNDTWVLLNQRRGFLC





NQAPHKHGFLEGRHAELCFLDVIPFWKLDLDQDYRVTCFTSWSPCFSCAQEMAKFISKNKHVSLCIFTARIYDDQGRCQEG





LRTLAEAGAKISIMTYSEFKHCWDTFVDHQGCPFQPWDGLDEHSQDLSGRLRAILQNQEN


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain; underline: cytoplasmic localization signal)





Human APOBEC-3F:


(SEQ ID NO: 16)



MKPHFRNTVERMYRDTFSYNFYNRPILSRRNTVWLCYEVKTKGPSRPRLDAKIFRGQVYSQPEHHAEMCFLSWFCGNQLPA







YKCFQITWFVSWTPCPDCVAKLAEFLAEHPNVTLTISAARLYYYWERDYRRALCRLSQAGARVKIMDDEEFAYCWENFVYS






EGQPFMPWYKFDDNYAFLHRTLKEILRNPMEAMYPHIFYFHFKNLRKAYGRNESWLCFTMEVVKHHSPVSWKRGVFRNQVD





PETHCHAERCFLSWFCDDILSPNTNYEVTWYTSWSPCPECAGEVAEFLARHSNVNLTIFTARLYYFWDTDYQEGLRSLSQE





GASVEIMGYKDFKYCWENFVYNDDEPFKPWKGLKYNFLFLDSKLQEILE


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain)





Human APOBEC-3B:


(SEQ ID NO: 17)



MNPQIRNPMERMYRDTFYDNFENEPILYGRSYTWLCYEVKIKRGRSNLLWDTGVFRGQVYFKPQYHAEMCFLSWFCGNQLP







AYKCFQITWFVSVVTPCPDCVAKLAEFLSEHPNVTLTISAARLYYYWERDYRRALCRLSQAGARVTIMDYEEFAYCWENFV






YNEGQQFMPWYKFDENYAFLHRTLKEILRYLMDPDTFTFNFNNDPLVLRRRQTYLCYEVERLDNGTWVLMDQHMGFLCNEA





KNLLCGFYGRHAELRFLDLVPSLQLDPAQIYRVTWFISWSPCFSWGCAGEVRAFLQENTHVRLRIFAARIYDYDPLYKEAL





QMLRDAGAQVSIMTYDEFEYCWDTFVYRQGCPFQPWDGLEEHSQALSGRLRAILQNQGN


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain)





Human APOBEC-3C:


(SEQ ID NO: 18)



MNPQIRNPMKAMYPGTFYFQFKNLWEANDRNETWLCFTVEGIKRRSVVSWKTGVFRNQVDSETHCHAERCFLSWFCDDILS







PNTKYQVTWYTSWSPCPDCAGEVAEFLARHSNVNLTIFTARLYYFQYPCYQEGLRSLSQEGVAVEIMDYEDFKYCWENFVY






NDNEPFKPWKGLKTNFRLLKRRLRESLQ


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain)





Human APOBEC-3A:


(SEQ ID NO: 19)



MEASPASGPRHLMDPHIFTSNFNNGIGRHKTYLCYEVERLDNGTSVKMDQHRGFLHNQAKNLLCGFYGRHAELRFLDLVPS







LQLDPAQIYRVTWFISWSPCFSWGCAGEVRAFLQENTHVRLRIFAARIYDYDPLYKEALQMLRDAGAQVSIIVITYDEFKH






CWDTFVDHQGCPFQPWDGLDEHSQALSGRLRAILQNQGN


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain)





Human APOBEC-3H:


(SEQ ID NO: 20)



MALLTAETFRLQFNNKRRLRRPYYPRKALLCYQLTPQNGSTPTRGYFENKKKCHAEICFINEIKSMGLDETQCYQVTCYLT







WSPCSSCAWELVDFIKAHDHLNLGIFASRLYYHWCKPQQKGLRLLCGSQVPVEVMGFPKFADCWENFVDHEKPLSFNPYKM






LEELDKNSRAIKRRLERIKIPGVRAQGRYMDILCDAEV


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain)





Human APOBEC-3D:


(SEQ ID NO: 21)



MNPQIRNPMERMYRDTFYDNFENEPILYGRSYTWLCYEVKIKRGRSNLLWDTGVFRGPVLPKRQSNHRQEVYFRFENHAEM







CFLSWFCGNRLPANRRFQITWFVSWNPCLPCVVKVTKFLAEHPNVTLTISAARLYYYRDRDWRWVLLRLHKAGARVKIMDY






EDFAYCWENFVCNEGQPFMPWYKFDDNYASLHRTLKEILRNPMEAMYPHIFYFHFKNLLKACGRNESWLCFTMEVTKHHSA





VFRKRGVFRNQVDPETHCHAERCFLSWFCDDILSPNTNYEVTWYTSWSPCPECAGEVAEFLARHSNVNLTIFTARLCYFWD





TDYQEGLCSLSQEGASVKIMGYKDFVSCWKNFVYSDDEPFKPWKGLQTNFRLLKRRLREILQ


(italic: nucleic acid editing domain)





Human APOBEC-1:


(SEQ ID NO: 22)



MTSEKGPSTGDPTLRRRIEPWEFDVFYDPRELRKEACLLYEIKWGMSRKIVVRSSGKNTTNHVEVNFIKKFTSERDFHPSM






SCSITWFLSWSPCWECSQAIREFLSRHPGVTLVIYVARLFWHMDQQNRQGLRDLVNSGVTIQIMRASEYYHCWRNFVNYPP





GDEAHWPQYPPLWMMLYALELHCIILSLPPCLKISRRWQNHLTFFRLHLQNCHYQTIPPHILLATGLIHPSVAWR





Mouse APOBEC-1:


(SEQ ID NO: 23)



MSSETGPVAVDPTLRRRIEPHEFEVFFDPRELRKETCLLYEINWGGRHSVWRHTSQNTSNHVEVNFLEKFTTERYFRPNTR






CSITWFLSWSPCGECSRAITEFLSRHPYVTLFIYIARLYHHTDQRNRQGLRDLISSGVTIQIMTEQEYCYCWRNFVNYPPS





NEAYWPRYPHLWVKLYVLELYCIILGLPPCLKILRRKQPQLTFFTITLQTCHYQRIPPHLLWATGLK





Rat APOBEC-1:


(SEQ ID NO: 24)



MSSETGPVAVDPTLRRRIEPHEFEVFFDPRELRKETCLLYEINWGGRHSIVVRHTSQNTNKHVEVNFIEKFTTERYFCPNT






RCSITWFLSWSPCGECSRAITEFLSRYPHVTLFIYIARLYHHADPRNRQGLRDLISSGVTIQIMTEQESGYCWRNFVNYSP





SNEAHWPRYPHLWVRLYVLELYCIILGLPPCLNILRRKQPQLTFFTIALQSCHYQRLPPHILWATGLK





Human ADAT-2:


(SEQ ID NO: 25)



MEAKAAPKPAASGACSVSAEETEKWMEEAMHMAKEALENTEVPVGCLMVYNNEVVGKGRNEVNQTKNATRHAEMVAIDQVL






DWCRQSGKSPSEVFEHTVLYVTVEPCIMCAAALRLMKIPLVVYGCQNERFGGCGSVLNIASADLPNTGRPFQCIPGYRAEE





AVEMLKTFYKQENPNAPKSKVRKKECQKS





Mouse ADAT-2:


(SEQ ID NO: 26)



MEEKVESTTTPDGPCVVSVQETEKWMEEAMRMAKEALENIEVPVGCLMVYNNEVVGKGRNEVNQTKNATRHAEMVAIDQVL






DWCHQHGQSPSTVFEHTVLYVTVEPCIMCAAALRLMKIPLVVYGCQNERFGGCGSVLNIASADLPNTGRPFQCIPGYRAEE





AVELLKTFYKQENPNAPKSKVRKKDCQKS





Mouse ADAT-1:


(SEQ ID NO: 27)



MWTADEIAQLCYAHYNVRLPKQGKPEPNREWTLLAAVVKIQASANQACDIPEKEVQVTKEVVSMGTGTKCIGQSKMRESGD







ILNDSHAEHARRSFQRYLLHQLHLAAVLKEDSIFVPGTQRGLWRLRPDLSFVFFSSHTPCGDASIIPMLEFEEQPCCPVIR







SWANNSPVQETENLEDSKDKRNCEDPASPVAKKMRLGTPARSLSNCVAHHGTQESGPVKPDVSSSDLTKEEPDAANGIASG







SFRVVDVYRTGAKCVPGETGDLREPGAAYHQVGLLRVKPGRGDRTCSMSCSDKMARWNVLGCQGALLMHFLEKPIYLSAVV







IGKCPYSQEAMRRALTGRCEETLVLPRGFGVQELEIQQSGLLFEQSRCAVHRKRGDSPGRLVPCGAAISWSAVPQQPLDVT







ANGFPQGTTKKEIGSPRARSRISKVELFRSFQKLLSSIADDEQPDSIRVTKKLDTYQEYKDAASAYQEAWGALRRIQPFAS







WIRNPPDYHQFK



(italic: nucleic acid editing domain)





Human ADAT-1:


(SEQ ID NO: 28)



MWTADEIAQLCYEHYGIRLPKKGKPEPNHEWTLLAAVVKIQSPADKACDTPDKPVQVTKEVVSMGTGTKCIGQSKMRKNGD







ILNDSHAEVIARRSFQRYLLHQLQLAATLKEDSIFVPGTQKGVWKLRRDLIFVFFSSHTPCGDASIIPMLEFEDQPCCPVF







RNWAHNSSVEASSNLEAPGNERKCEDPDSPVTKKMRLEPGTAAREVTNGAAHHQSFGKQKSGPISPGIHSCDLTVEGLATV







TRIAPGSAKVIDVYRTGAKCVPGEAGDSGKPGAAFHQVGLLRVKPGRGDRTRSMSCSDKMARWNVLGCQGALLMHLLEEPI







YLSAVVIGKCPYSQEAMQRALIGRCQNVSALPKGFGVQELKILQSDLLFEQSRSAVQAKRADSPGRLVPCGAAISWSAVPE







QPLDVTANGFPQGTTKKTIGSLQARSQISKVELFRSFQKLLSRIARDKWPHSLRVQKLDTYQEYKEAASSYQEAWSTLRKQ







VFGSWIRNPPDYHQFK



(italic: nucleic acid editing domain)






In some embodiments, fusion proteins as provided herein comprise the full-length amino acid of a nucleic acid-editing enzyme, e.g., one of the sequences provided above. In other embodiments, however, fusion proteins as provided herein do not comprise a full-length sequence of a nucleic acid-editing enzyme, but only a fragment thereof. For example, in some embodiments, a fusion protein provided herein comprises a Cas9 domain and a fragment of a nucleic acid-editing enzyme, e.g., wherein the fragment comprises a nucleic acid-editing domain. Exemplary amino acid sequences of nucleic acid-editing domains are shown in the sequences above as italicized letters, and additional suitable sequences of such domains will be apparent to those of skill in the art.


Additional suitable nucleic-acid editing enzyme sequences, e.g., deaminase enzyme and domain sequences, that can be used according to aspects of this invention, e.g., that can be fused to a nuclease-inactive Cas9 domain, will be apparent to those of skill in the art based on this disclosure. In some embodiments, such additional enzyme sequences include deaminase enzyme or deaminase domain sequences that are at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% similar to the sequences provided herein. Additional suitable Cas9 domains, variants, and sequences will also be apparent to those of skill in the art. Examples of such additional suitable Cas9 domains include, but are not limited to, D10A, D10A/D839A/H840A, and D10A/D839A/H840A/N863A mutant domains (See, e.g., Mali et al., CAS9 transcriptional activators for target specificity screening and paired nickases for cooperative genome engineering. Nature Biotechnology. 2013; 31(9): 833-838 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference).


Additional suitable strategies for generating fusion proteins comprising a Cas9 domain and a deaminase domain will be apparent to those of skill in the art based on this disclosure in combination with the general knowledge in the art. Suitable strategies for generating fusion proteins according to aspects of this disclosure using linkers or without the use of linkers will also be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the instant disclosure and the knowledge in the art. For example, Gilbert et al., CRISPR-mediated modular RNA-guided regulation of transcription in eukaryotes. Cell. 2013; 154(2):442-51, showed that C-terminal fusions of Cas9 with VP64 using 2 NLS's as a linker (SPKKKRKVEAS, SEQ ID NO: 29), can be employed for transcriptional activation. Mali et al., CAS9 transcriptional activators for target specificity screening and paired nickases for cooperative genome engineering. Nat Biotechnol. 2013; 31(9):833-8, reported that C-terminal fusions with VP64 without linker can be employed for transcriptional activation. And Maeder et al., CRISPR RNA-guided activation of endogenous human genes. Nat Methods. 2013; 10: 977-979, reported that C-terminal fusions with VP64 using a Gly4Ser (SEQ ID NO:91) linker can be used as transcriptional activators.


Use of Cas9 DNA Editing Fusion Proteins for Correcting Disease-Associated Mutations


Some embodiments provide methods for using the Cas9 DNA editing fusion proteins provided herein. In some embodiments, the fusion protein is used to introduce a point mutation into a nucleic acid by deaminating a target nucleobase, e.g., a C residue. In some embodiments, the deamination of the target nucleobase results in the correction of a genetic defect, e.g., in the correction of a point mutation that leads to a loss of function in a gene product. In some embodiments, the genetic defect is associated with a disease or disorder, e.g., a lysosomal storage disorder or a metabolic disease, such as, for example, type I diabetes. In some embodiments, the methods provided herein are used to introduce a deactivating point mutation into a gene or allele that encodes a gene product that is associated with a disease or disorder. For example, in some embodiments, methods are provided herein that employ a Cas9 DNA editing fusion protein to introduce a deactivating point mutation into an oncogene (e.g., in the treatment of a proliferative disease). A deactivating mutation may, in some embodiments, generate a premature stop codon in a coding sequence, which results in the expression of a truncated gene product, e.g., a truncated protein lacking the function of the full-length protein.


In some embodiments, the purpose of the methods provide herein is to restore the function of a dysfunctional gene via genome editing. The Cas9 deaminase fusion proteins provided herein can be validated for gene editing-based human therapeutics in vitro, e.g., by correcting a disease-associated mutation in human cell culture. It will be understood by the skilled artisan that the fusion proteins provided herein, e.g., the fusion proteins comprising a Cas9 domain and a nucleic acid deaminase domain can be used to correct any single point T→C or A→G mutation. In the first case, deamination of the mutant C back to U corrects the mutation, and in the latter case, deamination of the C that is base-paired with the mutant G, followed by a round of replication, corrects the mutation.


An exemplary disease-relevant mutation that can be corrected by the provided fusion proteins in vitro or in vivo is the H1047R (A3140G) polymorphism in the PI3KCA protein. The phosphoinositide-3-kinase, catalytic alpha subunit (PI3KCA) protein acts to phosphorylate the 3-OH group of the inositol ring of phosphatidylinositol. The PI3KCA gene has been found to be mutated in many different carcinomas, and thus it is considered to be a potent oncogene.50 In fact, the A3140G mutation is present in several NCI-60 cancer cell lines, such as, for example, the HCT116, SKOV3, and T47D cell lines, which are readily available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC).51


In some embodiments, a cell carrying a mutation to be corrected, e.g., a cell carrying a point mutation, e.g., an A3140G point mutation in exon 20 of the PI3KCA gene, resulting in a H1047R substitution in the PI3KCA protein, is contacted with an expression construct encoding a Cas9 deaminase fusion protein and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the respective mutation site in the encoding PI3KCA gene. Control experiments can be performed where the sgRNAs are designed to target the fusion enzymes to non-C residues that are within the PI3KCA gene. Genomic DNA of the treated cells can be extracted, and the relevant sequence of the PI3KCA genes PCR amplified and sequenced to assess the activities of the fusion proteins in human cell culture.


It will be understood that the example of correcting point mutations in PI3KCA is provided for illustration purposes and is not meant to limit the instant disclosure. The skilled artisan will understand that the instantly disclosed DNA-editing fusion proteins can be used to correct other point mutations and mutations associated with other cancers and with diseases other than cancer including other proliferative diseases.


The successful correction of point mutations in disease-associated genes and alleles opens up new strategies for gene correction with applications in therapeutics and basic research. Site-specific single-base modification systems like the disclosed fusions of Cas9 and deaminase enzymes or domains also have applications in “reverse” gene therapy, where certain gene functions are purposely suppressed or abolished. In these cases, site-specifically mutating Trp (TGG), Gln (CAA and CAG), or Arg (CGA) residues to premature stop codons (TAA, TAG, TGA) can be used to abolish protein function in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo.


The instant disclosure provides methods for the treatment of a subject diagnosed with a disease associated with or caused by a point mutation that can be corrected by a Cas9 DNA editing fusion protein provided herein. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that comprises administering to a subject having such a disease, e.g., a cancer associated with a PI3KCA point mutation as described above, an effective amount of a Cas9 deaminase fusion protein that corrects the point mutation or introduces a deactivating mutation into the disease-associated gene. In some embodiments, the disease is a proliferative disease. In some embodiments, the disease is a genetic disease. In some embodiments, the disease is a neoplastic disease. In some embodiments, the disease is a metabolic disease. In some embodiments, the disease is a lysosomal storage disease. Other diseases that can be treated by correcting a point mutation or introducing a deactivating mutation into a disease-associated gene will be known to those of skill in the art, and the disclosure is not limited in this respect.


The instant disclosure provides methods for the treatment of additional diseases or disorders, e.g., diseases or disorders that are associated or caused by a point mutation that can be corrected by deaminase-mediated gene editing. Some such diseases are described herein, and additional suitable diseases that can be treated with the strategies and fusion proteins provided herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art based on the instant disclosure. Exemplary suitable diseases and disorders are listed below. It will be understood that the numbering of the specific positions or residues in the respective sequences depends on the particular protein and numbering scheme used. Numbering might be different, e.g., in precursors of a mature protein and the mature protein itself, and differences in sequences from species to species may affect numbering. One of skill in the art will be able to identify the respective residue in any homologous protein and in the respective encoding nucleic acid by methods well known in the art, e.g., by sequence alignment and determination of homologous residues. Exemplary suitable diseases and disorders include, without limitation, cystic fibrosis (see, e.g., Schwank et al., Functional repair of CFTR by CRISPR/Cas9 in intestinal stem cell organoids of cystic fibrosis patients. Cell stem cell. 2013; 13: 653-658; and Wu et. al., Correction of a genetic disease in mouse via use of CRISPR-Cas9. Cell stem cell. 2013; 13: 659-662, neither of which uses a deaminase fusion protein to correct the genetic defect); phenylketonuria—e.g., phenylalanine to serine mutation at position 835 (mouse) or 240 (human) or a homologous residue in phenylalanine hydroxylase gene (T>C mutation)—see, e.g., McDonald et al., Genomics. 1997; 39:402-405; Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS)—e.g., phenylalanine to serine mutation at position 55 or a homologous residue, or cysteine to arginine at residue 24 or a homologous residue in the platelet membrane glycoprotein IX (T>C mutation)—see, e.g., Noris et al., British Journal of Haematology. 1997; 97: 312-320, and Ali et al., Hematol. 2014; 93: 381-384; epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EHK)—e.g., leucine to proline mutation at position 160 or 161 (if counting the initiator methionine) or a homologous residue in keratin 1 (T>C mutation)—see, e.g., Chipev et al., Cell. 1992; 70: 821-828, see also accession number P04264 in the UNIPROT database at www[dot]uniprot[dot]org; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—e.g., leucine to proline mutation at position 54 or 55 (if counting the initiator methionine) or a homologous residue in the processed form of α1-antitrypsin or residue 78 in the unprocessed form or a homologous residue (T>C mutation)—see, e.g., Poller et al., Genomics. 1993; 17: 740-743, see also accession number P01011 in the UNIPROT database; Charcot-Marie-Toot disease type 4J—e.g., isoleucine to threonine mutation at position 41 or a homologous residue in FIG4 (T>C mutation)—see, e.g., Lenk et al., PLoS Genetics. 2011; 7: e1002104; neuroblastoma (NB)—e.g., leucine to proline mutation at position 197 or a homologous residue in Caspase-9 (T>C mutation)—see, e.g., Kundu et al., 3 Biotech. 2013, 3:225-234; von Willebrand disease (vWD)—e.g., cysteine to arginine mutation at position 509 or a homologous residue in the processed form of von Willebrand factor, or at position 1272 or a homologous residue in the unprocessed form of von Willebrand factor (T>C mutation)—see, e.g., Lavergne et al., Br. J. Haematol. 1992, see also accession number P04275 in the UNIPROT database; 82: 66-72; myotonia congenital—e.g., cysteine to arginine mutation at position 277 or a homologous residue in the muscle chloride channel gene CLCN1 (T>C mutation)—see, e.g., Weinberger et al., The J. of Physiology. 2012; 590: 3449-3464; hereditary renal amyloidosis—e.g., stop codon to arginine mutation at position 78 or a homologous residue in the processed form of apolipoprotein AII or at position 101 or a homologous residue in the unprocessed form (T>C mutation)—see, e.g., Yazaki et al., Kidney Int. 2003; 64: 11-16; dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)—e.g., tryptophan to Arginine mutation at position 148 or a homologous residue in the FOXD4 gene (T>C mutation), see, e.g., Minoretti et. al., Int. J. of Mol. Med. 2007; 19: 369-372; hereditary lymphedema—e.g., histidine to arginine mutation at position 1035 or a homologous residue in VEGFR3 tyrosine kinase (A>G mutation), see, e.g., Irrthum et al., Am. J. Hum. Genet. 2000; 67: 295-301; familial Alzheimer's disease—e.g., isoleucine to valine mutation at position 143 or a homologous residue in presenilin1 (A>G mutation), see, e.g., Gallo et. al., J. Alzheimer's disease. 2011; 25: 425-431; Prion disease—e.g., methionine to valine mutation at position 129 or a homologous residue in prion protein (A>G mutation)—see, e.g., Lewis et. al., J. of General Virology. 2006; 87: 2443-2449; chronic infantile neurologic cutaneous articular syndrome (CINCA)—e.g., Tyrosine to Cysteine mutation at position 570 or a homologous residue in cryopyrin (AG mutation)—see, e.g., Fujisawa et. al. Blood. 2007; 109: 2903-2911; and desmin-related myopathy (DRM)—e.g., arginine to glycine mutation at position 120 or a homologous residue in αB crystallin (A>G mutation)—see, e.g., Kumar et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1999; 274: 24137-24141. The entire contents of all references and database entries is incorporated herein by reference.


