Cas9 Variants With Altered DNA Cleaving Activity

Patent Status

Brief Description

RNA-programmed Cas9 has proven to be a versatile tool for genome engineering in multiple cell types and organisms.  Guided by a dual-RNA complex or a chimeric single-guide RNA, Cas9 (or variants of Cas9) can generate site-specific double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) or single-stranded breaks (SSBs) within target nucleic acids.  Target nucleic acids can include double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as well as RNA.  When cleavage of a target nucleic acid occurs within a cell, the break in the target nucleic acid can be repaired by non-homologous end joining or homology directed repair.  UC Berkeley researchers have created new Cas9 protein variants, nucleic acids encoding the variant Cas9 proteins, and host cells comprising the nucleic acids.

Suggested uses

• Genome editing
• Gene therapy 

Advantages

• Enhances CRISPR targeting specificity