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CRISPR‐based genome editing and expression control systems in Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium beijerinckii
Author(s) -
Li Qi,
Chen Jun,
Minton Nigel P.,
Zhang Ying,
Wen Zhiqiang,
Liu Jinle,
Yang Haifeng,
Zeng Zhe,
Ren Xiaodan,
Yang Junjie,
Gu Yang,
Jiang Weihong,
Jiang Yu,
Yang Sheng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.144
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1860-7314
pISSN - 1860-6768
DOI - 10.1002/biot.201600053
Subject(s) - clostridium beijerinckii , clostridia , crispr , clostridium acetobutylicum , genome editing , cas9 , plasmid , biology , clostridium , gene , computational biology , streptococcus pyogenes , crispr interference , genetics , mutagenesis , genome engineering , genome , mutant , biochemistry , bacteria , butanol , ethanol , staphylococcus aureus
Solventogenic clostridia are important industrial microorganisms that produce various chemicals and fuels. Effective genetic tools would facilitate physiological studies aimed both at improving our understanding of metabolism and optimizing solvent productivity through metabolic engineering. Here we have developed an all‐in‐one, CRISPR‐based genome editing plasmid, pNICKclos, that can be used to achieve successive rounds of gene editing in Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 and Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 with efficiencies varying from 6.7% to 100% and 18.8% to 100%, respectively. The plasmid specifies the requisite target‐specific guide RNA, the gene encoding the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 nickase and the genome editing template encompassing the gene‐specific homology arms. It can be used to create single target mutants within three days, with a further two days required for the curing of the pNICKclos plasmid ready for a second round of mutagenesis. A S. pyogenes dCas9‐mediated gene regulation control system, pdCASclos, was also developed and used in a CRISPRi strategy to successfully repress the expression of spo0A in C. acetobutylicum and C. beijerinckii . The combined application of the established high efficiency CRISPR‐Cas9 based genome editing and regulation control systems will greatly accelerate future progress in the understanding and manipulation of metabolism in solventogenic clostridia.