It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that in order to target a Cas9:nucleic acid-editing enzyme/domain fusion protein as disclosed herein to a target site, e.g., a site comprising a point mutation to be edited, it is typically necessary to co-express the Cas9:nucleic acid-editing enzyme/domain fusion protein together with a guide RNA, e.g., an sgRNA. As explained in more detail elsewhere herein, a guide RNA typically comprises a tracrRNA framework allowing for Cas9 binding, and a guide sequence, which confers sequence specificity to the Cas9:nucleic acid-editing enzyme/domain fusion protein. In some embodiments, the guide RNA comprises a structure 5′-[guide sequence]-guuuuagagcuagaaauagcaaguu aaaauaaaggcuaguccguuaucaacuugaaaaaguggcaccgagucggugcuuuuu-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 38), wherein the guide sequence comprises a sequence that is complementary to the target sequence. The guide sequence is typically 20 nucleotides long. The sequences of suitable guide RNAs for targeting Cas9:nucleic acid-editing enzyme/domain fusion proteins to specific genomic target sites will be apparent to those of skill in the art based on the instant disclosure. Such suitable guide RNA sequences typically comprise guide sequences that are complementary to a nucleic sequence within 50 nucleotides upstream or downstream of the target nucleotide to be edited. Some exemplary guide RNA sequences suitable for targeting Cas9:nucleic acid-editing enzyme/domain fusion proteins to specific target sequences are provided below.


H1047R (A3140G) polymorphism in the phosphoinositide-3-kinase catalytic alpha subunit (PI3KCA or PIK3CA) (the position of the mutated nucleotide and the respective codon are underlined):










gatgacattgcatacattcgaaagaccctagccttagataaaactgagcaagaggctttg



 D  D  I  A  Y  I  R  K  T  L  A  L  D  K  T  E  Q  E  A  L





gagtatttcatgaaacaaatgaatgatgcacgtcatggtggctggacaacaaaaatggat


 E  Y  F  M  K  Q  M  N  D  A  R  H  G  G  W  T  T  K  M  D





tggatcttccacacaattaaacagcatgcattgaactgaaagataactgagaaaatgaaa


 W  I  F  H  T  I  K  Q  H  A  L  N  -  K  I  T  E  K  M  K


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 39; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 40).






Exemplary suitable guide sequences for targeting a Cas9:nucleic acid-editing enzyme/domain fusion proteins to the mutant A3140G residue include, without limitation: 5′-aucggaauctauuuugacuc-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 41); 5′-ucggaaucuauuuugacucg-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 42); 5′-cuuagauaaaacugagcaag-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 43); 5′-aucuauuuugacucguucuc-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 44); 5′-uaaaacugagcaagaggcuu-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 45); 5′-ugguggcuggacaacaaaaa-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 46); 5′-gcuggacaacaaaaauggau-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 47); 5′-guguuaauuugucguacgua-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 48). Additional suitable guide sequences for targeting a Cas9:nucleic acid-editing enzyme/domain fusion protein to a mutant PI3KCA sequence, to any of the additional sequences provided below, or to additional mutant sequences associated with a disease will be apparent to those of skill in the art based on the instant disclosure.


Phenylketonuria phenylalanine to serine mutation at residue 240 in phenylalanine hydroxylase gene (T>C mutation) (the position of the mutated nucleotide and the respective codon are underlined):










aatcacatttttccacttcttgaaaagtactgtggcttccatgaagataacattccccag



 N  H  I  F  P  L  L  E  K  Y  C  G  F  H  E  D  N  I  P  Q





ctggaagacgtttctcaattcctgcagacttgcactggtctccgcctccgacctgtggct


 L  E  D  V  S  Q  F  L  Q  T  C  T  G  S  R  L  R  P  V  A





ggcctgctttcctctcgggatttcttgggtggcctggccttccgagtcttccactgcaca


 G  L  L  S  S  R  D  F  L  G  G  L  A  F  R  V  F  H  C  T


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 49;protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 50).






Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS)—cysteine to arginine at residue 24 in the platelet membrane glycoprotein IX (T>C mutation):










atgcctgcctggggagccctgttcctgctctgggccacagcagaggccaccaaggactgc



 M  P  A  W  G  A  L  F  L  L  W  A  T  A  E  A  T  K  D  C





cccagcccacgtacctgccgcgccctggaaaccatggggctgtgggtggactgcaggggc


 P  S  P  R  T  C  R  A  L  E  T  M  G  L  W  V  D  C  R  G





cacggactcacggccctgcctgccctgccggcccgcacccgccaccttctgctggccaac


 H  G  L  T  A  L  P  A  L  P  A  R  T  R  H  L  L  L  A  N


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 51; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 52).






Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EHK)—leucine to proline mutation at residue 161 in keratin 1 (T>C mutation):










ggttatggtcctgtctgccctcctggtggcatacaagaagtcactatcaaccagagccct



 G  Y  G  P  V  C  P  P  G  G  I  Q  E  V  T  I  N  Q  S  P





cttcagcccctcaatgtggagattgaccctgagatccaaaaggtgaagtctcgagaaagg


 L  Q  P  L  N  V  E  I  D  P  E  I  Q  K  V  K  S  R  E  R





(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 53; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 54).






Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—leucine to proline mutation at residue 54 in α1-antitrypsin (T>C mutation):










gtctccctggctgaggatccccagggagatgctgcccagaagacagatacatcccaccat



 V  S  L  A  E  D  P  Q  G  D  A  A  Q  K  T  D  T  S  H  H





gatcaggatcacccaaccttcaacaagatcacccccaacccggctgagttcgccttcagc


 D  Q  D  H  P  T  F  N  K  I  T  P  N  P  A  E  F  A  F  S





ctataccgccagctggcacaccagtccaacagcaccaatatcttcttctccccagtgagc


 L  Y  R  Q  L  A  H  Q  S  N  S  T  N  I  F  F  S  P  V  S


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 55; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 56).






chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—leucine to proline mutation at residue 78 in α1-antichymotrypsin (T>C mutation):










gcctccgccaacgtggacttcgctttcagcctgtacaagcagttagtcctgaaggcccct



 A  S  A  N  V  D  F  A  F  S  L  Y  K  Q  L  V  L  K  A  P





gataagaatgtcatcttctccccaccgagcatctccaccgccttggccttcctgtctctg


 D  K  N  V  I  F  S  P  P  S  I  S  T  A  L  A  F  L  S  L





ggggcccataataccaccctgacagagattctcaaaggcctcaagttctacctcacggag


 G  A  H  N  T  T  L  T  E  I  L  K  G  L  K  F  Y  L  T  E


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 89; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 90).






Neuroblastoma (NB)—leucine to proline mutation at residue 197 in Caspase-9 (T>C mutation):










ggccactgcctcattatcaacaatgtgaacttctgccgtgagtccgggctccgcacccgc



 G  H  C  L  I  I  N  N  V  N  F  C  R  E  S  G  L  R  T  R





actggctccaacatcgactgtgagaagttgcggcgtcgcttctcctcgccgcatttcatg


 T  G  S  N  I  D  C  E  K  L  R  R  R  F  S  S  P  H  F  M





gtggaggtgaagggcgacctgactgccaagaaaatggtgctggctttgctggagctggcg


 V  E  V  K  G  D  L  T  A  K  K  M  V  L  A  L  L  E  L  A


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 57; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 58).






Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4J—isoleucine to threonine mutation at residue 41 in FIG4 (T>C mutation):










actagagctagatactttctagttgggagcaataatgcagaaacgaaatatcgtgtcttg



 T  R  A  R  Y  F  L  V  G  S  N  N  A  E  T  K  Y  R  V  L





aagactgatagaacagaaccaaaagatttggtcataattgatgacaggcatgtctatact


 K  T  D  R  T  E  P  K  D  L  V  I  I  D  D  R  H  V  Y  T





caacaagaagtaagggaacttcttggccgcttggatcttggaaatagaacaaagatggga


 Q  Q  E  V  R  E  L  L  G  R  L  D  L  G  N  R  T  K  M  G


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 59; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 60).






von Willebrand disease (vWD)—cysteine to arginine mutation at residue 1272 in von Willebrand factor (T>C mutation):










acagatgccccggtgagccccaccactctgtatgtggaggacatctcggaaccgccgttg



 T  D  A  P  V  S  P  T  T  L  Y  V  E  D  I  S  E  P  P  L





cacgatttctaccgcagcaggctactggacctggtcttcctgctggatggctcctccagg


 H  D  F  Y  R  S  R  L  L  D  L  V  F  L  L  D  G  S  S  R





ctgtccgaggctgagtttgaagtgctgaaggcctttgtggtggacatgatggagcggctg


 L  S  E  A  E  F  E  V  L  K  A  F  V  V  D  M  M  E  R  L


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 61; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 62).






Myotonia congenital—cysteine to arginine mutation at position 277 in the muscle chloride channel gene CLCN1 (T>C mutation):










atctgtgctgctgtcctcagcaaattcatgtctgtgttctgcggggtatatgagcagcca



 I  C  A  A  V  L  S  K  F  M  S  V  F  C  G  V  Y  E  Q  P





tactactactctgatatcctgacggtgggctgtgctgtgggagtcggccgttgttttggg


 Y  Y  Y  S  D  I  L  T  V  G  C  A  V  G  V  G  R  C  F  G





acaccacttggaggagtgctatttagcatcgaggtcacctccacctactttgctgttcgg


 T  P  L  G  G  V  L  F  S  I  E  V  T  S  T  Y  F  A  V  R


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 63; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 64).






Hereditary renal amyloidosis—stop codon to arginine mutation at residue 111 in apolipoprotein AII (T>C mutation):










tactttgaaaagtcaaaggagcagctgacacccctgatcaagaaggctggaacggaactg






 Y  F  E  K  S  K  E  Q  L  T  P  L  I  K  K  A  G  T  E  L





gttaacttcttgagctatttcgtggaacttggaacacagcctgccacccagcgaagtgtc





 V  N  F  L  S  Y  F  V  E  L  G  T  Q  P  A  T  Q  R  S  V





cagcaccattgtcttccaaccccagctggcctctagaacacccactggccagtcctagag





 Q  H  H  C  L  P  T  P  A  G  L  —  N  T  H  W  P  V  L  E


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 65; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 66).






Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)—tryptophan to Arginine mutation at position 148 in the FOXD4 gene (T>C mutation):










ccgcacaagcgcctcacgctcagcggcatctgcgccttcattagtgaccgcttcccctac






 P  H  K  R  L  T  L  S  G  I  C  A  F  I  S  D  R  F  P  Y





taccgccgcaagttccccgcccggcagaacagcatccgccacaacctctcgctgaacgac





 Y  R  R  K  F  P  A  R  Q  N  S  I  R  H  N  L  S  L  N  D





tgcttcgtcaagatcccccgcgagccgggccgcccaggcaagggcaactactggagcctg





 C  F  V  K  I  P  R  E  P  G  R  P  G  K  G  N  Y  W  S  L


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 67; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 68).






Hereditary lymphedema—histidine to arginine mutation at residue 1035 in VEGFR3 tyrosine kinase (A>G mutation):










gctgaggacctgtggctgagcccgctgaccatggaagatcttgtctgctacagcttccag






 A  E  D  L  W  L  S  P  L  T  M  E  D  L  V  C  Y  S  F  Q





gtggccagagggatggagttcctggcttcccgaaagtgcatccgcagagacctggctgct





 V  A  R  G  M  E  F  L  A  S  R  K  C  I  R  R  D  L  A  A





cggaacattctgctgtcggaaagcgacgtggtgaagatctgtgactttggccttgcccgg





 R  N  I  L  L  S  E  S  D  V  V  K  I  C  D  F  G  L  A  R


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 69; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 70).






Familial Alzheimer's disease—isoleucine to valine mutation at residue 143 in presenilin1 (A>G mutation):










gataccgagactgtgggccagagagccctgcactcaattctgaatgctgccatcatgatc






 D  T  E  T  V  G  Q  R  A  L  H  S  I  L  N  A  A  I  M  I





agtgtcgttgttgtcatgactatcctcctggtggttctgtataaatacaggtgctataag





 S  V  V  V  V  M  T  I  L  L  V  V  L  Y  K  Y  R  C  Y  K





gtcatccatgcctggcttattatatcatctctattgttgctgttctttttttcattcatt





 V  I  H  A  W  L  I  I  S  S  L  L  L  L  F  F  F  S  F  I


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 71; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 72).






Prion disease—methionine to valine mutation at residue 129 in prion protein (A>G mutation):










aagccgagtaagccaaaaaccaacatgaagcacatggctggtgctgcagcagctggggca






 K  P  S  K  P  K  T  N  M  K  H  M  A  G  A  A  A  A  G  A





gtggtggggggccttggcggctacgtgctgggaagtgccatgagcaggcccatcatacat





 V  V  G  G  L  G  G  Y  V  L  G  S  A  M  S  R  P  I  I  H





ttcggcagtgactatgaggaccgttactatcgtgaaaacatgcaccgttaccccaaccaa





 F  G  S  D  Y  E  D  R  Y  Y  R  E  N  M  H  R  Y  P  N  Q


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 73; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 74).






Chronic infantile neurologic cutaneous articular syndrome (CINCA)—Tyrosine to Cysteine mutation at residue 570 in cryopyrin (A>G mutation):










cttcccagccgagacgtgacagtccttctggaaaactatggcaaattcgaaaaggggtgt






 L  P  S  R  D  V  T  V  L  L  E  N  Y  G  K  F  E  K  G  C





ttgatttttgttgtacgtttcctctttggcctggtaaaccaggagaggacctcctacttg





 L  I  F  V  V  R  F  L  F  G  L  V  N  Q  E  R  T  S  Y  L


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 75; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 76).






Desmin-related myopathy (DRM)—arginine to glycine mutation at residue 120 in αB crystallin (A>G mutation):










gtgaagcacttctccccagaggaactcaaagttaaggtgttgggagatgtgattgaggtg






 V  K  H  F  S  P  E  E  L  K  V  K  V  L  G  D  V  I  E  V





catggaaaacatgaagagcgccaggatgaacatggtttcatctccagggagttccacggg





 H  G  K  H  E  E  R  Q  D  E  H  G  F  I  S  R  E  F  H  G





aaataccggatcccagctgatgtagaccctctcaccattacttcatccctgtcatctgat





 K  Y  R  I  P  A  D  V  D  P  L  T  I  T  S  S  L  S  S  D


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 77; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 78).






Beta-thalassemia—one example is leucine to proline mutation at residue 115 in Hemoglobin B.










gagctgcactgtgacaagctgcacgtggatcctgagaacttcaggctcctgggcaacgtg






 E  L  H  C  D  K  L  H  V  D  P  E  N  F  R  L  L  G  N  V





ctggtctgtgtgccggcccatcactttggcaaagaattcaccccaccagtgcaggctgcc





 L  V  C  V  P  A  H  H  F  G  K  E  F  T  P  P  V  Q  A  A





tatcagaaagtggtggctggtgtggctaatgccctggcccacaagtatcactaagctcgc





 Y  Q  K  V  V  A  G  V  A  N  A  L  A  H  K  Y  H  —  A  R


(Nucleotide sequence - SEQ ID NO: 79; protein sequence - SEQ ID NO: 80).







It is to be understood that the sequences provided above are exemplary and not meant to be limiting the scope of the instant disclosure. Additional suitable sequences of point mutations that are associated with disease and amenable to correction by Cas9:nucleic acid-editing enzyme/domain fusion proteins as well as suitable guide RNA sequences will be apparent to those of skill in the art based on this disclosure.


Reporter Systems


Some aspects of this disclosure provide a reporter system that can be used for detecting deaminase activity of the fusion proteins described herein. In some embodiments, the reporter system is a luciferase-based assay in which deaminase activity leads to expression of luciferase. To minimize the impact of potential substrate promiscuity of the deaminase domain (e.g., the AID domain), the number of residues that could unintentionally be targeted for deamination (e.g., off-target C residues that could potentially reside on ssDNA within the reporter system) is minimized. In some embodiments, an intended target residue is be located in an ACG mutated start codon of the luciferase gene that is unable to initiate translation. Desired deaminase activity results in a ACG>AUG modification, thus enabling translation of luciferase and detection and quantification of the deaminase activity.


In some embodiments, in order to minimize single-stranded C residues, a leader sequence is inserted between the mutated start codon and the beginning of the luciferase gene which consists of a stretch of Lys (AAA), Asn (AAT), Leu (TTA), Ile (ATT, ATA), Tyr (TAT), or Phe (TTT) residues. The resulting mutants can be tested to ensure that the leader sequence does not adversely affect luciferase expression or activity. Background luciferase activity with the mutated start codon can be determined as well.


The reporter system can be used to test many different sgRNAs, e.g., in order to determine which residue(s) with respect to the target DNA sequence the respective deaminase (e.g., AID enzyme) will target (FIG. 3). Because the size of the Cas9-DNA bubble is not known, sgRNAs that target non-template strand can also be tested in order to assess off-target effects of a specific Cas9 deaminase fusion protein. In some embodiments, such sgRNAs are designed such that the mutated start codon will not be base-paired with the sgRNA.


Once fusion proteins that are capable of programmable site-specific C to U modifications have been identified, their activities can be further characterized. The data from the luciferase assays can, for example, be integrated into heat maps that describe which nucleotides, with respect to the sgRNA target DNA, are being targeted for deamination by a specific fusion protein. In some embodiments, the position that results in the highest activity in the luciferase assay for each fusion is considered the “target” position, while all others are considered off-target positions.


In some embodiments, Cas9 fusions with various APOBEC3 enzymes, or deaminase domains thereof, are provided. In some embodiments, Cas9 fusion proteins with other nucleic acid editing enzymes or catalytic domains are provided, including, for example, ssRNA editing enzymes, such as the cytidine deaminases APOBEC1 and ACF1/ASF, as well as the ADAT family of adenosine deaminases,38 that can be used for ssDNA editing activity when fused to Cas9. The activity of such fusion proteins can be tested using the same reporter systems and assays described above.


In some embodiments, a reporter system is provided herein that includes a reporter gene comprising a deactivated start codon, e.g., a mutation on the template strand from 3′-TAC-5′ to 3′-CAC-5′. Upon successful deamination of the target C, the corresponding mRNA will be transcribed as 5′-AUG-3′ instead of 5′-GUG-3′, enabling the translation of the reporter gene. Suitable reporter genes will be apparent to those of skill in the art.


