谷氨酸棒状杆菌CRISPR-Cpf1和Cre/loxP基因敲除技术的比较

【背景】谷氨酸棒状杆菌的基因敲除系统较为匮乏且效率不高,难以对其进行代谢工程改造,不利于高性能工业菌株的构建及规模生产。【目的】分别采用CRISPR-Cpf1和Cre/loxP基因敲除系统对谷氨酸棒状杆菌ATCC13032(CorynebacteriumglutamicumATCC13032)基因组上的argR和argF基因进行敲除,比较两种敲除方法的优缺点,为合理选择敲除系统提供依据。【方法】特异性重组的Cre/loxP敲除系统是首先利用同源重组将基因组上的靶基因替换为两端带有重组位点loxP的kanR片段,然后由重组酶Cre识别loxP位点并发生重组反应,从而去除替换到基因组上的kanR片段,进一步利用质粒的温敏特性将其消除,从而实现靶基因的敲除。CRISPR-Cpf1敲除系统是利用Cpf1对pre-crRNA进行加工,形成的成熟crRNA引导Cpf1识别和结合到靶DNA的特定序列上并切割双链DNA分子,通过同源重组作用去除靶基因,基于质粒自身的温敏特性将其消除,从而完成基因敲除的整个过程。【结果】Cre/lox P系统可在8N+2 d内完成N轮迭代基因敲除,而CRISPR-Cpf1系统可在5N+2d内完成N轮迭代基因无痕敲除,理论上还可以一次对多个靶位点进行编辑,效率更高,但存在同源重组效率较低、假阳性率高等缺点。【结论】与Cre/loxP系统相比,CRISPR-Cpf1辅助的同源重组基因敲除方法可省时、省力地实现基因的无痕敲除,理论上还可实现多个基因的同时敲除、总体效率更高,然而编辑效率还有提高的空间。     

Mapping breakpoints of a familial chromosome insertion (18,7) (q22.1; q36.2q21.11) to DPP6 and CACNA2D1 genes in an azoospermic male

It is widely accepted that the incidence of chromosomal aberration is 10–15.2% in the azoospermic male; however, the exact genetic damages are currently unknown for more than 40% of azoospermia. To elucidate the causative gene defects, we used the next generation sequencing (NGS) to map the breakpoints of a chromosome insertion from an azoospermic male who carries a balanced, maternally inherited karyotype 46, XY, inv ins (18,7) (q22.1; q36.2q21.11). The analysis revealed that the breakage in chromosome 7 disrupts two genes, dipeptidyl aminopeptidase-like protein 6 (DPP6) and contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CACNA2D1), the former participates in regulation of voltage-gated potassium channels, and the latter is one of the components in voltage-gated calcium channels. The deletion and duplication were not identified equal or beyond 100 kb, but 4 homologous DNA elements were verified proximal to the breakpoints. One of the proband's sisters inherited the same aberrant karyotype and experienced recurrent miscarriages and consecutive fetus death, while in contrast, another sister with a normal karyotype experienced normal labor and gave birth to healthy babies. The insertional translocation is confirmed with FISH and the Y-chromosome microdeletions were excluded by genetic testing. This is the first report describing chromosome insertion inv ins (18,7) and attributes DPP6 and CACNA2D1 to azoospermia.