Project description:Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) plays an important role in double-strand break (DSB) repair of DNA. Recent studies have shown that the error patterns of NHEJ are strongly biased by sequence context, but these studies were based on relatively few templates. To investigate this more thoroughly, we systematically profiled ~1.16 million independent mutational events resulting from CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage and NHEJ-mediated DSB repair of 6,872 synthetic target sequences, introduced into a human cell line via lentiviral infection. We find that: 1) insertions are dominated by 1 bp events templated by sequence immediately upstream of the cleavage site, 2) deletions are predominantly associated with microhomology, and 3) targets exhibit variable but reproducible diversity with respect to the number and relative frequency of the mutational outcomes to which they give rise. From these data, we trained a model (Lindel) that uses local sequence context to predict the distribution of mutational outcomes. Exploiting the bias of NHEJ outcomes towards microhomology mediated events, we demonstrate the programming of deletion patterns by introducing microhomology to specific locations in the vicinity of the DSB site. We anticipate that our results will inform investigations of DSB repair mechanisms as well as the design of CRISPR/Cas9 experiments for diverse applications including genome-wide screens, gene therapy, lineage tracing and molecular recording.
Project description:DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are a major source of mutations. Both non-homologous-end-joining (NHEJ) and microhomology-mediated-end-joining (MMEJ) DSB repair pathways are error prone and produce deletions, which can lead to cancer. DSBs also lead to epigenetic changes, including demethylation, which is involved in carcinogenesis. Of specific interest is the MMEJ repair pathway, as it requires methylation restoration around the break, as a result of the resection and formation of single stranded (ssDNA) intermediates. While, methylation patterns after homologous recombination (HR) have been partially studied, the methylation status after MMEJ and NHEJ remains poorly reported, and can be relevant for cancer. To study methylation patterns around DSB after NHEJ and MMEJ repair, we used targeted bisulfite-sequencing (BS-seq) to quantify methylation of dozens of single cell clones after induction of DSB by CRISPR. Each single cell clone was classified according to the sequence signature to a specific repair mechanism: NHEJ or MMEJ. Comparison of single cell clones after DSB to control cells, without DSB, demonstrated correct restoration of the methylation levels. No difference in methylation patterns was noticed when comparing NHEJ to MMEJ. Methylation levels in gene body, highly methylated CpGs (n=61, 4000 base pairs around DSB) and in low methylation CpGs (n=19), remained stable after both MMEJ and NHEJ. Gene body methylation persisted even on the background of DNMT3A R882C mutation, the most prevalent preleukemic mutation, in which the de novo methylation machinery is compromised. An exception observed in a single CpG site (ASXL1 995) which demonstrated elevated methylation rate after DSB repair only in the presence of WT DNMT3A. In summary, DNA methylation restoration demonstrated high fidelity after DSB both in methylated and unmethylated gene body, even in cases where DNA resections and deletions occurred.
Project description:DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are a major source of mutations. Both non-homologous-end-joining (NHEJ) and microhomology-mediated-end-joining (MMEJ) DSB repair pathways are error prone and produce deletions, which can lead to cancer. DSBs also lead to epigenetic changes, including demethylation, which is involved in carcinogenesis. Of specific interest is the MMEJ repair pathway, as it requires methylation restoration around the break, as a result of the resection and formation of single stranded (ssDNA) intermediates. While, methylation patterns after homologous recombination (HR) have been partially studied, the methylation status after MMEJ and NHEJ remains poorly reported, and can be relevant for cancer. To study methylation patterns around DSB after NHEJ and MMEJ repair, we used targeted bisulfite-sequencing (BS-seq) to quantify methylation of dozens of single cell clones after induction of DSB by CRISPR. Each single cell clone was classified according to the sequence signature to a specific repair mechanism: NHEJ or MMEJ. Comparison of single cell clones after DSB to control cells, without DSB, demonstrated correct restoration of the methylation levels. No difference in methylation patterns was noticed when comparing NHEJ to MMEJ. Methylation levels in gene body, highly methylated CpGs (n=61, 4000 base pairs around DSB) and in low methylation CpGs (n=19), remained stable after both MMEJ and NHEJ. Gene body methylation persisted even on the background of DNMT3A R882C mutation, the most prevalent preleukemic mutation, in which the de novo methylation machinery is compromised. An exception observed in a single CpG site (ASXL1 995) which demonstrated elevated methylation rate after DSB repair only in the presence of WT DNMT3A. In summary, DNA methylation restoration demonstrated high fidelity after DSB both in methylated and unmethylated gene body, even in cases where DNA resections and deletions occurred.
Project description:CRISPR/Cas9 has revolutionized genome editing with broad therapeutic applications, yet its repair patterns in vivo remain poorly understood. Here, we systematically profile CRISPR/Cas9 editing outcomes at 95 loci using our established CRISPR/Cas9/AAV9-sgRNA system in skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs). Through comprehensive characterization of the repair outcomes, our findings demonstrate that the general rules governing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing in vivo largely align with those observed in vitro. Additional to the anticipated small editing indels such as MMEJ mediated deletions and NHEJ mediated templated insertions, we uncover a prevalent occurrence of large on-target modifications, including large deletions (LDs) characterized by microhomology (MH) and large insertions (LIs). Notably, the LIs comprise not only exogenous AAV vector integrations but also endogenous genomic DNA fragments (Endo-LIs). Endo-LIs preferentially originate from active genomic regions, with their integration shaped by three-dimensional chromatin architecture. By disrupting key components of the NHEJ and MMEJ repair pathways in vivo, we identify their distinct roles in regulating the large on-target modifications. Together, our work systematically profiles the CRISPR/Cas9 repair outcomes in vivo and offers valuable guidance for improving the safety of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene therapies.