The description of exemplary embodiments of the reporter systems above is provided for illustration purposes only and not meant to be limiting. Additional reporter systems, e.g., variations of the exemplary systems described in detail above, are also embraced by this disclosure.


EXAMPLES
Example 1: Fusion Proteins

Exemplary Cas9:deaminase fusion proteins are provided below:


Cas9: Human AID Fusion (C-Terminal)










(SEQ ID NO: 30)




MDSLLMNRRKFLYQFKNVRWAKGRRETYLCDKKYSIGLAIGTNSVGWAVITDEYKVPS







KKFKVLGNTDRHSIKKNLIGALLFDSGETAEATRLKRTARRRYTRRKNRICYLQEIFSNE





MAKVDDSFFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLVDSTDK





ADLRLIYLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQTYNQLFEENPINASGVDA





KAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPGEKKNGLFGNLIALSLGLTPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSK





DTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYADLFLAAKNLSDAILLSDILRVNTEITKAPLSASMIKRYDEH





HQDLTLLKALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMDGTEE





LLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGELHAILRRQEDFYPFLKDNREKIEKILTFRIPY





YVGPLARGNSRFAWMTRKSEETITPWNFEEVVDKGASAQSFIERMTNFDKNLPNEKVLP





KHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVKYVTEGMRKPAFLSGEQKKAIVDLLFKTNRKVTVKQLKED





YFKKIECFDSVEISGVEDRFNASLGTYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDNEENEDILEDIVLTLTLFEDR





EMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTGWGRLSRKLINGIRDKQSGKTILDFLKSDGF





ANRNFMQLIHDDSLTFKEDIQKAQVSGQGDSLHEHIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKVVDEL





VKVMGRHKPENIVIEMARENQTTQKGQKNSRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVENTQL





QNEKLYLYYLQNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSDYDVDAIVPQSFLKDDSIDNKVLTRSDKNR





GKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLITQRKFDNLTKAERGGLSELDKAGFIKRQLV





ETRQITKHVAQILDSRMNTKYDENDKLIREVKVITLKSKLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREINNYH





HAHDAYLNAVVGTALIKKYPKLESEFVYGDYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYS





NIMNFFKTEITLANGEIRKRPLIETNGETGEIVWDKGRDFATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEV





QTGGFSKESILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKKYGGFDSPTVAYSVLVVAKVEKGKSKKLK





SVKELLGITIMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPKYSLFELENGRKRMLASAGE





LQKGNELALPSKYVNFLYLASHYEKLKGSPEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKR





VILADANLDKVLSAYNKHRDKPIREQAENIIHLFTLTNLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRYTST





KEVLDATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGDGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSYVVKRRDSATSFSL





DFGYLRNKNGCHVELLFLRYISDWDLDPGRCYRVTWFTSWSPCYDCARHVADFLRGNP





NLSLRIFTARLYFCEDRKAEPEGLRRLHRAGVQIAIMTFKDYFYCWNTFVENHERTFKA





WEGLHENSVRLSRQLRRILLPLYEVDDLRDAFRTLGL


(underline: nuclear localization signal; double underline: 


nuclear export signal, bold: linker sequence)






Cas9: Human AID Fusion (N-Terminal)










(SEQ ID NO: 31)




MDSLLMNRRKFLYQFKNVRWAKGRRETYLCYVVKRRDSATSFSLDFGYLRNKNGCHV







ELLFLRYISDWDLDPGRCYRVTWFTSWSPCYDCARHVADFLRGNPNLSLRIFTARLYFC





EDRKAEPEGLRRLHRAGVQIAIMTFKDYFYCWNTFVENHERTFKAWEGLHENSVRLSR





QLRRILLPGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSDKKYSIGLAIGTNSVGWAVITDEYKVPSKKFKVLG





NTDRHSIKKNLIGALLFDSGETAEATRLKRTARRRYTRRKNRICYLQEIFSNEMAKVDDS





FFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLVDSTDKADLRLIYL





ALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQTYNQLFEENPINASGVDAKAILSARL





SKSRRLENLIAQLPGEKKNGLFGNLIALSLGLTPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSKDTYDDDLD





NLLAQIGDQYADLFLAAKNLSDAILLSDILRVNTEITKAPLSASMIKRYDEHHQDLTLLK





ALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMDGTEELLVKLNRE





DLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGELHAILRRQEDFYPFLKDNREKIEKILTFRIPYYVGPLAR





GNSRFAWMTRKSEETITPWNFEEVVDKGASAQSFIERMTNFDKNLPNEKVLPKHSLLYE





YFTVYNELTKVKYVTEGMRKPAFLSGEQKKAIVDLLFKTNRKVTVKQLKEDYFKKIECF





DSVEISGVEDRFNASLGTYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDNEENEDILEDIVLTLTLFEDREMIEERLK





TYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTGWGRLSRKLINGIRDKQSGKTILDFLKSDGFANRNFMQ





LIHDDSLTFKEDIQKAQVSGQGDSLHEHIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKVVDELVKVMGRH





KPENIVIEMARENQTTQKGQKNSRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVENTQLQNEKLYLY





YLQNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSDYDVDAIVPQSFLKDDSIDNKVLTRSDKNRGKSDNVPS





EEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLITQRKFDNLTKAERGGLSELDKAGFIKRQLVETRQITKH





VAQILDSRMNTKYDENDKLIREVKVITLKSKLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREINNYHHAHDAYL





NAVVGTALIKKYPKLESEFVYGDYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYSNIMNFFKT





EITLANGEIRKRPLIETNGETGEIVWDKGRDFATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEVQTGGFSKE





SILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKKYGGFDSPTVAYSVLVVAKVEKGKSKKLKSVKELLGIT





IMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPKYSLFELENGRKRMLASAGELQKGNELA





LPSKYVNFLYLASHYEKLKGSPEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKRVILADANL





DKVLSAYNKHRDKPIREQAENIIHLFTLTNLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRYTSTKEVLDATLI





HQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGD


(underline: nuclear localization signal; bold: linker sequence)






Cas9:mouse AID fusion (C-terminal)










(SEQ ID NO: 32)




MDSLLMNRRKFLYQFKNVRWAKGRRETYLCDKKYSIGLAIGTNSVGWAVITDEYKVPS







KKFKVLGNTDRHSIKKNLIGALLFDSGETAEATRLKRTARRRYTRRKNRICYLQEIFSNE





MAKVDDSFFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLVDSTDK





ADLRLIYLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQTYNQLFEENPINASGVDA





KAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPGEKKNGLFGNLIALSLGLTPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSK





DTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYADLFLAAKNLSDAILLSDILRVNTEITKAPLSASMIKRYDEH





HQDLTLLKALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMDGTEE





LLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGELHAILRRQEDFYPFLKDNREKIEKILTFRIPY





YVGPLARGNSRFAWMTRKSEETITPWNFEEVVDKGASAQSFIERMTNFDKNLPNEKVLP





KHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVKYVTEGMRKPAFLSGEQKKAIVDLLFKTNRKVTVKQLKED





YFKKIECFDSVEISGVEDRFNASLGTYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDNEENEDILEDIVLTLTLFEDR





EMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTGWGRLSRKLINGIRDKQSGKTILDFLKSDGF





ANRNFMQLIHDDSLTFKEDIQKAQVSGQGDSLHEHIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKVVDEL





VKVMGRHKPENIVIEMARENQTTQKGQKNSRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVENTQL





QNEKLYLYYLQNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSDYDVDAIVPQSFLKDDSIDNKVLTRSDKNR





GKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLITQRKFDNLTKAERGGLSELDKAGFIKRQLV





ETRQITKHVAQILDSRMNTKYDENDKLIREVKVITLKSKLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREINNYH





HAHDAYLNAVVGTALIKKYPKLESEFVYGDYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYS





NIMNFFKTEITLANGEIRKRPLIETNGETGEIVWDKGRDFATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEV





QTGGFSKESILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKKYGGFDSPTVAYSVLVVAKVEKGKSKKLK





SVKELLGITIMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPKYSLFELENGRKRMLASAGE





LQKGNELALPSKYVNFLYLASHYEKLKGSPEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKR





VILADANLDKVLSAYNKHRDKPIREQAENIIHLFTLTNLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRYTST





KEVLDATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGDGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSYVVKRRDSATSCSL





DFGHLRNKSGCHVELLFLRYISDWDLDPGRCYRVTWFTSWSPCYDCARHVAEFLRWNP





NLSLRIFTARLYFCEDRKAEPEGLRRLHRAGVQIGIMTFKDYFYCWNTFVENRERTFKA





WEGLHENSVRLTRQLRRILLPLYEVDDLRDAFRMLGF


(underline: nuclear localization signal; bod: linker sequence;


double underline: nuclear export signal)






Cas9: Human APOBEC-3G Fusion (N-Terminal)










(SEQ ID NO: 33)




SPKKKRKVEASMELKYHPEMRFFHWFSKWRKLHRDQEYEVTWYISWSPCTKCTRDMA







TFLAEDPKVTLTIFVARLYYFWDPDYQEALRSLCQKRDGPRATMKIMNYDEFQHCWSK





FVYSQRELFEPWNNLPKYYILLHIMLGEILRHSMDPPTFTFNFNNEPWVRGRHETYLCYE





VERMHNDTWVLLNQRRGFLCNQAPHKHGFLEGRHAELCFLDVIPFWKLDLDQDYRVT





CFTSWSPCFSCAQEMAKFISKNKHVSLCIFTARIYDDQGRCQEGLRTLAEAGAKISIMTY





SEFKHCWDTFVDHQGCPFQPWDGLDEHSQDLSGRLRAILQNQENSPKKKRKVEASSP






KKKRKVEASKKYSIGLAIGTNSVGWAVITDEYKVPSKKFKVLGNTDRHSIKKNLIGALL






FDSGETAEATRLKRTARRRYTRRKNRICYLQEIFSNEMAKVDDSFFHRLEESFLVEEDKK





HERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLVDSTDKADLRLIYLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEG





DLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQTYNQLFEENPINASGVDAKAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPGE





KKNGLFGNLIALSLGLTPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSKDTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYADLFL





AAKNLSDAILLSDILRVNTEITKAPLSASMIKRYDEHHQDLTLLKALVRQQLPEKYKEIFF





DQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMDGTEELLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPH





QIHLGELHAILRRQEDFYPFLKDNREKIEKILTFRIPYYVGPLARGNSRFAWMTRKSEETI





TPWNFEEVVDKGASAQSFIERMTNFDKNLPNEKVLPKHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVKYVTE





GMRKPAFLSGEQKKAIVDLLFKTNRKVTVKQLKEDYFKKIECFDSVEISGVEDRFNASL





GTYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDNEENEDILEDIVLTLTLFEDREMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQL





KRRRYTGWGRLSRKLINGIRDKQSGKTILDFLKSDGFANRNFMQLIHDDSLTFKEDIQKA





QVSGQGDSLHEHIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKVVDELVKVMGRHKPENIVIEMARENQTT





QKGQKNSRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVENTQLQNEKLYLYYLQNGRDMYVDQEL





DINRLSDYDVDAIVPQSFLKDDSIDNKVLTRSDKNRGKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQL





LNAKLITQRKFDNLTKAERGGLSELDKAGFIKRQLVETRQITKHVAQILDSRMNTKYDE





NDKLIREVKVITLKSKLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREINNYHHAHDAYLNAVVGTALIKKYPKL





ESEFVYGDYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYSNIMNFFKTEITLANGEIRKRPLIET





NGETGEIVWDKGRDFATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEVQTGGFSKESILPKRNSDKLIARKK





DWDPKKYGGFDSPTVAYSVLVVAKVEKGKSKKLKSVKELLGITIMERSSFEKNPIDFLE





AKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPKYSLFELENGRKRMLASAGELQKGNELALPSKYVNFLYLASHY





EKLKGSPEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKRVILADANLDKVLSAYNKHRDKPI





REQAENIIHLFTLTNLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRYTSTKEVLDATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQ





LGGD


(underline: nuclear localization signal; bold: linker (1 NLS),






Cas9: Human APOBEC-1 Fusion (N-Terminal)










(SEQ ID NO: 92.)




SPKKKRKVEASMTSEKGPSTGDPTLRRRIEPWEFDVFYDPRELRKEACLLYEIKWGMSR







KIWRSSGKNTTNHVEVNFIKKFTSERDFHPSMSCSITWFLSWSPCWECSQAIREFLSRHP





GVTLVIYVARLFWHMDQQNRQGLRDLVNSGVTIQIMRASEYYHCWRNFVNYPPGDEA





HWPQYPPLWMMLYALELHCIILSLPPCLKISRRWQNHLTFFRLHLQNCHYQTIPPHILLA





TGLIHPSVAWRSPKKKRKVEASSPKKKRKVEASDKKYSIGLAIGTNSVGWAVITDEYK





VPSKKFKVLGNTDRHSIKKNLIGALLFDSGETAEATRLKRTARRRYTRRKNRICYLQEIF





SNEMAKVDDSFFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLVDST





DKADLRLIYLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQTYNQLFEENPINASGV





DAKAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPGEKKNGLFGNLIALSLGLTPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQL





SKDTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYADLFLAAKNLSDAILLSDILRVNTEITKAPLSASMIKRYD





EHHQDLTLLKALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMDGT





EELLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGELHAILRRQEDFYPFLKDNREKIEKILTFRI





PYYVGPLARGNSRFAWMTRKSEETITPWNFEEVVDKGASAQSFIERMTNFDKNLPNEK





VLPKHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVKYVTEGMRKPAFLSGEQKKAIVDLLFKTNRKVTVKQL





KEDYFKKIECFDSVEISGVEDRFNASLGTYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDNEENEDILEDIVLTLTLF





EDREMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTGWGRLSRKLINGIRDKQSGKTILDFLKS





DGFANRNFMQLIHDDSLTFKEDIQKAQVSGQGDSLHEHIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKVV





DELVKVMGRHKPENIVIEMARENQTTQKGQKNSRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVEN





TQLQNEKLYLYYLQNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSDYDVDAIVPQSFLKDDSIDNKVLTRSD





KNRGKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLITQRKFDNLTKAERGGLSELDKAGFIKR





QLVETRQITKHVAQILDSRMNTKYDENDKLIREVKVITLKSKLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREIN





NYHHAHDAYLNAVVGTALIKKYPKLESEFVYGDYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYF





FYSNIMNFFKTEITLANGEIRKRPLIETNGETGEIVWDKGRDFATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKK





TEVQTGGFSKESILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKKYGGFDSPTVAYSVLVVAKVEKGKSK





KLKSVKELLGITIMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPKYSLFELENGRKRMLAS





AGELQKGNELALPSKYVNFLYLASHYEKLKGSPEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEF





SKRVILADANLDKVLSAYNKHRDKPIREQAENIIHLFTLTNLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRY





TSTKEVLDATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGD


(underline: nuclear localization signal; bold: linker (1 NLS),






Cas9: Human ADAT1 Fusion (N-Terminal)










(SEQ ID NO: 35)




MDSLLMNRRKFLYQFKNVRWAKGRRETYLC
SMGTGTKCIGQSKMRKNGDILNDSHAEVI








ARRSFQRYLLHQLQLAATLKEDSIFVPGTQKGVWKLRRDLIFVFFSSHTPCGDASIIPMLEFED







QPCCPVFRNWAHNSSVEASSNLEAPGNERKCEDPDSPVTKKMRLEPGTAAREVTNGAAHHQ







SFGKQKSGPISPGIHSCDLTVEGLATVTRIAPGSAKVIDVYRTGAKCVPGEAGDSGKPGAAFH







QVGLLRVKPGRGDRTRSMSCSDKMARWNVLGCQGALLMHLLEEPIYLSAVVIGKCPYSQEA







MQRALIGRCQNVSALPKGFGVQELKILQSDLLFEQSRSAVQAKRADSPGRLVPCGAAISWSAV







PEQPLDVTANGFPQGTTKKTIGSLQARSQISKVELFRSFQKLLSRIARDKWPHSLRVQKLDTY







QEYKEAASSYQEAWSTLRKQVFGSWIRNPPDYHQF
GGGGSGGGGSGGGGSDKKYSIGLAI






GTNSVGWAVITDEYKVPSKKFKVLGNTDRHSIKKNLIGALLFDSGETAEATRLKRTARR





RYTRRKNRICYLQEIFSNEMAKVDDSFFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHE





KYPTIYHLRKKLVDSTDKADLRLIYLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQ





TYNQLFEENPINASGVDAKAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPGEKKNGLFGNLIALSLGLTPN





FKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSKDTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYADLFLAAKNLSDAILLSDILRVNT





EITKAPLSASMIKRYDEHHQDLTLLKALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQ





EEFYKFIKPILEKMDGTEELLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGELHAILRRQEDFY





PFLKDNREKIEKILTFRIPYYVGPLARGNSRFAWMTRKSEETITPWNFEEVVDKGASAQS





FIERMTNFDKNLPNEKVLPKHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVKYVTEGMRKPAFLSGEQKKAIV





DLLFKTNRKVTVKQLKEDYFKKIECFDSVEISGVEDRFNASLGTYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDN





EENEDILEDIVLTLTLFEDREMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTGWGRLSRKLIN





GIRDKQSGKTILDFLKSDGFANRNFMQLIHDDSLTFKEDIQKAQVSGQGDSLHEHIANLA





GSPAIKKGILQTVKVVDELVKVMGRHKPENIVIEMARENQTTQKGQKNSRERMKRIEEG





IKELGSQILKEHPVENTQLQNEKLYLYYLQNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSDYDVDAIVPQSF





LKDDSIDNKVLTRSDKNRGKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLITQRKFDNLTKAE





RGGLSELDKAGFIKRQLVETRQITKHVAQILDSRMNTKYDENDKLIREVKVITLKSKLVS





DFRKDFQFYKVREINNYHHAHDAYLNAVVGTALIKKYPKLESEFVYGDYKVYDVRKMI





AKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYSNIMNFFKTEITLANGEIRKRPLIETNGETGEIVWDKGRDFATV





RKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEVQTGGFSKESILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKKYGGFDSPTVAYS





VLVVAKVEKGKSKKLKSVKELLGITMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPKYS





LFELENGRKRMLASAGELQKGNELALPSKYVNFLYLASHYEKLKGSPEDNEQKQLFVE





QHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKRVILADANLDKVLSAYNKHRDKPIREQAENIIHLFTLTNLGAP





AAFKYFDTTIDRKRYTSTKEVLDATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGD


(underline: nuclear localization signal;


bold: linker sequence)






Cas9: Human ADAT1 Fusion (-Terminal)










(SEQ ID NO: 36)




MDSLLMNRRKFLYQFKNVRWAKGRRETYLCDKKYSIGLAIGTNSVGWAVITDEYKVPS







KKFKVLGNTDRHSIKKNLIGALLFDSGETAEATRLKRTARRRYTRRKNRICYLQEIFSNE





MAKVDDSFFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLVDSTDK





ADLRLIYLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQTYNQLFEENPINASGVDA





KAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPGEKKNGLFGNLIALSLGLTPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSK





DTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYADLFLAAKNLSDAILLSDILRVNTEITKAPLSASMIKRYDEH





HQDLTLLKALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMDGTEE





LLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGELHAILRRQEDFYPFLKDNREKIEKILTFRIPY





YVGPLARGNSRFAWMTRKSEETITPWNFEEVVDKGASAQSFIERMTNFDKNLPNEKVLP





KHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVKYVTEGMRKPAFLSGEQKKAIVDLLFKTNRKVTVKQLKED





YFKKIECFDSVEISGVEDRFNASLGTYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDNEENEDILEDIVLTLTLFEDR





EMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTGWGRLSRKLINGIRDKQSGKTILDFLKSDGF





ANRNFMQLIHDDSLTFKEDIQKAQVSGQGDSLHEHIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKVVDEL





VKVMGRHKPENIVIEMARENQTTQKGQKNSRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVENTQL





QNEKLYLYYLQNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSDYDVDAIVPQSFLKDDSIDNKVLTRSDKNR





GKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLITQRKFDNLTKAERGGLSELDKAGFIKRQLV





ETRQITKHVAQILDSRMNTKYDENDKLIREVKVITLKSKLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREINNYH





HAHDAYLNAVVGTALIKKYPKLESEFVYGDYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYS





NIMNFFKTEITLANGEIRKRPLIETNGETGEIVWDKGRDFATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEV





QTGGFSKESILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKKYGGFDSPTVAYSVLVVAKVEKGKSKKLK





SVKELLGITIMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPKYSLFELENGRKRMLASAGE





LQKGNELALPSKYVNFLYLASHYEKLKGSPEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKR





VILADANLDKVLSAYNKHRDKPIREQAENIIHLFTLTNLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRYTST





KEVLDATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGDGGGGSGGGGSSMGTGTKCIGQSKMRKNGDIL






NDSHAEVIARRSFQRYLLHQLQLAATLKEDSIFVPGTQKGVWKLRRDLIFVFFSSHTPCGDASI







IPMLEFEDQPCCPVFRNWAHNSSVEASSNLEAPGNERKCEDPDSPVTKKMRLEPGTAAREVT







NGAAHHQSFGKQKSGPISPGIHSCDLTVEGLATVTRIAPGSAKVIDVYRTGAKCVPGEAGDSG







KPGAAFHQVGLLRVKPGRGDRTRSMSCSDKMARWNVLGCQGALLMHLLEEPIYLSAVVIGK







CPYSQEAMQRALIGRCQNVSALPKGFGVQELKILQSDLLFEQSRSAVQAKRADSPGRLVPCGA







AISWSAVPEQPLDVTANGFPQGTTKKTIGSLQARSQISKVELFRSFQKLLSRIARDKWPHSLRV







QKLDTYQEYKEAASSYQEAWSTLRKQVFGSWIRNPPDYHQF



(underline: nuclear localization signal;


bold: linker sequence)






Example 2: Correction of a PI3K Point Mutation by a Cas9 Fusion Protein

An A3140G point mutation in exon 20 of the PI3KCA gene, resulting in an H1047R amino acid substitution in the PI3K protein is corrected by contacting a nucleic acid encoding the mutant protein with a Cas9:AID (SEQ ID NO: 30) or a Cas9:APOBEC1 (SEQ ID NO: 92) fusion protein and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the mutation site in the encoding PI3KCA gene. The A3140G point mutation is confirmed via genomic PCR of the respective exon 20 sequence, e.g., generation of a PCR amplicon of nucleotides 3000-3250, and subsequent sequencing of the PCT amplicon.


