Dual base editor catalyzes both cytosine and adenine base conversions in human cells.

Zhang, Xiaohui; Zhu, Biyun; Chen, Liang; Xie, Ling; Yu, Weishi; Wang, Ying; Li, Linxi; Yin, Shuming et al. · Nat Biotechnol · 2020

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Although base editors are useful tools for precise genome editing, current base editors can only convert either adenines or cytosines. We developed a dual adenine and cytosine base editor (A&C-BEmax) by fusing both deaminases with a Cas9 nickase to achieve C-to-T and A-to-G conversions at the same target site. Compared to single base editors, A&C-BEmax's activity on adenines is slightly reduced, whereas activity on cytosines is higher and RNA off-target activity is substantially decreased.

Medical subject headings