Project description:CRISPR/Cas9 has revolutionized genome editing with broad therapeutic applications, yet its repair patterns in vivo remain poorly understood. Here, we systematically profile CRISPR/Cas9 editing outcomes at 95 loci using our established CRISPR/Cas9/AAV9-sgRNA system in skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs). Through comprehensive characterization of the repair outcomes, our findings demonstrate that the general rules governing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing in vivo largely align with those observed in vitro. Additional to the anticipated small editing indels such as MMEJ mediated deletions and NHEJ mediated templated insertions, we uncover a prevalent occurrence of large on-target modifications, including large deletions (LDs) characterized by microhomology (MH) and large insertions (LIs). Notably, the LIs comprise not only exogenous AAV vector integrations but also endogenous genomic DNA fragments (Endo-LIs). Endo-LIs preferentially originate from active genomic regions, with their integration shaped by three-dimensional chromatin architecture. By disrupting key components of the NHEJ and MMEJ repair pathways in vivo, we identify their distinct roles in regulating the large on-target modifications. Together, our work systematically profiles the CRISPR/Cas9 repair outcomes in vivo and offers valuable guidance for improving the safety of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene therapies.
Project description:CRISPR/Cas9 has revolutionized genome editing with broad therapeutic applications, yet its repair patterns in vivo remain poorly understood. Here, we systematically profile CRISPR/Cas9 editing outcomes at 95 loci using our established CRISPR/Cas9/AAV9-sgRNA system in skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs). Through comprehensive characterization of the repair outcomes, our findings demonstrate that the general rules governing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing in vivo largely align with those observed in vitro. Additional to the anticipated small editing indels such as MMEJ mediated deletions and NHEJ mediated templated insertions, we uncover a prevalent occurrence of large on-target modifications, including large deletions (LDs) characterized by microhomology (MH) and large insertions (LIs). Notably, the LIs comprise not only exogenous AAV vector integrations but also endogenous genomic DNA fragments (Endo-LIs). Endo-LIs preferentially originate from active genomic regions, with their integration shaped by three-dimensional chromatin architecture. By disrupting key components of the NHEJ and MMEJ repair pathways in vivo, we identify their distinct roles in regulating the large on-target modifications. Together, our work systematically profiles the CRISPR/Cas9 repair outcomes in vivo and offers valuable guidance for improving the safety of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene therapies.
Project description:<p>BRCA1 mutations are a hallmark of hereditary ovarian cancer, strongly linked to deficiencies in homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair and impaired DNA replication fork protection. However, its roles in cancer progression beyond maintaining genomic integrity remain poorly understood. Through metabolomics approaches, we found BRCA1-deficiency strikingly increased choline metabolism. Loss of BRCA1 promotes choline uptake through upregulating choline transporter-like protein 4 (CTL4). BRCA1 directly binds and recruits EZH2-mediated H3K27Me3 deposition to CTL4 promoter. CTL4 was therefore overexpressed in ovarian cancer tissues with BRCA1 mutations. Furthermore, BRCA1-deficiency significantly promotes ovarian cancer invasion, while inhibition of CTL4 reverses the high metastatic potential of BRCA1-deficient ovarian cancer cells, suggesting the functionality and specificity of CTL4 as a therapeutic target. Additionally, we discovered that phosphocholine, the choline metabolite increased by CTL4 overexpression, interacted with and stabilized the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition inducer FAM3C in BRCA1-deficient ovarian cancer cells. Importantly, we identified a potent CTL4 inhibitor, DT-13, which significantly reduces choline metabolism and effectively suppresses metastasis in BRCA1-deficient ovarian cancers. Therefore, our study uncovers a mechanism underlying metastasis in BRCA1-deficient cancers and identifies CTL4 as a therapeutic target for metastatic ovarian cancer patients with BRCA1 mutations.</p>
Project description:To determine whether a predisposition to DNA damage exists in SCA7 and how extensive the predilection to DNA damage might be in SCA7, we used LAM-HTGTS, a powerful high throughput next generation sequencing technique developed for monitoring of DNA double-strand break formation. We modified the LAM-HTGTS protocol by utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 to create the double-strand DNA break at a specific site and also added a step with a 5’ methyl cytosine modified primer to promote LpnPI endonuclease cleavage of sealed breaks to enrich for translocation events. Our unbiased native chromosome DNA repair experimentation revealed that expression of polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-7 yielded greatly reduced translocations in comparison to normal ataxin-7, which is consistent with retained canonical NHEJ repair, decreased HDR activity, and decreased SSA repair in SCA7 cells, as the classical NHEJ pathway is known to prevent translocation by ligating broken double-strand breaks.
Project description:DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) contribute to genome instability, a key feature of cancer. DSBs are mainly repaired by homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). We investigated the role of an isoform of the multifunctional cyclin-dependent kinase 9, CDK9-55, in DNA repair, by generating CDK9-55-knockout HeLa clones (through CRISPR-36 Cas9), which showed potential HR dysfunction. A phosphoproteomic screening in these clones treated with camptothecin revealed that CDC23 (cell division cycle 23), a component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase APC/C (anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome), is a new substrate of CDK9-55, with S588 being its putative phosphorylation site. Mutated non-phosphorylatable CDC23(S588A) affected the repair pathway choice by impairing HR and favouring error prone NHEJ. Moreover, CDC23(S588A) promoted the ubiquitination of UFL1, a recently identified HR player. Overall, CDK9-55 could guide APC/C in choosing the correct DNA repair pathway, possibly by regulating UFL1 stability. This CDK9 role should be considered when designing CDK-inhibitor-based cancer therapies.