Cells expressing a mutant PI3K protein comprising an A3140G point mutation in exon 20 are contacted with an expression construct encoding the Cas9:AID (SEQ ID NO: 30) or a Cas9:APOBEC1 (SEQ ID NO: 92) fusion protein and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the mutation site in the antisense strand of the encoding PI3KCA gene. The sgRNA is of the sequence 5′-aucggaauctauuuugacucguuuuagagcuagaaauagcaaguuaaa auaaaggcuaguccguuaucaacuugaaaaaguggcaccgagucggugcuuuuu 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 81); 5′-ucggaaucuauuuugacucgguuuuagagcuagaaauagcaaguuaaaauaaaggcuaguccguuaucaacuugaaaaagug gcaccgagucggugcuuuuu-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 82); 5′-cuuagauaaaacugagcaagguuuuagagcuagaaauag caaguuaaaauaaaggcuaguccguuaucaacuugaaaaaguggcaccgagucggugcuuuuu-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 83); 5′-aucuauuuugacucguucucguuuuagagcuagaaauagcaaguuaaaauaaaggcuaguccguuaucaacuugaaaaa guggcaccgagucggugcuuuuu-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 84); 5′-uaaaacugagcaagaggcuuguuuuagagcuagaaa uagcaaguuaaaauaaaggcuaguccguuaucaacuugaaaaaguggcaccgagucggugcuuuuu-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 85); 5′-ugguggcuggacaacaaaaaguuuuagagcuagaaauagcaaguuaaaauaaaggcuaguccguuaucaacuug aaaaaguggcaccgagucggugcuuuuu-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 86); 5′-gcuggacaacaaaaauggauguuuuagagc uagaaauagcaaguuaaaauaaaggcuaguccguuaucaacuugaaaaaguggcaccgagucggugcuuuuu-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 87); or 5′-guguuaauuugucguacguaguuuuagagcuagaaauagcaaguuaaaauaaaggcuaguccguuau caacuugaaaaaguggcaccgagucggugcuuuuu (SEQ ID NO: 88).


The cytosine deaminase activity of the Cas9:AID or the Cas9:APOBEC1 fusion protein results in deamination of the cytosine that is base-paired with the mutant G3140 to uridine. After one round of replication, the wild type A3140 is restored. Genomic DNA of the treated cells is extracted and a PCR amplicon of nucleotides 3000-3250 is amplified with suitable PCR primers. The correction of the A3140G point mutation after treatment of the cells with the fusion protein is confirmed by sequencing the PCR amplicon.


Example 3: Correction of a Presenilin 1 Point Mutation by a Cas9 Fusion Protein

An A→G point mutation in codon 143 of the presenilin1 (PSEN1) gene, resulting in an I143V amino acid substitution in the PSEN1 protein is corrected by contacting a nucleic acid encoding the mutant PSEN1 protein with a Cas9:AID (SEQ ID NO: 30) or a Cas9:APOBEC1 (SEQ ID NO: 92) fusion protein and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the mutation site in the encoding PSEN1 gene. See, e.g., Gallo et. al., J. Alzheimer's disease. 2011; 25: 425-431 for a description of an exemplary PSEN1 I143V mutation associated with familial Alzheimer's Disease. The A→G point mutation is confirmed via genomic PCR of the respective PSEN1 sequence, e.g., generation of a PCR amplicon of about 100-250 nucleotides around exon 143, and subsequent sequencing of the PCT amplicon.


Cells expressing the mutant PSEN1 protein are contacted with an expression construct encoding the Cas9:AID (SEQ ID NO: 30) or a Cas9:APOBEC1 (SEQ ID NO: 92) fusion protein and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the mutation site in the antisense strand of the encoding PSEN1 gene. The cytosine deaminase activity of the Cas9:AID or the Cas9:APOBEC1 fusion protein results in deamination of the cytosine that is base-paired with the mutant G in codon 143 to uridine. After one round of replication, the wild type A is restored. Genomic DNA of the treated cells is extracted and a PCR amplicon of 100-250 nucleotides is amplified with suitable PCR primers. The correction of the A→G point mutation after treatment of the cells with the fusion protein is confirmed by sequencing the PCR amplicon.


Example 4: Correction of an α1-Antitrypsin Point Mutation by a Cas9 Fusion Protein

A T→C point mutation in codon 55 of the α1-antitrypsin gene, resulting in an 0L55P amino acid substitution in the α1-antitrypsin protein is corrected by contacting a nucleic acid encoding the mutant α1-antitrypsin protein with a Cas9:ADAT1 fusion protein (SEQ ID NO: 35 or 36) and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the mutation site in the encoding α1-antitrypsin gene. See, e.g., Poller et al., Genomics. 1993; 17: 740-743 for a more detailed description of an exemplary codon 55 T→C mutation associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The T→C point mutation is confirmed via genomic PCR of the respective α1-antitrypsin sequence encoding codon 55, e.g., generation of a PCR amplicon of about 100-250 nucleotides, and subsequent sequencing of the PCT amplicon.


Cells expressing the mutant α1-antitrypsin protein are contacted with an expression construct encoding the Cas9:AID (SEQ ID NO: 30) or a Cas9:APOBEC1 (SEQ ID NO: 92) fusion protein and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the mutated nucleotide in codon 55 on the sense strand in the encoding α1-antitrypsin gene. The cytosine deaminase activity of the Cas9:ADAT1 fusion protein results in deamination of the mutant cytosine to uridine thus correcting the mutation. Genomic DNA of the treated cells is extracted and a PCR amplicon of 100-250 nucleotides is amplified with suitable PCR primers. The correction of the A→G point mutation in codon 55 of the α1-antitrypsin gene after treatment of the cells with the fusion protein is confirmed by sequencing the PCR amplicon


Example 5: Correction of a Von Willebrand Factor Point Mutation by a Cas9 Fusion Protein

A T→C point mutation in codon 509 of the von Willebrand factor gene, resulting in a C509A amino acid substitution in the von Willebrand factor protein is corrected by contacting a nucleic acid encoding the mutant von Willebrand factor protein with a Cas9:ADAT1 fusion protein (SEQ ID NO: 35 or 36) and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the mutation site in the sense strand of the encoding von Willebrand factor gene. See, e.g., Lavergne et al., Br. J. Haematol. 1992; 82: 66-7, for a description of an exemplary von Willebrand factor C509A mutation associated with von Willebrand disease (vWD). The T→C point mutation is confirmed via genomic PCR of the respective von Willebrand factor genomic sequence, e.g., generation of a PCR amplicon of about 100-250 nucleotides around exon 509, and subsequent sequencing of the PCT amplicon.


Cells expressing the mutant von Willebrand factor protein are contacted with an expression construct encoding the Cas9:ADAT1 fusion protein (SEQ ID NO: 35 or 36) and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the mutation site in the sense strand of the encoding von Willebrand factor gene. The cytosine deaminase activity of the Cas9:ADAT1 fusion protein results in deamination of the mutant cytosine in codon 509 to uridine, thus correcting the mutation. Genomic DNA of the treated cells is extracted and a PCR amplicon of 100-250 nucleotides is amplified with suitable PCR primers. The correction of the T→C point mutation in codon 509 of the von Willebrand factor gene after treatment of the cells with the fusion protein is confirmed by sequencing the PCR amplicon.


Example 6: Correction of a Caspase 9 Point Mutation by a Cas9 Fusion Protein—Neuroblastoma

A T→C point mutation in codon 197 of the Caspase-9 gene, resulting in an L197P amino acid substitution in the Caspase-9 protein is corrected by contacting a nucleic acid encoding the mutant Caspase-9 protein with a Cas9:ADAT1 fusion protein (SEQ ID NO: 35 or 36) and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the mutation site in the sense strand of the encoding Caspase-9 gene. See, e.g., Lenk et al., PLoS Genetics. 2011; 7: e1002104, for a description of an exemplary Caspase-9 L197P mutation associated with neuroblastoma (NB). The T→C point mutation is confirmed via genomic PCR of the respective Caspase-9 genomic sequence, e.g., generation of a PCR amplicon of about 100-250 nucleotides around exon 197, and subsequent sequencing of the PCT amplicon.


Cells expressing the mutant Caspase-9 protein are contacted with an expression construct encoding the Cas9:ADAT1 fusion protein (SEQ ID NO: 35 or 36) and an appropriately designed sgRNA targeting the fusion protein to the mutation site in the sense strand of the encoding Caspase-9 gene. The cytosine deaminase activity of the Cas9:ADAT1 fusion protein results in deamination of the mutant cytosine in codon 197 to uridine, thus correcting the mutation. Genomic DNA of the treated cells is extracted and a PCR amplicon of 100-250 nucleotides is amplified with suitable PCR primers. The correction of the T→C point mutation in codon 197 of the Caspase-9 gene after treatment of the cells with the fusion protein is confirmed by sequencing the PCR amplicon.


REFERENCES



  • 1. Humbert O, Davis L, Maizels N. Targeted gene therapies: tools, applications, optimization. Crit Rev Biochem Mol. 2012; 47(3):264-81. PMID: 22530743.

  • 2. Perez-Pinera P, Ousterout D G, Gersbach C A. Advances in targeted genome editing. Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2012; 16(3-4):268-77. PMID: 22819644.

  • 3. Urnov F D, Rebar E J, Holmes M C, Zhang H S, Gregory P D. Genome editing with engineered zinc finger nucleases. Nat Rev Genet. 2010; 11(9):636-46. PMID: 20717154.

  • 4. Joung J K, Sander J D. TALENs: a widely applicable technology for targeted genome editing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2013; 14(1):49-55. PMID: 23169466.

  • 5. Charpentier E, Doudna J A. Biotechnology: Rewriting a genome. Nature. 2013; 495, (7439):50-1. PMID: 23467164.

  • 6. Pan Y, Xia L, Li A S, Zhang X, Sirois P, Zhang J, Li K. Biological and biomedical applications of engineered nucleases. Mol Biotechnol. 2013; 55(1):54-62. PMID: 23089945.

  • 7. De Souza, N. Primer: genome editing with engineered nucleases. Nat Methods. 2012; 9(1):27. PMID: 22312638.

  • 8. Santiago Y, Chan E, Liu P Q, Orlando S, Zhang L, Urnov F D, Holmes M C, Guschin D, Waite A, Miller J C, Rebar E J, Gregory P D, Klug A, Collingwood T N. Targeted gene knockout in mammalian cells by using engineered zinc-finger nucleases. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2008; 105(15):5809-14. PMID: 18359850.

  • 9. Cargill M, Altshuler D, Ireland J, Sklar P, Ardlie K, Patil N, Lane C R, Lim E P, Kalyanaraman N, Nemesh J, Ziaugra L, Friedland L, Rolfe A, Warrington J, Lipshutz R, Daley G Q, Lander E S. Characterization of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in coding regions of human genes. Nat Genet. 1999; 22(3):231-8. PMID: 10391209.

  • 10. Jansen R, van Embden J D, Gaastra W, Schouls L M. Identification of genes that are associated with DNA repeats in prokaryotes. Mol Microbiol. 2002; 43(6):1565-75. PMID: 11952905.

  • 11. Mali P, Esvelt K M, Church G M. Cas9 as a versatile tool for engineering biology. Nat Methods. 2013; 10(10):957-63. PMID: 24076990.

  • 12. Jore M M, Lundgren M, van Duijin E, Bultema J B, Westra E R, Waghmare S P, Wiedenheft B, Pul U, Wurm R, Wagner R, Beijer M R, Barendregt A, Shou K, Snijders A P, Dickman M J, Doudna J A, Boekema E J, Heck A J, van der Oost J, Brouns S J. Structural basis for CRISPR RNA-guided DNA recognition by Cascade. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2011; 18(5):529-36. PMID: 21460843.

  • 13. Horvath P, Barrangou R. CRISPR/Cas, the immune system of bacteria and archaea. Science. 2010; 327(5962):167-70. PMID: 20056882.

  • 14. Wiedenheft B, Sternberg S H, Doudna J A. RNA-guided genetic silencing systems in bacteria and archaea. Nature. 2012; 482(7385):331-8. PMID: 22337052.

  • 15. Gasiunas G, Siksnys V. RNA-dependent DNA endonuclease Cas9 of the CRISPR system: Holy Grail of genome editing? Trends Microbiol. 2013; 21(11):562-7. PMID: 24095303.

  • 16. Qi L S, Larson M H, Gilbert L A, Doudna J A, Weissman J S, Arkin A P, Lim W A. Repurposing CRISPR as an RNA-guided platform for sequence-specific control of gene expression. Cell. 2013; 152(5):1173-83. PMID: 23452860.

  • 17. Perez-Pinera P, Kocak D D, Vockley C M, Adler A F, Kabadi A M, Polstein L R, Thakore P I, Glass K A, Ousterout D G, Leong K W, Guilak F, Crawford G E, Reddy T E, Gersbach C A. RNA-guided gene activation by CRISPR-Cas9-based transcription factors. Nat Methods. 2013; 10(10):973-6. PMID: 23892895.

  • 18. Mali P, Aach J, Stranges P B, Esvelt K M, Moosburner M, Kosuri S, Yang L, Church G M. CAS9 transcriptional activators for target specificity screening and paired nickases for cooperative genome engineering. Nat Biotechnol. 2013; 31(9):833-8. PMID: 23907171.

  • 19. Gilbert L A, Larson M H, Morsut L, Liu Z, Brar G A, Torres S E, Stern-Ginossar N, Brandman O, Whitehead E H, Doudna J A, Lim W A, Weissman J S, Qi L S. CRISPR-mediated modular RNA-guided regulation of transcription in eukaryotes. Cell. 2013; 154(2):442-51. PMID: 23849981.

  • 20. Larson M H, Gilbert L A, Wang X, Lim W A, Weissman J S, Qi L S. CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) for sequence-specific control of gene expression. Nat Protoc. 2013; 8(11):2180-96. PMID: 24136345.

  • 21. Mali P, Yang L, Esvelt K M, Aach J, Guell M, DiCarlo J E, Norville J E, Church G M. RNA-guided human genome engineering via Cas9. Science. 2013; 339(6121):823-6. PMID: 23287722.

  • 22. Cole-Strauss A, Yoon K, Xiang Y, Byrne B C, Rice M C, Gryn J, Holloman W K, Kmiec E B. Correction of the mutation responsible for sickle cell anemia by an RNA-DNA oligonucleotide. Science. 1996; 273(5280):1386-9. PMID: 8703073.

  • 23. Tagalakis A D, Owen J S, Simons J P. Lack of RNA-DNA oligonucleotide (chimeraplast) mutagenic activity in mouse embryos. Mol Reprod Dev. 2005; 71(2):140-4. PMID: 15791601.

  • 24. Ray A, Langer M. Homologous recombination: ends as the means. Trends Plant Sci. 2002; 7(10):435-40. PMID 12399177.

  • 25. Britt A B, May G D. Re-engineering plant gene targeting. Trends Plant Sci. 2003; 8(2):90-5. PMID: 12597876.

  • 26. Vagner V, Ehrlich S D. Efficiency of homologous DNA recombination varies along the Bacillus subtilis chromosome. J Bacteriol. 1988; 170(9):3978-82. PMID: 3137211.

  • 27. Saleh-Gohari N, Helleday T. Conservative homologous recombination preferentially repairs DNA double-strand breaks in the S phase of the cell cycle in human cells. Nucleic Acids Res. 2004; 32(12):3683-8. PMID: 15252152.

  • 28. Lombardo A, Genovese P, Beausejour C M, Colleoni S, Lee Y L, Kim K A, Ando D, Urnov F D, Galli C, Gregory P D, Holmes M C, Naldini L. Gene editing in human stem cells using zince finger nucleases and integrase-defective lentiviral vector delivery. Nat Biotechnol. 2007; 25(11):1298-306. PMID: 17965707.

  • 29. Conticello S G. The AID/APOBEC family of nucleic acid mutators. Genome Biol. 2008; 9(6):229. PMID: 18598372.

  • 30. Reynaud C A, Aoufouchi S, Faili A, Weill J C. What role for AID: mutator, or assembler of the immunoglobulin mutasome? Nat Immunol. 2003; 4(7):631-8.

  • 31. Bhagwat A S. DNA-cytosine deaminases: from antibody maturation to antiviral defense. DNA Repair (Amst). 2004; 3(1):85-9. PMID: 14697763.

  • 32. Navaratnam N, Sarwar R. An overview of cytidine deaminases. Int J Hematol. 2006; 83(3):195-200. PMID: 16720547.

  • 33. Holden L G, Prochnow C, Chang Y P, Bransteitter R, Chelico L, Sen U, Stevens R C, Goodman M F, Chen X S. Crystal structure of the anti-viral APOBEC3G catalytic domain and functional implications. Nature. 2008; 456(7218):121-4. PMID: 18849968.

  • 34. Chelico L, Pham P, Petruska J, Goodman M F. Biochemical basis of immunological and retroviral responses to DNA-targeted cytosine deamination by activation-induced cytidine deaminase and APOBEC3G. J Biol Chem. 2009; 284(41). 27761-5. PMID: 19684020.

  • 35. Pham P, Bransteitter R, Goodman M F. Reward versus risk: DNA cytidine deaminases triggering immunity and disease. Biochemistry. 2005; 44(8):2703-15. PMID 15723516.

  • 36. Barbas C F, Kim D H. Cytidine deaminase fusions and related methods. PCT Int Appl. 2010; WO 2010132092 A2 20101118.

  • 37. Chen X, Zaro J L, Shen W C. Fusion protein linkers: property, design and functionality. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2013; 65(10):1357-69. PMID: 23026637.

  • 38. Gerber A P, Keller W. RNA editing by base deamination: more enzymes, more targets, new mysteries. Trends Biochem Sci. 2001; 26(6):376-84. PMID: 11406411.

  • 39. Yuan L, Kurek I, English J, Keenan R. Laboratory-directed protein evolution. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2005; 69(3):373-92. PMID: 16148303.

  • 40. Cobb R E, Sun N, Zhao H. Directed evolution as a powerful synthetic biology tool. Methods. 2013; 60(1):81-90. PMID: 22465795.

  • 41. Bershtein S, Tawfik D S. Advances in laboratory evolution of enzymes. Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2008; 12(2):151-8. PMID: 18284924.

  • 42. Hida K, Hanes J, Ostermeier M. Directed evolution for drug and nucleic acid delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2007; 59(15):1562-78. PMID: 17933418.

