Automated identification of sequence-tailored Cas9 proteins using massive metagenomic data.

Ciciani, Matteo; Demozzi, Michele; Pedrazzoli, Eleonora; Visentin, Elisabetta; Pezzè, Laura; Signorini, Lorenzo Federico; Blanco-Miguez, Aitor; Zolfo, Moreno et al. · Nat Commun · 2022

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The identification of the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequences of Cas9 nucleases is crucial for their exploitation in genome editing. Here we develop a computational pipeline that was used to interrogate a massively expanded dataset of metagenome and virome assemblies for accurate and comprehensive PAM predictions. This procedure allows the identification and isolation of sequence-tailored Cas9 nucleases by using the target sequence as bait. As proof of concept, starting from the disease-causing mutation P23H in the RHO gene, we find, isolate and experimentally validate a Cas9 which uses the mutated sequence as PAM. Our PAM prediction pipeline will be instrumental to generate a Cas9 nuclease repertoire responding to any PAM requirement.

Medical subject headings