Enhancing Prime Editing Efficiency through Harnessing an Endogenous RNA-Binding Protein

Główne pojęcia

The La protein, an endogenous small RNA-binding exonuclease protection factor, can significantly enhance the efficiency of prime editing across various approaches, edit types, and cell types.

Streszczenie

The content describes research aimed at identifying cellular determinants that influence the performance of prime editing, a genome editing technology that enables precise modifications through reverse transcription of template sequences appended to CRISPR-Cas guide RNAs.

The researchers developed scalable prime editing reporters and performed genome-scale CRISPR-interference screens, which revealed that the small RNA-binding exonuclease protection factor La is a key mediator of prime editing efficiency. Further investigation showed that La promotes prime editing across different approaches (PE2, PE3, PE4, and PE5), edit types (substitutions, insertions, and deletions), endogenous loci, and cell types, but has no consistent effect on genome-editing approaches that rely on standard, unextended guide RNAs.

The researchers found that La functionally interacts with the 3' ends of polyuridylated prime editing guide RNAs (pegRNAs). Leveraging this insight, they developed a prime editor protein (PE7) fused to the RNA-binding, N-terminal domain of La, which improved prime editing performance with expressed pegRNAs, engineered pegRNAs (epegRNAs), and synthetic pegRNAs optimized for La binding.

The findings provide key insights into how prime editing components interact with the cellular environment and suggest general strategies for stabilizing exogenous small RNAs, which can be applied to enhance the efficiency of prime editing and other genome editing technologies.

Statystyki

Prime editing enables the precise modification of genomes through reverse transcription of template sequences appended to the 3′ ends of CRISPR–Cas guide RNAs.
The La protein promotes prime editing across approaches (PE2, PE3, PE4 and PE5), edit types (substitutions, insertions and deletions), endogenous loci and cell types.
The La protein has no consistent effect on genome-editing approaches that rely on standard, unextended guide RNAs.
The researchers developed a prime editor protein (PE7) fused to the RNA-binding, N-terminal domain of La, which improved prime editing performance with expressed pegRNAs, engineered pegRNAs (epegRNAs), and synthetic pegRNAs optimized for La binding.

Cytaty

La binds polyuridine tracts at the 3′ ends of RNA polymerase III transcripts.
La functionally interacts with the 3′ ends of polyuridylated prime editing guide RNAs (pegRNAs).

Kluczowe wnioski z

Improving prime editing with an endogenous small RNA-binding protein - Nature

by Jun Yan,Paul... o www.nature.com 04-03-2024

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07259-6

Głębsze pytania

How can the insights gained from leveraging the La protein be applied to improve the efficiency of other genome editing technologies beyond prime editing?

The insights gained from utilizing the La protein in prime editing can be extrapolated to enhance the efficiency of other genome editing technologies by focusing on the interaction between cellular factors and editing components. By identifying key endogenous proteins that can stabilize exogenous small RNAs, similar strategies can be employed to improve the performance of CRISPR-based systems or other genome editing tools. Understanding how La promotes prime editing across different approaches and edit types can guide the development of novel fusion proteins or modifications that enhance the specificity and efficacy of genome editing technologies.

What are the potential limitations or drawbacks of fusing the La protein domain to prime editor proteins, and how can these be addressed?

One potential limitation of fusing the La protein domain to prime editor proteins is the risk of off-target effects or unintended interactions that could impact the editing specificity. Additionally, the size and complexity of the fusion protein may affect its delivery and cellular uptake, potentially reducing editing efficiency. To address these drawbacks, thorough characterization of the fusion protein's behavior, specificity, and stability is essential. Optimization of the fusion design, such as using smaller protein domains or incorporating additional targeting sequences, can help mitigate off-target effects and improve the overall performance of the edited system.

What other endogenous cellular factors or mechanisms could be exploited to further enhance the performance and versatility of prime editing and other genome editing tools?

Apart from the La protein, other endogenous cellular factors or mechanisms could be leveraged to enhance the performance and versatility of prime editing and genome editing tools. For example, proteins involved in RNA processing, DNA repair pathways, or chromatin remodeling could be targeted to modulate the cellular environment for more efficient editing. Additionally, small RNA-binding proteins similar to La may exist that can stabilize exogenous RNAs and improve editing outcomes. Exploring the interplay between different cellular factors and editing components through systematic screens and functional studies can uncover novel targets for enhancing the precision and efficacy of genome editing technologies.