Open AccessHK022 bacteriophage Integrase mediated RMCE as a potential tool for human gene therapy
Author(s) -
Amer Elias,
Hala Kassis,
Suha Abd Elkader,
Natasha Gritsenko,
Alessio D. Nahmad,
Hodaya Shir,
Liana Younis,
Atheer Shannan,
Hideki Aihara,
Gali Prag,
Ezra Yagil,
Mikhail Kolot
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nucleic acids research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 9.008
H-Index - 537
eISSN - 1362-4954
pISSN - 0305-1048
DOI - 10.1093/nar/gkaa1140
Subject(s) - biology , recombinase , integrase , genetics , gene , integrases , recombination
HK022 coliphage site-specific recombinase Integrase (Int) can catalyze integrative site-specific recombination and recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) reactions in mammalian cell cultures. Owing to the promiscuity of the 7 bp overlap sequence in its att sites, active ‘attB’ sites flanking human deleterious mutations were previously identified that may serve as substrates for RMCE reactions for future potential gene therapy. However, the wild type Int proved inefficient in catalyzing such RMCE reactions. To address this low efficiency, variants of Int were constructed and examined by integrative site-specific recombination and RMCE assays in human cells using native ‘attB’ sites. As a proof of concept, various Int derivatives have demonstrated successful RMCE reactions using a pair of native ‘attB’ sites that were inserted as a substrate into the human genome. Moreover, successful RMCE reactions were demonstrated in native locations of the human CTNS and DMD genes whose mutations are responsible for Cystinosis and Duchene Muscular Dystrophy diseases, respectively. This work provides a steppingstone for potential downstream therapeutic applications.