Improved Cas12a Proteins for Accurate and Efficient Genome Editing

Tech ID: 30433 / UC Case 2019-162-0

Patent Status

Country Type Number Dated Case
United States Of America Published Application 20220315914 10/06/2022 2019-162
 

Brief Description

Mutated versions of Cas12a that remove its non-specific ssDNA cleavage activity without affecting site-specific double-stranded DNA cutting activity. These mutant proteins, in which a short amino acid sequence is deleted or changed, provide improved genome editing tools that will avoid potential off-target editing due to random ssDNA nicking.

Suggested uses

Genome editing in animals, plants, and human cells. 

Advantages

Accurate and efficient genome editing.

Background: Cas12a (formerly called Cpf1) is a type V CRISPR-Cas enzyme derived from bacteria that is used for RNA-guided genome editing in animal, plant and human cells. However, Cas12a possesses an additional enzymatic activity in which a DNA target-bound Cas12a can rapidly and non-specifically degrade any single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) substrate in a sequence-independent manner. This enzymatic activity is endonucleolytic, which means that the ssDNA substrate does not need a free 5' or 3' end to be cut. For this reason, natural Cas12a-type enzymes have the potential to induce off-target genome editing due to nicking of exposed ssDNA in cells.

 

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Inventors

  • Doudna, Jennifer A.

Other Information

Keywords

genome editing, Cas12a

Categorized As

Additional Technologies by these Inventors