Construction of non-canonical PAM-targeting adenosine base editors by restriction enzyme-free DNA cloning using CRISPR-Cas9

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 20;9(1):4939. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-41356-1.

Abstract

Molecular cloning is an essential technique in molecular biology and biochemistry, but it is frequently laborious when adequate restriction enzyme recognition sites are absent. Cas9 endonucleases can induce site-specific DNA double-strand breaks at sites homologous to their guide RNAs, rendering an alternative to restriction enzymes. Here, by combining DNA cleavage via a Cas9 endonuclease and DNA ligation via Gibson assembly, we demonstrate a precise and practical DNA cloning method for replacing part of a backbone plasmid. We first replaced a resistance marker gene as a proof of concept and next generated DNA plasmids that encode engineered Cas9 variants (VQR, VRER and SpCas9-NG), which target non-canonical NGA, NGCG and NG protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) sequences, fused with adenosine deaminases for adenine base editing (named VQR-ABE, VRER-ABE and NG-ABE, respectively). Ultimately, we confirmed that the re-constructed plasmids can successfully convert adenosine to guanine at endogenous target sites containing the non-canonical NGA, NGCG and NG PAMs, expanding the targetable range of the adenine base editing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine / genetics
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics*
  • Cloning, Molecular / methods*
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
  • DNA Cleavage
  • Gene Editing / methods*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Nucleotide Motifs / genetics*
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Adenosine