  • 43. Esvelt K M, Carlson J C, Liu D R. A system for the continuous directed evolution of biomolecules. Nature. 2011; 472(7344):499-503. PMID: 21478873.

  • 44. Husimi Y. Selection and evolution of bacteriophages in cellstat. Adv Biophys. 1989; 25:1-43. PMID: 2696338.

  • 45. Riechmann L, Holliger P. The C-terminal domain of TolA is the coreceptor for filamentous phage infection of E. coli. Cell. 1997; 90(2):351-60. PMID: 9244308.

  • 46. Nelson F K, Friedman S M, Smith G P. Filamentous phage DNA cloning vectors: a noninfective mutant with a nonpolar deletion in gene III. Virology. 1981; 108(2):338-50. PMID: 6258292.

  • 47. Rakonjac J, Model P. Roles of pIII in filamentous phage assembly. J Mol Biol. 1998; 282(1):25-41.

  • 48. Smith G P. Filamentous fusion phage: novel expression vectors that display cloned antigens on the virion surface. Science. 1985; 228(4705):1315-7. PMID: 4001944.

  • 49. Sheridan C. Gene therapy finds its niche. Nat Biotechnol. 2011; 29(2):121-8. PMID: 21301435.

  • 50. Lee J W, Soung Y H, Kim S Y, Lee H W, Park W S, Nam S W, Kim S H, Lee J Y, Yoo N J, Lee S H. PIK3CA gene is frequently mutated in breast carcinomas and hepatocellular carcinomas. Oncogene. 2005; 24(8):1477-80. PMID: 15608678.

  • 51. Ikediobi O N, Davies H, Bignell G, Edkins S, Stevens C, O'Meara S, Santarius T, Avis T, Barthorpe S, Brackenbury L, Buck G, Butler A, Clements J, Cole J, Dicks E, Forbes S, Gray K, Halliday K, Harrison R, Hills K, Hinton J, Hunter C, Jenkinson A, Jones D, Kosmidou V, Lugg R, Menzies A, Mironenko T, Parker A, Perry J, Raine K, Richardson D, Shepherd R, Small A, Smith R, Solomon H, Stephens P, Teague J, Tofts C, Varian J, Webb T, West S, Widaa S, Yates A, Reinhold W, Weinstein J N, Stratton M R, Futreal P A, Wooster R. Mutation analysis of 24 known cancer genes in the NCI-60 cell line set. Mol Cancer Ther. 2006; 5(11):2606-12. PMID: 17088437.



All publications, patents, patent applications, publication, and database entries (e.g., sequence database entries) mentioned herein, e.g., in the Background, Summary, Detailed Description, Examples, and/or References sections, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each individual publication, patent, patent application, publication, and database entry was specifically and individually incorporated herein by reference. In case of conflict, the present application, including any definitions herein, will control.


EQUIVALENTS AND SCOPE

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents of the embodiments described herein. The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the above description, but rather is as set forth in the appended claims.


Articles such as “a,” “an,” and “the” may mean one or more than one unless indicated to the contrary or otherwise evident from the context. Claims or descriptions that include “or” between two or more members of a group are considered satisfied if one, more than one, or all of the group members are present, unless indicated to the contrary or otherwise evident from the context. The disclosure of a group that includes “or” between two or more group members provides embodiments in which exactly one member of the group is present, embodiments in which more than one members of the group are present, and embodiments in which all of the group members are present. For purposes of brevity those embodiments have not been individually spelled out herein, but it will be understood that each of these embodiments is provided herein and may be specifically claimed or disclaimed.


It is to be understood that the invention encompasses all variations, combinations, and permutations in which one or more limitation, element, clause, or descriptive term, from one or more of the claims or from one or more relevant portion of the description, is introduced into another claim. For example, a claim that is dependent on another claim can be modified to include one or more of the limitations found in any other claim that is dependent on the same base claim. Furthermore, where the claims recite a composition, it is to be understood that methods of making or using the composition according to any of the methods of making or using disclosed herein or according to methods known in the art, if any, are included, unless otherwise indicated or unless it would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that a contradiction or inconsistency would arise.


Where elements are presented as lists, e.g., in Markush group format, it is to be understood that every possible subgroup of the elements is also disclosed, and that any element or subgroup of elements can be removed from the group. It is also noted that the term “comprising” is intended to be open and permits the inclusion of additional elements or steps. It should be understood that, in general, where an embodiment, product, or method is referred to as comprising particular elements, features, or steps, embodiments, products, or methods that consist, or consist essentially of, such elements, features, or steps, are provided as well. For purposes of brevity those embodiments have not been individually spelled out herein, but it will be understood that each of these embodiments is provided herein and may be specifically claimed or disclaimed.


Where ranges are given, endpoints are included. Furthermore, it is to be understood that unless otherwise indicated or otherwise evident from the context and/or the understanding of one of ordinary skill in the art, values that are expressed as ranges can assume any specific value within the stated ranges in some embodiments, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit of the range, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For purposes of brevity, the values in each range have not been individually spelled out herein, but it will be understood that each of these values is provided herein and may be specifically claimed or disclaimed. It is also to be understood that unless otherwise indicated or otherwise evident from the context and/or the understanding of one of ordinary skill in the art, values expressed as ranges can assume any subrange within the given range, wherein the endpoints of the subrange are expressed to the same degree of accuracy as the tenth of the unit of the lower limit of the range.


In addition, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment of the present invention may be explicitly excluded from any one or more of the claims. Where ranges are given, any value within the range may explicitly be excluded from any one or more of the claims. Any embodiment, element, feature, application, or aspect of the compositions and/or methods of the invention, can be excluded from any one or more claims. For purposes of brevity, all of the embodiments in which one or more elements, features, purposes, or aspects is excluded are not set forth explicitly herein.

Claims
  • 1. A method of DNA editing, the method comprising contacting a DNA molecule with (a) a fusion protein comprising (i) a nuclease-inactive Cas9 (dCas9) comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein the dCas9 comprises an alanine at a position corresponding to position 10 in SEQ ID NO:4, and (ii) a cytidine deaminase; and(b) a single-guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting the fusion protein of (a) to a target nucleotide sequence of the DNA molecule, comprising the nucleotide sequence of 5′-[a guide sequence]-guuuuagagcuagaaauagcaaguuaaaauaaaggcuaguccguuaucaacuugaaaaaguggcaccgagucggugcuuuuu-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 38), wherein the guide sequence comprises a RNA sequence that is complementary to the target nucleotide sequence of the DNA molecule;wherein the DNA molecule is contacted with the fusion protein and the sgRNA in an amount effective and under conditions suitable for a deamination of a nucleotide base, wherein the method results in the deamination of a nucleotide base within the DNA molecule.
  • 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cytidine deaminase is an apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing complex (APOBEC) family deaminase.
  • 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cytidine deaminase is an APOBEC1 family deaminase.
  • 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the cytidine deaminase is an activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID).
  • 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the deaminase is an APOBEC1 deaminase comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, or SEQ ID NO: 24.
  • 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cytidine deaminase is fused to the N-terminus of the dCas9.
  • 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cytidine deaminase is fused to the C-terminus of the dCas9.
  • 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dCas9 and the cytidine deaminase are fused via a linker.
  • 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the linker comprises a (GGGGS)n (SEQ ID NO: 91), a (G)n, an (EAAAK)n (SEQ ID NO: 5), or an (XP)n motif, or a combination of any of these, wherein n is independently an integer between 1 and 30.
  • 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the target DNA sequence comprises a sequence associated with a disease or disorder, and wherein the deamination of the nucleotide base results in a sequence that is not associated with a disease or disorder.
  • 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the deamination corrects a point mutation in the sequence associated with the disease or disorder.
  • 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sequence associated with the disease or disorder encodes a protein, and wherein the deamination introduces a stop codon into the sequence associated with the disease or disorder, resulting in a truncation of the encoded protein.
  • 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the contacting is in vivo in a subject having or diagnosed with the disease or disorder.
  • 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the disease is cystic fibrosis, phenylketonuria, epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EHK), Charcot-Marie-Toot disease type 4J, neuroblastoma (NB), von Willebrand disease (vWD), myotonia congenital, hereditary renal amyloidosis, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), or a neoplastic disease associated with a mutant PI3KCA protein.
  • 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the DNA sequence comprises a T to C point mutation associated with a disease or disorder, and wherein the deamination of the mutant C base results in a sequence that is not associated with a disease or disorder.
  • 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the dCas9 of (a) further comprises one or more mutations corresponding to a D839A or a N863A in SEQ ID NO: 4.
  • 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the DNA sequence encodes a protein, and wherein deamination of the nucleotide base results in a correction of a T to C point mutation to restore the wild-type sequence of the encoded protein.
  • 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the guide sequence is 20 nucleotides long.
  • 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the dCas9 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.
  • 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the nucleotide base of the DNA molecule deaminated by the fusion protein is located on a nucleotide strand complementary to the target nucleotide sequence of the DNA molecule that is to contacted by the guide sequence of the sgRNA.
RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 61/915,386 filed Dec. 12, 2013, and U.S. provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 61/980,333 filed Apr. 16, 2014, the entire contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

This invention was made with U.S. Government support under HR0011-11-2-0003 and N66001-12-C-4207 awarded by the Department of Defense and under GM095501 awarded by National Institutes of Health. The Government has certain rights in the invention.

