Hit and go CAS9 delivered through a lentiviral based self-limiting circuit.

ABSTRACT: In vivo application of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology is still limited by unwanted Cas9 genomic cleavages. Long-term expression of Cas9 increases the number of genomic loci non-specifically cleaved by the nuclease. Here we develop a Self-Limiting Cas9 circuit for Enhanced Safety and specificity (SLiCES) which consists of an expression unit for Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9), a self-targeting sgRNA and a second sgRNA targeting a chosen genomic locus. The self-limiting circuit results in increased genome editing specificity by controlling Cas9 levels. For its in vivo utilization, we next integrate SLiCES into a lentiviral delivery system (lentiSLiCES) via circuit inhibition to achieve viral particle production. Upon delivery into target cells, the lentiSLiCES circuit switches on to edit th

SUBMITTER: Petris G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5458126 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature