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- Title
RNA-guided transcriptional silencing in vivo with S. aureus CRISPR-Cas9 repressors.
- Authors
Thakore, Pratiksha I.; Kwon, Jennifer B.; Nelson, Christopher E.; Rouse, Douglas C.; Gemberling, Matthew P.; Oliver, Matthew L.; Gersbach, Charles A.
- Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 transcriptional repressors have emerged as robust tools for disrupting gene regulation in vitro but have not yet been adapted for systemic delivery in adult animal models. Here we describe a Staphylococcus aureus Cas9-based repressor (dSaCas9KRAB) compatible with adeno-associated viral (AAV) delivery. To evaluate dSaCas9KRAB efficacy for gene silencing in vivo, we silenced transcription of Pcsk9, a regulator of cholesterol levels, in the liver of adult mice. Systemic administration of a dual-vector AAV8 system expressing dSa- Cas9KRAB and a Pcsk9-targeting guide RNA (gRNA) results in significant reductions of serum Pcsk9 and cholesterol levels. Despite a moderate host response to dSaCas9KRAB expression, Pcsk9 repression is maintained for 24 weeks after a single treatment, demonstrating the potential for long-term gene silencing in post-mitotic tissues with dSaCas9KRAB. In vivo programmable gene silencing enables studies that link gene regulation to complex phenotypes and expands the CRISPR-Cas9 perturbation toolbox for basic research and gene therapy applications.
- Subjects
GENETIC regulation; BLOOD cholesterol; GENE therapy; GENE silencing; STAPHYLOCOCCUS aureus; ANIMAL models in research; GENE delivery techniques; GENE targeting
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2018, Vol 9, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-018-04048-4