US Referenced Citations (160)
Number Name Date Kind
4235871 Papahadjopoulos et al. Nov 1980 A
5780053 Ashley et al. Jul 1998 A
6057153 George et al. May 2000 A
6453242 Eisenberg et al. Sep 2002 B1
6503717 Case et al. Jan 2003 B2
6534261 Cox, III et al. Mar 2003 B1
6599692 Case et al. Jul 2003 B1
6607882 Cox, III et al. Aug 2003 B1
6824978 Cox, III et al. Nov 2004 B1
6933113 Case et al. Aug 2005 B2
6979539 Cox, III et al. Dec 2005 B2
7013219 Case et al. Mar 2006 B2
7163824 Cox, III et al. Jan 2007 B2
7479573 Chu et al. Jan 2009 B2
7794931 Breaker et al. Sep 2010 B2
7919277 Russell et al. Apr 2011 B2
8361725 Russell et al. Jan 2013 B2
8492082 De Franciscis et al. Jul 2013 B2
8546553 Terns et al. Oct 2013 B2
8569256 Heyes et al. Oct 2013 B2
8680069 de Fougerolles et al. Mar 2014 B2
8691750 Constien et al. Apr 2014 B2
8697359 Zhang Apr 2014 B1
8709466 Coady et al. Apr 2014 B2
8728526 Heller May 2014 B2
8748667 Budzik et al. Jun 2014 B2
8758810 Okada et al. Jun 2014 B2
8759103 Kim et al. Jun 2014 B2
8759104 Unciti-Broceta et al. Jun 2014 B2
8771728 Huang et al. Jul 2014 B2
8790664 Pitard et al. Jul 2014 B2
8795965 Zhang Aug 2014 B2
8846578 McCray et al. Sep 2014 B2
8993233 Zhang et al. Mar 2015 B2
8999641 Zhang et al. Apr 2015 B2
9068179 Liu et al. Jun 2015 B1
9163284 Liu et al. Oct 2015 B2
9228207 Liu et al. Jan 2016 B2
9234213 Wu Jan 2016 B2
9322006 Liu et al. Apr 2016 B2
9322037 Liu et al. Apr 2016 B2
9340799 Liu et al. May 2016 B2
9340800 Liu et al. May 2016 B2
9359599 Liu et al. Jun 2016 B2
9388430 Liu et al. Jul 2016 B2
20040003420 Kuhn et al. Jan 2004 A1
20040115184 Smith et al. Jun 2004 A1
20050222030 Allison et al. Oct 2005 A1
20060088864 Smolke et al. Apr 2006 A1
20070264692 Liu et al. Nov 2007 A1
20080124725 Barrangou et al. May 2008 A1
20080182254 Hall et al. Jul 2008 A1
20090130718 Short May 2009 A1
20090234109 Han et al. Sep 2009 A1
20100076057 Sontheimer et al. Mar 2010 A1
20100093617 Barrangou et al. Apr 2010 A1
20100104690 Barrangou et al. Apr 2010 A1
20100316643 Eckert et al. Dec 2010 A1
20110059160 Essner et al. Mar 2011 A1
20110104787 Church et al. May 2011 A1
20110189776 Terns et al. Aug 2011 A1
20110217739 Terns et al. Sep 2011 A1
20120129759 Liu et al. May 2012 A1
20120141523 Castado et al. Jun 2012 A1
20120270273 Zhang et al. Oct 2012 A1
20130117869 Duchateau et al. May 2013 A1
20130130248 Haurwitz et al. May 2013 A1
20130158245 Russell et al. Jun 2013 A1
20130165389 Schellenberger et al. Jun 2013 A1
20130344117 Mirosevich et al. Dec 2013 A1
20140005269 Ngwuluka et al. Jan 2014 A1
20140017214 Cost Jan 2014 A1
20140018404 Chen et al. Jan 2014 A1
20140044793 Goll et al. Feb 2014 A1
20140068797 Doudna et al. Mar 2014 A1
20140127752 Zhou et al. May 2014 A1
20140141094 Smyth et al. May 2014 A1
20140141487 Feldman et al. May 2014 A1
20140186843 Zhang et al. Jul 2014 A1
20140186958 Zhang et al. Jul 2014 A1
20140234289 Liu et al. Aug 2014 A1
20140273037 Wu Sep 2014 A1
20140273226 Wu Sep 2014 A1
20140273230 Chen et al. Sep 2014 A1
20140295556 Joung et al. Oct 2014 A1
20140295557 Joung et al. Oct 2014 A1
20140342456 Mali et al. Nov 2014 A1
20140342457 Mali et al. Nov 2014 A1
20140342458 Mali et al. Nov 2014 A1
20140349400 Jakimo et al. Nov 2014 A1
20140356867 Peter et al. Dec 2014 A1
20140356956 Church et al. Dec 2014 A1
20140356958 Mali et al. Dec 2014 A1
20140356959 Church et al. Dec 2014 A1
20140357523 Zeiner et al. Dec 2014 A1
20140377868 Joung et al. Dec 2014 A1
20150010526 Liu et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150031089 Lindstrom Jan 2015 A1
20150031132 Church et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150031133 Church et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150044191 Liu et al. Feb 2015 A1
20150044192 Liu et al. Feb 2015 A1
20150044772 Zhao Feb 2015 A1
20150050699 Siksnys et al. Feb 2015 A1
20150056177 Liu et al. Feb 2015 A1
20150056629 Guthrie-Honea Feb 2015 A1
20150064138 Lu et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150064789 Paschon et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150071898 Liu et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150071899 Liu et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150071900 Liu et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150071901 Liu et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150071902 Liu et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150071903 Liu et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150071906 Liu et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150079680 Bradley et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150098954 Hyde et al. Apr 2015 A1
20150118216 Liu et al. Apr 2015 A1
20150132269 Orkin et al. May 2015 A1
20150140664 Byrne et al. May 2015 A1
20150159172 Miller et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150165054 Liu et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150166980 Liu et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150166982 Liu et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150166984 Liu et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150166985 Liu et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150191744 Wolfe et al. Jul 2015 A1
20150197759 Xu et al. Jul 2015 A1
20150211058 Carstens et al. Jul 2015 A1
20150218573 Loque et al. Aug 2015 A1
20150225773 Farmer et al. Aug 2015 A1
20150252358 Maeder et al. Sep 2015 A1
20150315252 Haugwitz et al. Nov 2015 A1
20160017393 Jacobson et al. Jan 2016 A1
20160017396 Cann et al. Jan 2016 A1
20160032353 Braman et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160046952 Hittinger et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160046962 May et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160053272 Wurtzel et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160053304 Wurtzel et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160074535 Ranganathan et al. Mar 2016 A1
20160076093 Shendure et al. Mar 2016 A1
20160090603 Carnes et al. Mar 2016 A1
20160090622 Liu et al. Mar 2016 A1
20160138046 Wu May 2016 A1
20160186214 Brouns et al. Jun 2016 A1
20160200779 Liu et al. Jul 2016 A1
20160201040 Liu et al. Jul 2016 A1
20160201089 Gersbach et al. Jul 2016 A1
20160206566 Lu et al. Jul 2016 A1
20160208243 Zhang et al. Jul 2016 A1
20160208288 Liu et al. Jul 2016 A1
20160215275 Zhong Jul 2016 A1
20160215276 Liu et al. Jul 2016 A1
20160215300 May et al. Jul 2016 A1
20160244784 Jacobson et al. Aug 2016 A1
20160244829 Bang et al. Aug 2016 A1
20160304846 Liu et al. Oct 2016 A1
20160304855 Stark et al. Oct 2016 A1
20160312304 Sorrentino et al. Oct 2016 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (644)
Number Date Country
2012244264 Nov 2012 AU
2015252023 Nov 2015 AU
2015101792 Jan 2016 AU
2 852 593 Nov 2015 CA
103233028 Aug 2013 CN
103388006 Nov 2013 CN
103614415 Mar 2014 CN
103642836 Mar 2014 CN
103668472 Mar 2014 CN
103820441 May 2014 CN
103820454 May 2014 CN
103911376 Jul 2014 CN
103923911 Jul 2014 CN
103981211 Aug 2014 CN
103981212 Aug 2014 CN
104004778 Aug 2014 CN
104004782 Aug 2014 CN
104017821 Sep 2014 CN
104109687 Oct 2014 CN
104178461 Dec 2014 CN
104342457 Feb 2015 CN
104404036 Mar 2015 CN
104450774 Mar 2015 CN
104480144 Apr 2015 CN
104498493 Apr 2015 CN
104504304 Apr 2015 CN
104531704 Apr 2015 CN
104531705 Apr 2015 CN
104560864 Apr 2015 CN
104593418 May 2015 CN
104593422 May 2015 CN
104611370 May 2015 CN
104651392 May 2015 CN
104651398 May 2015 CN
104651399 May 2015 CN
104651401 May 2015 CN
104673816 Jun 2015 CN
104726449 Jun 2015 CN
104726494 Jun 2015 CN
104762321 Jun 2015 CN
104725626 Jul 2015 CN
104805078 Jul 2015 CN
104805099 Jul 2015 CN
104805118 Jul 2015 CN
104846010 Aug 2015 CN
104894068 Sep 2015 CN
104894075 Sep 2015 CN
104928321 Sep 2015 CN
105039339 Nov 2015 CN
105039399 Nov 2015 CN
105063061 Nov 2015 CN
105087620 Nov 2015 CN
105400773 Mar 2016 CN
105400779 Mar 2016 CN
105400810 Mar 2016 CN
105441451 Mar 2016 CN
105462968 Apr 2016 CN
105463003 Apr 2016 CN
105463027 Apr 2016 CN
105492608 Apr 2016 CN
105492609 Apr 2016 CN
105505976 Apr 2016 CN
105505979 Apr 2016 CN
105518134 Apr 2016 CN
105518135 Apr 2016 CN
105518137 Apr 2016 CN
105518138 Apr 2016 CN
105518139 Apr 2016 CN
105518140 Apr 2016 CN
105543228 May 2016 CN
105543266 May 2016 CN
105543270 May 2016 CN
105567688 May 2016 CN
105567689 May 2016 CN
105567734 May 2016 CN
105567735 May 2016 CN
105567738 May 2016 CN
105593367 May 2016 CN
105594664 May 2016 CN
105602987 May 2016 CN
105624146 Jun 2016 CN
105624187 Jun 2016 CN
105646719 Jun 2016 CN
105647922 Jun 2016 CN
105647962 Jun 2016 CN
105647968 Jun 2016 CN
105647969 Jun 2016 CN
105671070 Jun 2016 CN
105671083 Jun 2016 CN
105695485 Jun 2016 CN
105779448 Jul 2016 CN
105779449 Jul 2016 CN
105802980 Jul 2016 CN
105821039 Aug 2016 CN
105821040 Aug 2016 CN
105821049 Aug 2016 CN
105821072 Aug 2016 CN
105821075 Aug 2016 CN
105821116 Aug 2016 CN
105838733 Aug 2016 CN
105861547 Aug 2016 CN
105861552 Aug 2016 CN
105861554 Aug 2016 CN
105886498 Aug 2016 CN
105886534 Aug 2016 CN
105886616 Aug 2016 CN
105907758 Aug 2016 CN
105907785 Aug 2016 CN
105925608 Sep 2016 CN
105950560 Sep 2016 CN
105950626 Sep 2016 CN
105950633 Sep 2016 CN
105950639 Sep 2016 CN
105985985 Oct 2016 CN
106011150 Oct 2016 CN
106011167 Oct 2016 CN
106011171 Oct 2016 CN
106032540 Oct 2016 CN
106047803 Oct 2016 CN
106047877 Oct 2016 CN
106047930 Oct 2016 CN
2 604 255 Jun 2013 EP
2 966 170 Jan 2016 EP
3 009 511 Apr 2016 EP
2528177 Jan 2016 GB
2 531 454 Apr 2016 GB
2010-539929 Dec 2010 JP
101584933 Jan 2016 KR
WO02068676 Sep 2002 WO
WO02103028 Dec 2002 WO
WO 2006002547 Jan 2006 WO
WO 2006042112 Apr 2006 WO
WO 2007025097 Mar 2007 WO
WO 2007136815 Nov 2007 WO
WO 2008108989 Sep 2008 WO
WO 2010011961 Jan 2010 WO
WO 2010054108 May 2010 WO
WO 2010054154 May 2010 WO
WO 2010068289 Jun 2010 WO
WO 2010075424 Jul 2010 WO
WO 2010102257 Sep 2010 WO
WO 2010129019 Nov 2010 WO
WO 2010129023 Nov 2010 WO
WO 2010132092 Nov 2010 WO
WO 2010144150 Dec 2010 WO
WO 2011017293 Feb 2011 WO
WO 2011053868 May 2011 WO
WO 2011053982 May 2011 WO
WO 2011075627 Jun 2011 WO
WO 2011091311 Jul 2011 WO
WO 2011109031 Sep 2011 WO
WO 2011143124 Nov 2011 WO
WO 2012054726 Apr 2012 WO
WO 2012065043 May 2012 WO
WO 2012138927 Oct 2012 WO
WO 2012158985 Nov 2012 WO
WO 2012158986 Nov 2012 WO
WO 2012164565 Dec 2012 WO
WO 2013012674 Jan 2013 WO
WO 2013013105 Jan 2013 WO
WO 2013066438 May 2013 WO
WO 2013098244 Jul 2013 WO
WO 2013119602 Aug 2013 WO
WO 2013126794 Aug 2013 WO
WO 2013130824 Sep 2013 WO
WO 2013141680 Sep 2013 WO
WO 2013142378 Sep 2013 WO
WO 2013142578 Sep 2013 WO
WO 2013160230 Oct 2013 WO
WO 2013166315 Nov 2013 WO
WO 2013169398 Nov 2013 WO
WO 2013169802 Nov 2013 WO
WO2013176772 Nov 2013 WO
WO 2013176772 Nov 2013 WO
WO 2013176915 Nov 2013 WO
WO 2013176916 Nov 2013 WO
WO 2013181440 Dec 2013 WO
WO 2013186754 Dec 2013 WO
WO 2013188037 Dec 2013 WO
WO 2013188522 Dec 2013 WO
WO 2013188638 Dec 2013 WO
WO 2013192278 Dec 2013 WO
WO 2014005042 Jan 2014 WO
WO 2014011237 Jan 2014 WO
WO 2014011901 Jan 2014 WO
WO 2014018423 Jan 2014 WO
WO 2014020608 Feb 2014 WO
WO 2014022120 Feb 2014 WO
WO 2014022702 Feb 2014 WO
WO 2014036219 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014039513 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014039523 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014039684 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014039692 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014039702 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014039872 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014039970 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014041327 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014043143 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014047103 Mar 2014 WO
WO 2014059173 Apr 2014 WO
WO 2014059255 Apr 2014 WO
WO 2014065596 May 2014 WO
WO 2014066505 May 2014 WO
WO 2014068346 May 2014 WO
WO 2014070887 May 2014 WO
WO 2014071006 May 2014 WO
WO 2014071219 May 2014 WO
WO 2014071235 May 2014 WO
WO 2014072941 May 2014 WO
WO 2014081729 May 2014 WO
WO 2014081730 May 2014 WO
WO 2014081855 May 2014 WO
WO 2014082644 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014085261 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014085593 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014085830 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014089212 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014089290 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014089348 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014089513 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014089533 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014089541 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093479 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093595 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093622 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093635 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093655 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093661 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093694 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093701 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093709 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093712 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093718 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093736 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093768 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014093852 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014096972 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014099744 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014099750 Jun 2014 WO
WO 2014104878 Jul 2014 WO
WO 2014110006 Jul 2014 WO
WO 2014110552 Jul 2014 WO
WO 2014113493 Jul 2014 WO
WO 2014123967 Aug 2014 WO
WO 2014124226 Aug 2014 WO
WO 2014125668 Aug 2014 WO
WO 2014127287 Aug 2014 WO
WO 2014128324 Aug 2014 WO
WO 2014128659 Aug 2014 WO
WO 2014130955 Aug 2014 WO
WO 2014131833 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014138379 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014143381 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014144094 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014144155 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014144288 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014144592 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014144761 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014144951 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014145599 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014145736 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014150624 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014152432 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014153118 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014153470 Sep 2014 WO
WO 2014161821 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014164466 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014165177 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014165349 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014165612 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014165707 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014165825 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014172458 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014172470 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014172489 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014173955 Oct 2014 WO
WO 2014182700 Nov 2014 WO
WO 2014183071 Nov 2014 WO
WO 2014184143 Nov 2014 WO
WO 2014184741 Nov 2014 WO
WO 2014184744 Nov 2014 WO
WO 2014186585 Nov 2014 WO
WO 2014186686 Nov 2014 WO
WO 2014190181 Nov 2014 WO
WO 2014191128 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014191518 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014191521 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014191525 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014191527 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014193583 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014194190 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014197568 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014197748 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014199358 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014200659 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014201015 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014204578 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014204723 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014204724 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014204725 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014204726 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014204727 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014204728 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014204729 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014205192 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2014207043 Dec 2014 WO
WO 2015002780 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015004241 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015006290 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015006294 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015006437 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015006498 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015006747 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015007194 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015010114 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015011483 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015013583 Jan 2015 WO
WO 2015017866 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015018503 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015021353 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015021426 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015021990 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015024017 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015024986 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015026883 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015026885 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015026886 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015026887 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015027134 Feb 2015 WO
WO 2015028969 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015030881 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015031619 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015031775 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015032494 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015033293 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015034872 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015034885 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015035136 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015035139 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015035162 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015040075 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015040402 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015042585 Mar 2015 WO
WO 2015048577 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015048690 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015048707 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015048801 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015049897 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015051191 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015052133 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015052231 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015052335 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015053995 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015054253 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015054315 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015057671 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015057834 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015057852 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015057976 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015057980 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015059265 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015065964 May 2015 WO
WO 2015066119 May 2015 WO
WO 2015066634 May 2015 WO
WO 2015066636 May 2015 WO
WO 2015066637 May 2015 WO
WO 2015066638 May 2015 WO
WO 2015066643 May 2015 WO
WO 2015070083 May 2015 WO
WO 2015070193 May 2015 WO
WO 2015070212 May 2015 WO
WO 2015071474 May 2015 WO
WO 2015073683 May 2015 WO
WO 2015073867 May 2015 WO
WO 2015073990 May 2015 WO
WO 2015075056 May 2015 WO
WO 2015075154 May 2015 WO
WO 2015075175 May 2015 WO
WO 2015075195 May 2015 WO
WO 2015075557 May 2015 WO
WO 2015077058 May 2015 WO
WO 2015077290 May 2015 WO
WO 2015077318 May 2015 WO
WO 2015079056 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015079057 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015086795 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015086798 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015088643 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089046 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089077 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089277 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089351 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089354 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089364 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089406 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089419 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089427 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089462 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089465 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089473 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015089486 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015095804 Jun 2015 WO
WO 2015099850 Jul 2015 WO
WO 2015100929 Jul 2015 WO
WO 2015103057 Jul 2015 WO
WO 2015103153 Jul 2015 WO
WO 2015105928 Jul 2015 WO
WO 2015108993 Jul 2015 WO
WO 2015112790 Jul 2015 WO
WO 2015112896 Jul 2015 WO
WO 2015113063 Jul 2015 WO
WO 2015115903 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015116686 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015116969 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015117021 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015117041 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015121454 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015122967 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015123339 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015124715 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015124718 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015126927 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015127428 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015127439 Aug 2015 WO
WO 2015131101 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015133554 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015134812 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015136001 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015138510 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015138739 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015138855 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015138870 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015139008 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015139139 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015143046 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2015148670 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015148680 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015148761 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015148860 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015148863 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015153760 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015153780 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015153789 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015153791 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015153889 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015153940 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015155341 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015155686 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015157070 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015157534 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015159068 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015159086 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015159087 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015160683 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015161276 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015163733 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015164748 Oct 2015 WO
WO 2015166272 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015168125 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015168158 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015168404 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015168547 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015168800 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015171603 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015171894 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015175642 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015179540 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015183885 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015184259 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015188056 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015188094 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015188109 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015188132 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015188135 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015188191 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015189693 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015191693 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015191899 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015191911 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015193858 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015195547 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015195621 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015195798 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015198020 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015200334 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015200378 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015200555 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2015200805 Dec 2015 WO
WO 2016004010 Jan 2016 WO
WO 2016007347 Jan 2016 WO
WO 2016007604 Jan 2016 WO
WO 2016007948 Jan 2016 WO
WO 2016011080 Jan 2016 WO
WO 2016011428 Jan 2016 WO
WO 2016012544 Jan 2016 WO
WO 2016014409 Jan 2016 WO
WO 2016014794 Jan 2016 WO
WO 2016014837 Jan 2016 WO
WO 2016016119 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016016358 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016019144 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016020399 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016021972 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016021973 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016022363 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016022866 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016022931 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016025131 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016025469 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016025759 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016026444 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016028682 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016028843 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016028887 Feb 2016 WO
WO 2016033088 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016033246 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016033298 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016035044 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016036754 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016037157 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016040030 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016040594 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016044416 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016049024 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016049163 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016049230 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016049251 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016049258 Mar 2016 WO
WO 2016054326 Apr 2016 WO
WO 2016057061 Apr 2016 WO
WO 2016057821 Apr 2016 WO
WO 2016057835 Apr 2016 WO
WO 2016057850 Apr 2016 WO
WO 2016057951 Apr 2016 WO
WO 2016057961 Apr 2016 WO
WO 2016061073 Apr 2016 WO
WO 2016061374 Apr 2016 WO
WO 2016061523 Apr 2016 WO
WO 2016069591 May 2016 WO
WO 2016069910 May 2016 WO
WO 2016069912 May 2016 WO
WO 2016070037 May 2016 WO
WO 2016070070 May 2016 WO
WO 2016070129 May 2016 WO
WO 2016072399 May 2016 WO
WO 2016072936 May 2016 WO
WO 2016073433 May 2016 WO
WO 2016073559 May 2016 WO
WO 2016073990 May 2016 WO
WO 2016075662 May 2016 WO
WO 2016077273 May 2016 WO
WO 2016077350 May 2016 WO
WO 2016080097 May 2016 WO
WO 2016081923 May 2016 WO
WO 2016081924 May 2016 WO
WO 2016082135 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016083811 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016084084 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016084088 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016086177 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016089433 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016089866 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016089883 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016090385 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016094845 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016094867 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016094872 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016094874 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016094880 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016094888 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016097212 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016097231 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016097751 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016099887 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016100272 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016100389 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016100568 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016100571 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016100951 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016100955 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016100974 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016103233 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016104716 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016106236 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016106244 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016106338 Jun 2016 WO
WO 2016108926 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016109255 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016109840 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016110214 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016110453 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016110511 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016110512 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016112351 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016112963 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016114972 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016115179 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016115326 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016115355 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016116032 Jul 2016 WO
WO 2016120480 Aug 2016 WO
WO 2016123071 Aug 2016 WO
WO 2016123230 Aug 2016 WO
WO 2016123243 Aug 2016 WO
WO 2016123578 Aug 2016 WO
WO 2016130600 Aug 2016 WO
WO 2016130697 Aug 2016 WO
WO 2016132122 Aug 2016 WO
WO 2016135507 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016135557 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016135558 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016135559 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016137774 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016137949 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016141224 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016141893 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016142719 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016145150 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016148994 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016149484 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016149547 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016150336 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016150855 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016154016 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016154579 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016154596 Sep 2016 WO
WO 2016155482 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016161004 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016161207 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016161260 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016161380 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016164356 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016164797 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016166340 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016170484 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016172359 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016172727 Oct 2016 WO
WO 2016174056 Nov 2016 WO
WO 2016174151 Nov 2016 WO
WO 2016174250 Nov 2016 WO
WO 2016176191 Nov 2016 WO
WO 2016176404 Nov 2016 WO
WO 2016176690 Nov 2016 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (323)
Entry
Guo et al., Protein tolerance to random amino acid change, 2004, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101: 9205-9210.
Lazar et al., Transforming Growth Factor α: Mutation of Aspartic Acid 47 and Leucine 48 Results in Different Biological Activity, 1988, Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:1247-1252.
Hill et al., Functional Analysis of conserved Histidines in ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase from Escherichia coli, 1998, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 244:573-577.
Wacey et al., Disentangling the perturbational effects of amino acid substitutions in the DNA-binding domain of p53., Hum Genet, 1999, vol. 104, pp. 15-22.
Li et al., Current Approaches for Engineering Proteins with Diverse Biological Properties, Adv Exp Med Biol. (2007-B) vol. 620, pp. 18-33.
Branden and Tooze, Introduction to Protein Structure (1999), 2nd edition, Garland Science Publisher, pp. 3-12.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/052231, dated Dec. 4, 2014.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/050283, dated Nov. 6, 2014.
Invitation to Pay Additional Fees for PCT/US2014/054291, dated Dec. 18, 2014.
NCBI Reference Sequence: NM—002427.3. Wu et al., May 3, 2014. 5 pages.
Barrangou, RNA-mediated programmable DNA cleavage. Nat Biotechnol. Sep. 2012;30(9):836-8. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2357.
Carroll, A CRISPR approach to gene targeting. Mol Ther. Sep. 2012;20(9):1658-60. doi: 10.1038/mt.2012.171.
Fuchs et al., Polyarginine as a multifunctional fusion tag. Protein Sci. Jun. 2005;14(6):1538-44.
Mussolino et al., TALE nucleases: tailored genome engineering made easy. Curr Opin Biotechnol. Oct. 2012;23(5):644-50. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2012.01.013. Epub Feb. 17, 2012.
O'Connell et al., Programmable RNA recognition and cleavage by CRISPR/Cas9. Nature. Sep. 28, 2014. doi: 10.1038/nature13769.
Zhang et al., CRISPR/Cas9 for genome editing: progress, implications and challenges. Hum Mol Genet. Sep. 15, 2014;23(R1):R40-6. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddu125. Epub Mar. 20, 2014.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/234,031, filed Mar. 24, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/320,271, filed Jun. 30, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/320,519, filed Jun. 30, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/320,370, filed Jun. 30, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/320,413, filed Jun. 30, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/462,163, filed Aug. 18, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/462,189, filed Aug. 18, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/320,498, filed Jun. 30, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/320,467, filed Jun. 30, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/326,329, filed Jul. 8, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/326,340, filed Jul. 8, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/326,361, filed Jul. 8, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/325,815, filed Jul. 8, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/326,140, filed Jul. 8, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/326,269, filed Jul. 8, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/326,290, filed Jul. 8, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/326,318, filed Jul. 8, 2014, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/326,303, filed Jul. 8, 2014, Liu et al.
PCT/US2012/047778, dated May 30, 2013, International Search Report and Written Opinion.
PCT/US2012/047778, dated Feb. 6, 2014, International Preliminary Report on Patentability.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/716,256, filed Oct. 19, 2012, Jinek et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/717,324, filed Oct. 23, 2012, Cho et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/734,256, filed Dec. 6, 2012, Chen et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/758,624, filed Jan. 30, 2013, Chen et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/761,046, filed Feb. 5, 2013, Knight et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/794,422, filed Mar. 15, 2013, Knight et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/803,599, filed Mar. 20, 2013, Kim et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/837,481, filed Jun. 20, 2013, Cho et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/258,458, filed Apr. 22, 2014, Cong.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2012/047778, dated May 30, 2013.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for PCT/US2012/047778, dated Feb. 6, 2014.
International Search Report for PCT/US2013/032589, dated Jul. 26, 2013.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. J04623. Kita et al., Apr. 26, 1993. 2 pages.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—002737.1. Ferretti et al., Jun. 27, 2013. 1 page.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—015683.1. Trost et al., Jul. 6, 2013. 1 page.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—016782.1. Trost et al., Jun. 11, 2013. 1 page.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—016786.1. Trost et al., Aug. 28, 2013. 1 page.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—017053.1. Fittipaldi et al., Jul. 6, 2013. 1 page.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—017317.1. Trost et al., Jun. 11, 2013. 1 page.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—017861.1. Heidelberg et al., Jun. 11, 2013. 1 page.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—018010.1. Lucas et al., Jun. 11, 2013. 2 pages.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—018721.1. Feng et al., Jun. 11, 2013. 1 pages.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—021284.1. Ku et al., Jul. 12, 2013. 1 page.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—021314.1. Zhang et al., Jul. 15, 2013. 1 page.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NC—021846.1. Lo et al., Jul. 22, 2013. 1 page.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. NP—472073.1. Glaser et al., Jun. 27, 2013. 2 pages.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. P42212. Prasher et al., Mar. 19, 2014. 7 pages.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. YP—002342100.1. Bernardini et al., Jun. 10, 2013. 2 pages.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. YP—002344900.1. Gundogdu et al., Mar. 19, 2014. 2 pages.
Genbank Submission; NIH/NCBI, Accession No. YP—820832.1. Makarova et al., Aug. 27, 2013. 2 pages.
UniProt Submission; UniProt, Accession No. P04275. Last modified Jul. 9, 2014, version 107. 29 pages.
UniProt Submission; UniProt, Accession No. P04264. Last modified Jun. 11, 2014, version 6. 15 pages.
UniProt Submission; UniProt, Accession No. P01011. Last modified Jun. 11, 2014, version 2. 15 pages.
Ali et al., Novel genetic abnormalities in Bernard-Soulier syndrome in India. Ann Hematol. Mar. 2014;93(3):381-4. doi: 10.1007/s00277-013-1895-x. Epub Sep. 1, 2013.
Barrangou et al., CRISPR provides acquired resistance against viruses in prokaryotes. Science. Mar. 23, 2007;315(5819):1709-12.
Bedell et al., In vivo genome editing using a high-efficiency TALEN system. Nature. Nov. 1, 2012;491(7422):114-8. Doi: 10.1038/nature11537. Epub Sep. 23, 2012.
Beumer et al., Efficient gene targeting in Drosophila with zinc-finger nucleases. Genetics. Apr. 2006;172(4):2391-403. Epub Feb. 1, 2006.
Bhagwat, DNA-cytosine deaminases: from antibody maturation to antiviral defense. DNA Repair (Amst). Jan. 5, 2004;3(1):85-9.
Boch, TALEs of genome targeting. Nat Biotechnol. Feb. 2011;29(2):135-6. Doi: 10.1038/nbt.1767.
Brown et al., Serine recombinases as tools for genome engineering. Methods. Apr. 2011;53(4):372-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2010.12.031. Epub Dec. 30, 2010.
Cade et al., Highly efficient generation of heritable zebrafish gene mutations using homo- and heterodimeric TALENs. Nucleic Acids Res. Sep. 2012;40(16):8001-10. Doi: 10.1093/nar/gks518. Epub Jun. 7, 2012.
Cargill et al.,Characterization of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in coding regions of human genes. Nat Genet. Jul. 1999;22(3):231-8.
Carroll et al., Gene targeting in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans with zinc-finger nucleases. Methods Mol Biol. 2008;435:63-77. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-232-8—5.
Carroll et al., Progress and prospects: zinc-finger nucleases as gene therapy agents. Gene Ther. Nov. 2008;15(22):1463-8. doi: 10.1038/gt.2008.145. Epub Sep. 11, 2008.
Cermak et al., Efficient design and assembly of custom TALEN and other TAL effector-based constructs for DNA targeting. Nucleic Acids Res. Jul. 2011;39(12):e82. Doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr218. Epub Apr. 14, 2011.
Charpentier et al., Biotechnology: Rewriting a genome. Nature. Mar. 7, 2013;495(7439):50-1. doi: 10.1038/495050a.
Chelico et al., Biochemical basis of immunological and retroviral responses to DNA-targeted cytosine deamination by activation-induced cytidine deaminase and APOBEC3G. J Biol Chem. Oct. 9, 2009;284(41):27761-5. doi: 10.1074/jbc.R109.052449. Epub Aug. 13, 2009.
Chipev et al., A leucine-proline mutation in the H1 subdomain of keratin 1 causes epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. Cell. Sep. 4, 1992;70(5):821-8.
Cho et al., Analysis of off-target effects of CRISPR/Cas-derived RNA-guided endonucleases and nickases. Genome Res. Jan. 2014;24(1):132-41. doi: 10.1101/gr.162339.113. Epub Nov. 19, 2013.
Christian et al, Targeting G with TAL effectors: a comparison of activities of TALENs constructed with NN and NK repeat variable di-residues. PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e45383. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045383. Epub Sep. 24, 2012.
Christian et al., Targeting DNA double-strand breaks with TAL effector nucleases. Genetics. Oct. 2010;186(2):757-61. Doi: 10.1534/genetics.110.120717. Epub Jul. 26, 2010.
Chylinski et al., The tracrRNA and Cas9 families of type II CRISPR-Cas immunity systems. RNA Biol. May 2013;10(5):726-37. doi: 10.4161/rna.24321. Epub Apr. 5, 2013.
Cole-Strauss et al., Correction of the mutation responsible for sickle cell anemia by an RNA-DNA oligonucleotide. Science. Sep. 6, 1996;273(5280):1386-9.
Cong et al., Multiplex genome engineering using CRISPR/Cas systems. Science. Feb. 15, 2013;339(6121):819-23. doi: 10.1126/science.1231143. Epub Jan. 3, 2013.
Conticello, The AID/APOBEC family of nucleic acid mutators. Genome Biol. 2008;9(6):229. doi: 10.1186/gb-2008-9-6-229. Epub Jun. 17, 2008.
Cradick et al., CRISPR/Cas9 systems targeting β-globin and CCR5 genes have substantial off-target activity. Nucleic Acids Res. Nov. 1, 2013;41(20):9584-92. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt714. Epub Aug. 11, 2013.
Cradick et al., Zinc-finger nucleases as a novel therapeutic strategy for targeting hepatitis B virus DNAs. Mol Ther. May 2010;18(5):947-54. Doi: 10.1038/mt.2010.20. Epub Feb. 16, 2010.
Cui et al., Targeted integration in rat and mouse embryos with zinc-finger nucleases. Nat Biotechnol. Jan. 2011;29(1):64-7. Doi: 10.1038/nbt.1731. Epub Dec. 12, 2010.
Dahlem et al., Simple methods for generating and detecting locus-specific mutations induced with TALENs in the zebrafish genome. PLoS Genet. 2012;8(8):e1002861. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002861. Epub Aug. 16, 2012.
De Souza, Primer: genome editing with engineered nucleases. Nat Methods. Jan. 2012;9(1):27.
Deltcheva et al., CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small RNA and host factor RNase III. Nature. Mar. 31, 2011;471(7340):602-7. doi: 10.1038/nature09886.
DiCarlo et al., Genome engineering in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using CRISPR-Cas systems. Nucleic Acids Res. Apr. 2013;41(7):4336-43. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt135. Epub Mar. 4, 2013.
Ding et al., A TALEN genome-editing system for generating human stem cell-based disease models. Cell Stem Cell. Feb. 7, 2013;12(2):238-51. Doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2012.11.011. Epub Dec. 13, 2012.
Doyon et al., Heritable targeted gene disruption in zebrafish using designed zinc-finger nucleases. Nat Biotechnol. Jun. 2008;26(6):702-8. Doi: 10.1038/nbt1409. Epub May 25, 2008.
Esvelt et al., Genome-scale engineering for systems and synthetic biology. Mol Syst Biol. 2013;9:641. doi: 10.1038/msb.2012.66.
Esvelt et al., Orthogonal Cas9 proteins for RNA-guided gene regulation and editing. Nat Methods. Nov. 2013;10(11):1116-21. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2681. Epub Sep. 29, 2013.
Fu et al., Improving CRISPR-Cas nuclease specificity using truncated guide RNAs. Nat Biotechnol. Mar. 2014;32(3):279-84. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2808. Epub Jan. 26, 2014.
Fu et al., High-frequency off-target mutagenesis induced by CRISPR-Cas nucleases in human cells. Nat Biotechnol. Sep. 2013;31(9):822-6. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2623. Epub Jun. 23, 2013.
Fujisawa et al., Disease-associated mutations in CIAS1 induce cathepsin B-dependent rapid cell death of human THP-1 monocytic cells. Blood. Apr. 1, 2007;109(7):2903-11.
Gaj et al., ZFN, TALEN, and CRISPR/Cas-based methods for genome engineering. Trends Biotechnol. Jul. 2013;31(7):397-405. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2013.04.004. Epub May 9, 2013.
Gallo et al., A novel pathogenic PSEN1 mutation in a family with Alzheimer's disease: phenotypical and neuropathological features. J Alzheimers Dis. 2011;25(3):425-31. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2011-110185.
Gasiunas et al., Cas9-crRNA ribonucleoprotein complex mediates specific DNA cleavage for adaptive immunity in bacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Sep. 25, 2012;109(39):E2579-86. Epub Sep. 4, 2012. Supplementary materials included.
Gasiunas et al., RNA-dependent DNA endonuclease Cas9 of the CRISPR system: Holy Grail of genome editing? Trends Microbiol. Nov. 2013;21(11):562-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2013.09.001. Epub Oct. 1, 2013.
Gerber et al., RNA editing by base deamination: more enzymes, more targets, new mysteries. Trends Biochem Sci. Jun. 2001;26(6):376-84.
Gilbert et al., CRISPR-mediated modular RNA-guided regulation of transcription in eukaryotes. Cell. 2013 154(2):442-51.
Guilinger et al., Broad specificity profiling of TALENs results in engineered nucleases with improved DNA-cleavage specificity. Nat Methods. Apr. 2014;11(4):429-35. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2845. Epub Feb. 16, 2014.
Guilinger et al., Fusion of catalytically inactive Cas9 to FokI nuclease improves the specificity of genome modification. Nat Biotechnol. Jun. 2014;32(6):577-82. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2909. Epub Apr. 25, 2014.
Hale et al., RNA-guided RNA cleavage by a CRISPR RNA-Cas protein complex. Cell. Nov. 25, 2009;139(5):945-56. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.07.040.
Hartung et al., Correction of metabolic, craniofacial, and neurologic abnormalities in MPS I mice treated at birth with adeno-associated virus vector transducing the human alpha-L-iduronidase gene. Mol Ther. Jun. 2004;9(6):866-75.
Hockemeyer et al., Efficient targeting of expressed and silent genes in human ESCs and iPSCs using zinc-finger nucleases. Nat Biotechnol. Sep. 2009;27(9):851-7. doi: 10.1038/nbt.1562. Epub Aug. 13, 2009.
Hockemeyer et al., Genetic engineering of human pluripotent cells using TALE nucleases. Nat Biotechnol. Jul. 7, 2011;29(8):731-4. doi: 10.1038/nbt.1927.
Holden et al., Crystal structure of the anti-viral APOBEC3G catalytic domain and functional implications. Nature. Nov. 6, 2008;456(7218):121-4. doi: 10.1038/nature07357. Epub Oct. 12, 2008.
Horvath et al., CRISPR/Cas, the immune system of bacteria and archaea. Science. Jan. 8, 2010;327(5962):167-70. doi: 10.1126/science.1179555.
Hsu et al., DNA targeting specificity of RNA-guided Cas9 nucleases. Nat Biotechnol. Sep. 2013;31(9):827-32. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2647. Epub Jul. 21, 2013.
Huang et al., Heritable gene targeting in zebrafish using customized TALENs. Nat Biotechnol. Aug. 5, 2011;29(8):699-700. doi: 10.1038/nbt.1939.
Humbert et al., Targeted gene therapies: tools, applications, optimization. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol. May-Jun. 2012;47(3):264-81. doi: 10.3109/10409238.2012.658112.
Hurt et al., Highly specific zinc finger proteins obtained by directed domain shuffling and cell-based selection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Oct. 14, 2003;100(21):12271-6. Epub Oct. 3, 2003.
Hwang et al., Efficient genome editing in zebrafish using a CRISPR-Cas system. Nat Biotechnol. Mar. 2013;31(3):227-9. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2501. Epub Jan. 29, 2013.
Ikediobi et al., Mutation analysis of 24 known cancer genes in the NCI-60 cell line set. Mol Cancer Ther. Nov. 2006;5(11):2606-12. Epub Nov. 6, 2006.
Irrthum et al., Congenital hereditary lymphedema caused by a mutation that inactivates VEGFR3 tyrosine kinase. Am J Hum Genet. Aug. 2000;67(2):295-301. Epub Jun. 9, 2000.
Jamieson et al., Drug discovery with engineered zinc-finger proteins. Nat Rev Drug Discov. May 2003;2(5):361-8.
Jansen et al., Backbone and nucleobase contacts to glucosamine-6-phosphate in the glmS ribozyme. Nat Struct Mol Biol. Jun. 2006;13(6):517-23. Epub May 14, 2006.
Jenkins et al., Comparison of a preQ1 riboswitch aptamer in metabolite-bound and free states with implications for gene regulation. J Biol Chem. Jul. 15, 2011;286(28):24626-37. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.230375. Epub May 18, 2011.
Jiang et al., RNA-guided editing of bacterial genomes using CRISPR-Cas systems. Nat Biotechnol. Mar. 2013;31(3):233-9. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2508. Epub Jan. 29, 2013.
Jinek et al., A programmable dual-RNA-guided DNA endonuclease in adaptive bacterial immunity. Science. Aug. 17, 2012;337(6096):816-21. doi: 10.1126/science.1225829. Epub Jun. 28, 2012.
Jinek et al., RNA-programmed genome editing in human cells. Elife. Jan. 29, 2013;2:e00471. doi: 10.7554/eLife.00471.
Jinek et al., Structures of Cas9 endonucleases reveal RNA-mediated conformational activation. Science. Mar. 14, 2014;343(6176):1247997. doi: 10.1126/science.1247997. Epub Feb. 6, 2014.
Jore et al., Structural basis for CRISPR RNA-guided DNA recognition by Cascade. Nat Struct Mol Biol. May 2011;18(5):529-36. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.2019. Epub Apr. 3, 2011.
Joung et al.,TALENs: a widely applicable technology for targeted genome editing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. Jan. 2013;14(1):49-55. doi: 10.1038/nrm3486. Epub Nov. 21, 2012.
Kaiser et al., Gene therapy. Putting the fingers on gene repair. Science. Dec. 23, 2005;310(5756):1894-6.
Kandavelou et al., Targeted manipulation of mammalian genomes using designed zinc finger nucleases. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. Oct. 9, 2009;388(1):56-61. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.07.112. Epub Jul. 25, 2009.
Karpenshif et al., From yeast to mammals: recent advances in genetic control of homologous recombination. DNA Repair (Amst). Oct. 1, 2012;11(10):781-8. doi: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2012.07.001. Epub Aug. 11, 2012. Review.
Kim et al., A library of TAL effector nucleases spanning the human genome. Nat Biotechnol. Mar. 2013;31(3):251-8. Doi: 10.1038/nbt.2517. Epub Feb. 17, 2013.
Kim et al., Highly efficient RNA-guided genome editing in human cells via delivery of purified Cas9 ribonucleoproteins. Genome Res. Jun. 2014;24(6):1012-9. doi: 10.1101/gr.171322.113. Epub Apr. 2, 2014.
Kim et al., TALENs and ZFNs are associated with different mutationsignatures. Nat Methods. Mar. 2013;10(3):185. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2364. Epub Feb. 10, 2013.
Kim et al., Targeted genome editing in human cells with zinc finger nucleases constructed via modular assembly. Genome Res. Jul. 2009;19(7):1279-88. doi: 10.1101/gr.089417.108. Epub May 21, 2009.
Kumar et al., Structural and functional consequences of the mutation of a conserved arginine residue in alphaA and alphaB crystallins. J Biol Chem. Aug. 20, 1999;274(34):24137-41.
Kundu et al., Leucine to proline substitution by SNP at position 197 in Caspase-9 gene expression leads to neuroblastoma: a bioinformatics analysis. 3 Biotech. 2013; 3:225-34.
Larson et al., CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) for sequence-specific control of gene expression. Nat Protoc. Nov. 2013;8(11):2180-96. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2013.132. Epub Oct. 17, 2013.
Lavergne et al., Defects in type IIA von Willebrand disease: a cysteine 509 to arginine substitution in the mature von Willebrand factor disrupts a disulphide loop involved in the interaction with platelet glycoprotein Ib-IX. Br J Haematol. Sep. 1992;82(1):66-72.
Lee et al., PIK3CA gene is frequently mutated in breast carcinomas and hepatocellular carcinomas. Oncogene. Feb. 17, 2005;24(8):1477-80.
Lei et al., Efficient targeted gene disruption in Xenopus embryos using engineered transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Oct. 23, 2012;109(43):17484-9. Doi: 10.1073/pnas.1215421109. Epub Oct. 8, 2012.
Lenk et al., Pathogenic mechanism of the FIG4 mutation responsible for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease CMT4J. PLoS Genet. Jun. 2011;7(6):e1002104. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002104. Epub Jun. 2, 2011.
Lewis et al., Codon 129 polymorphism of the human prion protein influences the kinetics of amyloid formation. J Gen Virol. Aug. 2006;87(Pt 8):2443-9.
Li et al., Modularly assembled designer TAL effector nucleases for targeted gene knockout and gene replacement in eukaryotes. Nucleic Acids Res. Aug. 2011;39(14):6315-25. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr188. Epub Mar. 31, 2011.
Li et al., TAL nucleases (TALNs): hybrid proteins composed of TAL effectors and FokI DNA-cleavage domain. Nucleic Acids Res. Jan. 2011;39(1):359-72. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkq704. Epub Aug. 10, 2010.
Liu et al., Cell-penetrating peptide-mediated delivery of TALEN proteins via bioconjugation for genome engineering. PLoS One. Jan. 20, 2014;9(1):e85755. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085755. eCollection 2014.
Liu et al., Design of polydactyl zinc-finger proteins for unique addressing within complex genomes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. May 27, 1997;94(11):5525-30.
Lombardo et al., Gene editing in human stem cells using zinc finger nucleases and integrase-defective lentiviral vector delivery. Nat Biotechnol. Nov. 2007;25(11):1298-306. Epub Oct. 28, 2007.
Maeder et al., CRISPR RNA-guided activation of endogenous human genes. Nat Methods. Oct. 2013;10(10):977-9. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2598. Epub Jul. 25, 2013.
Maeder et al., Rapid “open-source” engineering of customized zinc-finger nucleases for highly efficient gene modification. Mol Cell. Jul. 25, 2008;31(2):294-301. doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2008.06.016.
Maeder et al., Robust, synergistic regulation of human gene expression using TALE activators. Nat Methods. Mar. 2013;10(3):243-5. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2366. Epub Feb. 10, 2013.
Mahfouz et al., De novo-engineered transcription activator-like effector (TALE) hybrid nuclease with novel DNA binding specificity creates double-strand breaks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Feb. 8, 2011;108(6):2623-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1019533108. Epub Jan. 24, 2011.
Mali et al., Cas9 as a versatile tool for engineeringbiology. Nat Methods. Oct. 2013;10(10):957-63. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2649.
Mali et al., CAS9 transcriptional activators for target specificity screening and paired nickases for cooperative genome engineering. Nat Biotechnol. Sep. 2013;31(9):833-8. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2675. Epub Aug. 1, 2013.
Mali et al., RNA-guided human genome engineering via Cas9. Science. Feb. 15, 2013;339(6121):823-6. doi: 10.1126/science.1232033. Epub Jan. 3, 2013.
Mani et al., Design, engineering, and characterization of zinc finger nucleases. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. Sep. 23, 2005;335(2):447-57.
Meng et al., Targeted gene inactivation in zebrafish using engineered zinc-finger nucleases. Nat Biotechnol. Jun. 2008;26(6):695-701. doi: 10.1038/nbt1398. Epub May 25, 2008.
Miller et al., A TALE nuclease architecture for efficient genome editing. Nat Biotechnol. Feb. 2011;29(2):143-8. doi:10.1038/nbt.1755. Epub Dec. 22, 2010.
Miller et al., An improved zinc-finger nuclease architecture for highly specific genome editing. Nat Biotechnol. Jul. 2007;25(7):778-85. Epub Jul. 1, 2007.
Minoretti et al., A W148R mutation in the human FOXD4 gene segregating with dilated cardiomyopathy, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and suicidality. Int J Mol Med. Mar. 2007;19(3):369-72.
Moore et al., Improved somatic mutagenesis in zebrafish using transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs). PloS One. 2012;7(5):e37877. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037877. Epub May 24, 2012.
Morbitzer et al., Assembly of custom TALE-type DNA binding domains by modular cloning. Nucleic Acids Res. Jul. 2011;39(13):5790-9. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr151. Epub Mar. 18, 2011.
Morris et al., A peptide carrier for the delivery of biologically active proteins into mammalian cells. Nat Biotechnol. Dec. 2001;19(12):1173-6.
Moscou et al., A simple cipher governs DNA recognition by TAL effectors. Science. Dec. 11, 2009;326(5959):1501. doi: 10.1126/science.1178817.
Mussolino et al., A novel TALE nuclease scaffold enables high genome editing activity in combination with low toxicity. Nucleic Acids Res. Nov. 2011;39(21):9283-93. Doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr597. Epub Aug. 3, 2011.
Narayanan et al., Clamping down on weak terminal base pairs: oligonucleotides with molecular caps as fidelity-enhancing elements at the 5′- and 3′-terminal residues. Nucleic Acids Res. May 20, 2004;32(9):2901-11. Print 2004.
Navaratnam et al., An overview of cytidine deaminases. Int J Hematol. Apr. 2006;83(3):195-200.
Nishimasu et al., Crystal structure of Cas9 in complex with guide RNA and target DNA. Cell. Feb. 27, 2014;156(5):935-49. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.02.001. Epub Feb. 13, 2014.
Noris et al., A phenylalanine-55 to serine amino-acid substitution in the human glycoprotein IX leucine-rich repeat is associated with Bernard-Soulier syndrome. Br J Haematol. May 1997;97(2):312-20.
Osborn et al., TALEN-based gene correction for epidermolysis bullosa. Mol Ther. Jun. 2013;21(6):1151-9. doi: 10.1038/mt.2013.56. Epub Apr. 2, 2013.
Pan et al., Biological and biomedical applications of engineered nucleases. Mol Biotechnol. Sep. 2013;55(1):54-62. doi: 10.1007/s12033-012-9613-9.
Pattanayak et al., High-throughput profiling of off-target DNA cleavage reveals RNA-programmed Cas9 nuclease specificity. Nat Biotechnol. Sep. 2013;31(9):839-43. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2673. Epub Aug. 11, 2013.
Pattanayak et al., Revealing off-target cleavage specificities of zinc-finger nucleases by in vitro selection. Nat Methods. Aug. 7, 2011;8(9):765-70. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.1670.
Pennisi et al., The CRISPR craze. Science. Aug. 23, 2013;341(6148):833-6. doi: 10.1126/science.341.6148.833.
Pennisi et al., The tale of the TALEs. Science. Dec. 14, 2012;338(6113):1408-11. doi: 10.1126/science.338.6113.1408.
Perez et al., Establishment of HIV-1 resistance in CD4+ T cells by genome editing using zinc-finger nucleases. Nat Biotechnol. Jul. 2008;26(7):808-16. Doi: 10.1038/nbt1410. Epub Jun. 29, 2008.
Perez-Pinera et al., Advances in targeted genome editing. Curr Opin Chem Biol. Aug. 2012;16(3-4):268-77. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.06.007. Epub Jul. 20, 2012.
Perez-Pinera et al., RNA-guided gene activation by CRISPR-Cas9-based transcription factors. Nat Methods. Oct. 2013;10(10):973-6. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2600. Epub Jul. 25, 2013.
Petek et al., Frequent endonuclease cleavage at off-target locations in vivo. Mol Ther. May 2010;18(5):983-6. Doi: 10.1038/mt.2010.35. Epub Mar. 9, 2010.
Pham et al., Reward versus risk: DNA cytidine deaminases triggering immunity and disease. Biochemistry. Mar. 1, 2005;44(8):2703-15.
Poller et al., A leucine-to-proline substitution causes a defective alpha 1-antichymotrypsin allele associated with familial obstructive lung disease. Genomics. Sep. 1993;17(3):740-3.
Porteus, Design and testing of zinc finger nucleases for use in mammalian cells. Methods Mol Biol. 2008;435:47-61. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-232-8—4.
Proudfoot et al., Zinc finger recombinases with adaptable DNA sequence specificity. PLoS One. Apr. 29, 2011;6(4):e19537. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019537.
Qi et al., Repurposing CRISPR as an RNA-guided platform for sequence-specific control of gene expression. Cell. Feb. 28, 2013; 152(5):1173-83. doi: 10.1016/j.ce11.2013.02.022.
Ramirez et al., Engineered zinc finger nickases induce homology-directed repair with reduced mutagenic effects. Nucleic Acids Res. Jul. 2012;40(12):5560-8. doi: 10.1093/nar/gks179. Epub Feb. 28, 2012.
Ramirez et al., Unexpected failure rates for modular assembly of engineered zinc fingers. Nat Methods. May 2008;5(5):374-5. Doi: 10.1038/nmeth0508-374.
Ran et al., Double nicking by RNA-guided CRISPR Cas9 for enhanced genome editing specificity. Cell. Sep. 12, 2013;154(6):1380-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.08.021. Epub Aug. 29, 2013.
Reynaud et al., What role for AID: mutator, or assembler of the immunoglobulin mutasome? Nat Immunol. Jul. 2003;4(7):631-8.
Reyon et al., FLASH assembly of TALENs for high-throughput genome editing. Nat Biotechnol. May 2012;30(5):460-5. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2170.
Sage et al., Proliferation of functional hair cells in vivo in the absence of the retinoblastoma protein. Science. Feb. 18, 2005;307(5712):1114-8. Epub Jan. 13, 2005.
Sander et al., CRISPR-Cas systems for editing, regulating and targeting genomes. Nat Biotechnol. Apr. 2014;32(4):347-55. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2842. Epub Mar. 2, 2014.
Sander et al., In silico abstraction of zinc finger nuclease cleavage profiles reveals an expanded landscape of off-target sites. Nucleic Acids Res. Oct. 2013;41(19):e181. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt716. Epub Aug. 14, 2013.
Sander et al., Targeted gene disruption in somatic zebrafish cells using engineered TALENs. Nat Biotechnol. Aug. 5, 2011;29(8):697-8. doi: 10.1038/nbt.1934.
Santiago et al., Targeted gene knockout in mammalian cells by using engineered zinc-finger nucleases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Apr. 15, 2008;105(15):5809-14. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0800940105. Epub Mar. 21, 2008.
Sapranauskas et al., The Streptococcus thermophilus CRISPR/Cas system provides immunity in Escherichia coli. Nucleic Acids Res. Nov. 2011;39(21):9275-82. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr606. Epub Aug. 3, 2011.
Sashital et al., Mechanism of foreign DNA selection in a bacterial adaptive immune system. Mol Cell. Jun. 8, 2012;46(5):606-15. doi: 10.1016/j.molce1.2012.03.020. Epub Apr. 19, 2012.
Schriefer et al., Low pressure DNA shearing: a method for random DNA sequence analysis. Nucleic Acids Res. Dec. 25, 1990;18(24):7455-6.
Schwank et al., Functional repair of CFTR by CRISPR/Cas9 in intestinal stem cell organoids of cystic fibrosis patients. Cell Stem Cell. Dec. 5, 2013;13(6):653-8. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2013.11.002.
Segal et al., Toward controlling gene expression at will: selection and design of zinc finger domains recognizing each of the 5′-GNN-3′ DNA target sequences. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Mar. 16, 1999;96(6):2758-63.
Semenova et al., Interference by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) RNA is governed by a seed sequence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Jun. 21, 2011;108(25):10098-103. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1104144108. Epub Jun. 6, 2011.
Shalem et al., Genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screening in human cells. Science. Jan. 3, 2014;343(6166):84-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1247005. Epub Dec. 12, 2013.
Sheridan, First CRISPR-Cas patent opens race to stake out intellectual property. Nat Biotechnol. 2014;32(7):599-601.
Sheridan, Gene therapy finds its niche. Nat Biotechnol. Feb. 2011;29(2):121-8. doi: 10.1038/nbt.1769.
Siebert et al., An improved PCR method for walking in uncloned genomic DNA. Nucleic Acids Res. Mar. 25, 1995;23(6):1087-8.
Sun et al., Optimized TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) for use in treatment of sickle cell disease. Mol Biosyst. Apr. 2012;8(4):1255-63. doi: 10.1039/c2mb05461b. Epub Feb. 3, 2012.
Szczepek et al., Structure-based redesign of the dimerization interface reduces the toxicity of zinc-finger nucleases. Nat Biotechnol. Jul. 2007;25(7):786-93. Epub Jul. 1, 2007.
Tebas et al., Gene editing of CCR5 in autologous CD4 T cells of persons infected with HIV. N Engl J Med. Mar. 6, 2014;370(10):901-10. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1300662.
Tessarollo et al., Targeted mutation in the neurotrophin-3 gene results in loss of muscle sensory neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Dec. 6, 1994;91(25):11844-8.
Tesson et al., Knockout rats generated by embryo microinjection of TALENs. Nat Biotechnol. Aug. 5, 2011;29(8):695-6. doi: 10.1038/nbt.1940.
Tsai et al., Dimeric CRISPR RNA-guided FokI nucleases for highly specific genome editing. Nat Biotechnol. Jun. 2014;32(6):569-76. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2908. Epub Apr. 25, 2014.
Turan et al., Site-specific recombinases: from tag-and-target-to tag-and-exchange-based genomic modifications. FASEB J. Dec. 2011;25(12):4088-107. doi: 10.1096/fj.11-186940. Epub Sep. 2, 2011. Review.
Urnov et al., Genome editing with engineered zinc finger nucleases. Nat Rev Genet. Sep. 2010;11(9):636-46. doi: 10.1038/nrg2842.
Urnov et al., Highly efficient endogenous human gene correction using designed zinc-finger nucleases. Nature. Jun. 2, 2005;435(7042):646-51. Epub Apr. 3, 2005.
Vanamee et al., FokI requires two specific DNA sites for cleavage. J Mol Biol. May 25, 2001;309(1):69-78.
Wah et al., Structure of FokI has implications for DNA cleavage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Sep. 1, 1998;95(18):10564-9.
Wang et al., Genetic screens in human cells using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Science. Jan. 3, 2014;343(6166):80-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1246981. Epub Dec. 12, 2013.
Wang et al., One-step generation of mice carrying mutations in multiple genes by CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome engineering. Cell. May 9, 2013;153(4):910-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.04.025. Epub May 2, 2013.
Wang et al., Riboswitches that sense S-adenosylhomocysteine and activate genes involved in coenzyme recycling. Mol Cell. Mar. 28, 2008;29(6):691-702. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2008.01.012.
Wang et al., Targeted gene addition to a predetermined site in the human genome using a ZFN-based nicking enzyme. Genome Res. Jul. 2012;22(7):1316-26. doi: 10.1101/gr.122879.111. Epub Mar. 20, 2012.
Weber et al., Assembly of designer TAL effectors by Golden Gate cloning. PLoS One. 2011;6(5):e19722. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0019722. Epub May 19, 2011.
Weinberger et al., Disease-causing mutations C277R and C277Y modify gating of human C1C-1 chloride channels in myotonia congenita. J Physiol. Aug. 1, 2012;590(Pt 15):3449-64. doi: 0.1113/jphysiol.2012.232785. Epub May 28, 2012.
Wiedenheft et al., RNA-guided genetic silencing systems in bacteria and archaea. Nature. Feb. 15, 2012;482(7385):331-8. doi: 10.1038/nature10886. Review.
Wolfe et al., Analysis of zinc fingers optimized via phage display: evaluating the utility of a recognition code. J Mol Biol. Feb. 5, 1999;285(5):1917-34.
Wood et al., Targeted genome editing across species using ZFNs and TALENs. Science. Jul. 15, 2011;333(6040):307. doi: 10.1126/science.1207773. Epub Jun. 23, 2011.
Wu et al., Correction of a genetic disease in mouse via use of CRISPR-Cas9. Cell Stem Cell. Dec. 5, 2013;13(6):659-62. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2013.10.016.
Yanover et al., Extensive protein and DNA backbone sampling improves structure-based specificity prediction for C2H2 zinc fingers. Nucleic Acids Res. Jun. 2011;39(11):4564-76. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr048. Epub Feb. 22, 2011.
Yazaki et al., Hereditary systemic amyloidosis associated with a new apolipoprotein AII stop codon mutation Stop78Arg. Kidney Int. Jul. 2003;64(1):11-6.
Yin et al., Genome editing with Cas9 in adult mice corrects a disease mutation and phenotype. Nat Biotechnol. Jun. 2014;32(6):551-3. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2884. Epub Mar. 30, 2014.
Zhang et al., Conditional gene manipulation: Cre-ating a new biological era. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. Jul. 2012;13(7):511-24. doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1200042. Review.
Zhang et al., Efficient construction of sequence-specific TAL effectors for modulating mammalian transcription. Nat Biotechnol. Feb. 2011;29(2):149-53. doi: 10.1038/nbt.1775. Epub Jan. 19, 2011.
Zou et al., Gene targeting of a disease-related gene in human induced pluripotent stem and embryonic stem cells. Cell Stem Cell. Jul. 2, 2009;5(1):97-110. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2009.05.023. Epub Jun. 18, 2009.
EP 123845790.0, dated Mar. 18, 2015, Partial Supplementary European Search Report.
PCT/US2014/052231, dated Jan. 30, 2015, International Search Report and Written Opinion (Corrected Version).
PCT/US2014/054247, dated Mar. 27, 2015, International Search Report and Written Opinion.
PCT/US2014/054291, dated Mar. 27, 2015, International Search Report and Written Opinion.
PCT/US2014/054252, dated Mar. 5, 2015, International Search Report and Written Opinion.
PCT/US2014/070038, dated Apr. 14, 2015, International Search Report and Written Opinion.
Partial Supplementary European Search Report for Application No. EP 12845790.0, dated Mar. 18, 2015.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/052231, dated Jan. 30, 2015 (Corrected Version).
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/054247, dated Mar. 27, 2015.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/054291, dated Mar. 27, 2015.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/054252, dated Mar. 5, 2015.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/070038, dated Apr. 14, 2015.
Boeckle et al., Melittin analogs with high lytic activity at endosomal pH enhance transfection with purified targeted PEI polyplexes. J Control Release. May 15, 2006;112(2):240-8. Epub Mar. 20, 2006.
Cameron, Recent advances in transgenic technology. Mol Biotechnol. Jun. 1997;7(3):253-65.
Caron et al., Intracellular delivery of a Tat-eGFP fusion protein into muscle cells. Mol Ther. Mar. 2001;3(3):310-8.
Chung-Il et al., Artificial control of gene expression in mammalian cells by modulating RNA interference through aptamer-small molecule interaction. RNA. May 2006;12(5):710-6. Epub Apr. 10, 2006.
Cradick et al., ZFN-site searches genomes for zinc finger nuclease target sites and off-target sites. BMC Bioinformatics. May 13, 2011;12:152. doi: 10.1186/1471-2105-12-152.
EMBL Accession No. Q99ZW2. Nov. 2012. 2 pages.
Gilleron et al., Image-based analysis of lipid nanoparticle-mediated siRNA delivery, intracellular trafficking and endosomal escape. Nat Biotechnol. Jul. 2013;31(7):638-46. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2612. Epub Jun. 23, 2013.
Hasadsri et al., Functional protein delivery into neurons using polymeric nanoparticles. J Biol Chem. Mar. 13, 2009;284(11):6972-81. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M805956200. Epub Jan. 7, 2009.
Houdebine, The methods to generate transgenic animals and to control transgene expression. J Biotechnol. Sep. 25, 2002;98(2-3):145-60.
Kappel et al., Regulating gene expression in transgenic animals.Curr Opin Biotechnol. Oct. 1992;3(5):548-53.
Klauser et al., An engineered small RNA-mediated genetic switch based on a ribozyme expression platform. Nucleic Acids Res. May 1, 2013;41(10):5542-52. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt253. Epub Apr. 12, 2013.
Lewis et al., A serum-resistant cytofectin for cellular delivery of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and plasmid DNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Apr. 16, 1996;93(8):3176-81.
Liu et al., Fast Colorimetric Sensing of Adenosine and Cocaine Based on a General Sensor Design Involving Aptamers and Nanoparticles. Angew Chem. 2006;118(1):96-100.
Lundberg et al., Delivery of short interfering RNA using endosomolytic cell-penetrating peptides. FASEB J. Sep. 2007;21(11):2664-71. Epub Apr. 26, 2007.
Mullins et al., Transgenesis in nonmurine species. Hypertension. Oct. 1993;22(4):630-3.
Nomura et al., Synthetic mammalian riboswitches based on guanine aptazyme. Chem Commun (Camb). Jul. 21, 2012;48(57):7215-7. doi: 10.1039/c2cc33140c. Epub Jun. 13, 2012.
Pattanayak et al., Determining the specificities of TALENs, Cas9, and other genome-editing enzymes. Methods Enzymol. 2014;546:47-78. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-801185-0.00003-9.
Phillips, The challenge of gene therapy and DNA delivery. J Pharm Pharmacol. Sep. 2001;53(9):1169-74.
Qi et al., Engineering naturally occurring trans-acting non-coding RNAs to sense molecular signals. Nucleic Acids Res. Jul. 2012;40(12):5775-86. doi: 10.1093/nar/gks168. Epub Mar. 1, 2012.
Ramakrishna et al., Gene disruption by cell-penetrating peptide-mediated delivery of Cas9 protein and guide RNA. Genome Res. Jun. 2014;24(6):1020-7. doi: 10.1101/gr.171264.113. Epub Apr. 2, 2014.
Samal et al., Cationic polymers and their therapeutic potential. Chem Soc Rev. Nov. 7, 2012;41(21):7147-94. doi: 10.1039/c2cs35094g. Epub Aug. 10, 2012.
Sang, Prospects for transgenesis in the chick. Mech Dev. Sep. 2004;121(9):1179-86.
Schwarze et al., In vivo protein transduction: delivery of a biologically active protein into the mouse. Science. Sep. 3, 1999;285(5433):1569-72.
Sells et al., Delivery of protein into cells using polycationic liposomes. Biotechniques. Jul. 1995;19(1):72-6, 78.
Thorpe et al., Functional correction of episomal mutations with short DNA fragments and RNA-DNA oligonucleotides. J Gene Med. Mar.-Apr. 2002;4(2):195-204.
Wadia et al., Modulation of cellular function by TAT mediated transduction of full length proteins. Curr Protein Pept Sci. Apr. 2003;4(2):97-104.
Wadia et al., Transducible TAT-HA fusogenic peptide enhances escape of TAT-fusion proteins after lipid raft macropinocytosis. Nat Med. Mar. 2004;10(3):310-5. Epub Feb. 8, 2004.
Supplementary European Search Report for Application No. EP 12845790.0, dated Oct. 12, 2015.
International Preliminary Report on patentability for PCT/US2014/050283, dated Feb. 18, 2016.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2015/042770, dated Feb. 23, 2016.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2015/058479, dated Feb. 11, 2016.
No Author Listed, Invitrogen Lipofectamine™ 2000 product sheets, 2002. 2 pages.
No Author Listed, Invitrogen Lipofectamine™ 2000 product sheets, 2005. 3 pages.
No Author Listed, Invitrogen Lipofectamine™ LTX product sheets, 2011. 4 pages.
No Author Listed, Thermo Fisher Scientific—How Cationic Lipid Mediated Transfection Works, retrieved from the internet Aug. 27, 2015. 2 pages.
UniProt Submission; UniProt, Accession No. P01011. Last modified Sep. 18, 2013, version 2. 15 pages.
Alexandrov et al., Signatures of mutational processes in human cancer. Nature. Aug. 22, 2013;500(7463):415-21. doi: 10.1038/nature12477. Epub Aug. 14, 2013.
Chichili et al., Linkers in the structural biology of protein-protein interactions. Protein Science. 2013;22:153-67.
Eltoukhy et al., Nucleic acid-mediated intracellular protein delivery by lipid-like nanoparticles. Biomaterials. Aug. 2014;35(24):6454-61. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.04.014. Epub May 13, 2014.
Shah et al., Kinetic control of one-pot trans-splicing reactions by using a wild-type and designed split intein. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. Jul. 11, 2011;50(29):6511-5. doi: 10.1002/anie.201102909. Epub Jun. 8, 2011.
Truong et al., Development of an intein-mediated split-Cas9 system for gene therapy. Nucleic Acids Res. Jul. 27, 2015;43(13):6450-8. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkv601. Epub Jun. 16, 2015.
Wang et al., Efficient delivery of genome-editing proteins using bioreducible lipid nanoparticles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Feb. 29, 2016. pii: 201520244. [Epub ahead of print].
U.S. Appl. No. 14/913,458, filed Feb. 22, 2016, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/874,123, filed Oct. 2, 2015, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/911,117, filed Feb. 9, 2016, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/916,679, filed Mar. 4, 2016, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/916,681, filed Mar. 4, 2016, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 14/916,683, filed Mar. 4, 2016, Liu et al.
EP 123845790.0, Mar. 18, 2015, Partial Supplementary European Search Report.
PCT/US2014/050283, Feb. 18, 2016, International Preliminary Report on Patentability.
PCT/US2015/042770, Feb. 23, 2016, International Search Report and Written Opinion.
PCT/US2015/058479, Feb. 11, 2016, International Search Report and Written Opinion.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for PCT/US2014/052231, dated Mar. 3, 2016.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for PCT/US2014/054247, dated Mar. 17, 2016.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for PCT/US2014/054291, dated Mar. 17, 2016.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability or PCT/US2014/054252, dated Mar. 17, 2016.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for PCT/US2014/070038, dated Jun. 23, 2016.
Bulow et al., Multienzyme systems obtained by gene fusion. Trends Biotechnol. Jul. 1991;9(7):226-31.
Cho et al., Targeted genome engineering in human cells with the Cas9 RNA-guided endonuclease. Nat Biotechnol. Mar. 2013;31(3):230-2. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2507. Epub Jan. 29, 2013.
Fonfara et al., Phylogeny of Cas9 determines functional exchangeability of dual-RNA and Cas9 among orthologous type II CRISPR-Cas systems. Nucleic Acids Res. Feb. 2014;42(4):2577-90. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt1074. Epub Nov. 22, 2013.
Freshney, Culture of Animal Cells. A Manual of Basic Technique. Alan R. Liss, Inc. New York. 1983;4.
Gardlik et al., Vectors and delivery systems in gene therapy. Med Sci Monit. Apr. 2005;11(4):RA110-21. Epub Mar. 24, 2005.
Komor et al., Programmable editing of a target base in genomic DNA without double-stranded DNA cleavage. Nature. Apr. 20, 2016;533(7603):420-4. doi: 10.1038/nature17946.
Nishida et al., Targeted nucleotide editing using hybrid prokaryotic and vertebrate adaptive immune systems. Science. Sep. 16, 2016;353(6305). pii: aaf8729. doi: 10.1126/science.aaf8729. Epub Aug. 4, 2016.
Sternberg et al., DNA interrogation by the CRISPR RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9. Nature.Mar. 6, 2014;507(7490):62-7. doi: 10.1038/nature13011. Epub Jan. 29, 2014.
Yang et al., Genome editing with targeted deaminases. BioRxiv. Preprint. First posted online Jul. 28, 2016.
U.S. Appl. No. 15/103,608, filed Jun. 9, 2016, Liu et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 15/331,852, filed Oct. 22, 2016, Liu et al.
PCT/US2014/052231, Mar. 3, 2016, International Preliminary Report on Patentability.
PCT/US2014/054247, Mar. 17, 2016, International Preliminary Report on Patentability.
PCT/US2014/054291, Mar. 17, 2016, International Preliminary Report on Patentability.
PCT/US2014/054252, Mar. 17, 2016, International Preliminary Report on Patentability.
PCT/US2014/070038, dated Jun. 23, 2016, International Preliminary Report on Patentability.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20150166981 A1 Jun 2015 US
Provisional Applications (2)
Number Date Country
61980333 Apr 2014 US
61915386 Dec 2013 US