Specific Modulation of CRISPR Transcriptional Activators through RNA-Sensing Guide RNAs in Mammalian Cells and Zebrafish Embryos

  1. Oana Pelea
  2. Sarah Mayes
  3. Quentin RV. Ferry
  4. Tudor A. Fulga
  5. Tatjana Sauka-Spengler

  • Curated by eLife

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    eLife assessment

    The authors aim to develop a CRISPR system that can be activated upon sensing an RNA. As an initial step to this goal, they describe RNA-sensing guide RNAs for controlled activation of CRISPR modification. Many of the data look convincing and while several steps remain to achieve the stated goal in an in vivo setting and for robust activation by endogenous RNAs, the current work will be important for many in the field.

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Abstract

Cellular transcripts encode important information regarding cell identity and disease status. The activation of CRISPR in response to RNA biomarkers holds the potential for controlling CRISPR activity with spatiotemporal precision. This would enable the restriction of CRISPR activity to specific cell types expressing RNA biomarkers of interest while preventing unwanted activity in other cells. Here, we present a simple and specific platform for modulating CRISPR activity in response to RNA detection through engineering Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs). sgRNAs are engineered to fold into complex secondary structures that, in the ground state, inhibit their activity. The engineered sgRNAs become activated upon recognising complementary RNAs, thus enabling Cas9 to perform its function. Our approach enables CRISPR activation in response to RNA detection in both HEK293T cells and zebrafish embryos. Iterative design optimisations allowed the development of computational tools for generating sgRNAs capable of detecting RNA sequences of choice. Mechanistic investigations reveal that engineered sgRNAs are cleaved during RNA detection, and we identify key positions that benefit from chemical modifications to improve the stability of engineered sgRNAs in vivo . Our sensors open up novel opportunities for developing new research and therapeutic applications using CRISPR activation in response to endogenous RNA biomarkers.

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  1. Version published to 10.1101/2023.05.08.539738v2 on bioRxiv
  2. Version published to 10.7554/elife.87722.1 on eLife
  3. Version published to 10.7554/elife.87722 on eLife
  4. eLife

    Author Response

    We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the detailed examination of our manuscript titled "Specific Modulation of CRISPR Transcriptional Activators through RNA-Sensing Guide RNAs in Mammalian Cells and Zebrafish Embryos." We deeply appreciate the time and effort put into the review process, especially considering the unforeseen delays. Your insightful comments and recommendations have provided critical perspectives that we believe will significantly enhance the quality of our work. In this letter, we will address the reviewers' concerns and outline the revisions we will make in response to the feedback.

    eLife assessment

    The authors aim to develop a CRISPR system that can be activated upon sensing an RNA. As an initial step to this goal, they describe RNA-sensing guide RNAs for controlled activation of CRISPR modification. Many of the data look convincing and while several steps remain to achieve the stated goal in an in vivo setting and for robust activation by endogenous RNAs, the current work will be important for many in the field.

    We wish to acknowledge and thank you for the thoughtful eLife assessment, which succinctly summarizes our ambition to create a CRISPR system controlled by RNA sensing. The synopsis provided encapsulates the essence of our research, emphasizing both the progress we have made and the challenges that lie ahead. This assessment fully resonates with our views.

    Reviewer #1 (Public Review):

    This paper describes RNA-sensing guide RNAs for controlled activation of CRISPR modification. This works by having an extended guide RNA with a sequence that folds back onto the targeting sequence such that the guide RNA cannot hybridise to its genomic target. The CRISPR is "activated" by the introduction of another RNA, referred to as a trigger, that competes with this "back folding" to make the guide RNA available for genome targeting. The authors first confirm the efficacy of the approach using several RNA triggers and a GFP reporter that is activated by dCas9 fused to transcriptional activators. A major potential application of this technique is the activation of CRISPR in response to endogenous biomarkers. As these will typically be longer than the first generation triggers employed by the authors they test some extended triggers, which also work though not always to the same extent. They then introduce MODesign which may enable the design of bespoke or improved triggers. After that, they determine that the mode of activation by the RNA trigger involves cleavage of the RNA complexes. Finally, they test the potential for their system to work in a developmental setting - specifically zebrafish embryos. There is some encouraging evidence, though the effects appear more subtle than those originally obtained in cell culture.

    Overall, the potential of a CRISPR system that can be activated upon sensing an RNA is high and there are a myriad of opportunities and applications for it. This paper represents a reasonable starting point having developed such a system in principle.

    The weakness of the study is that it does not demonstrate that the system can be used in a completely natural setting. This would require an endogenous transcript as the RNA trigger with a clear readout. Such an experiment would clearly strengthen the paper and provide strong confidence that the method could be employed for one of the major applications discussed by the authors. The zebrafish data relied on exogenous RNA triggers whereas the major applications (as I understood them) would use endogenous triggers.

    Related, most endogenous RNAs are longer than the various triggers tested and may require extensive modification of the system to be detected or utilised effectively. While additional data would clearly be beneficial, there should nevertheless be a more detailed discussion of these caveats and/or the strengths and applications of the system as it is presented (i.e. utility with synthetic triggers).

    We would like to thank Reviewer #1 for the thoughtful and comprehensive analysis of our work as well as for the constructive feedback provided. We agree with the observation regarding the subtler effects in the zebrafish embryos and the reliance on exogenous RNA triggers. Indeed, the utilization of endogenous transcripts as triggers in a natural setting is a logical next step. We further acknowledge the need to delve deeper into the complexities and challenges of our system, particularly concerning the detection of endogenous RNA, thus offering valuable insights for researchers looking to adapt our system for various applications. In the final version of our paper, we will indeed discuss these challenges in detail and provide a clear path for future users who might be interested in employing this system. Our expanded discussion will encompass the considerations required for high-throughput screens, combining both quantitative and experimental approaches for identifying endogenous RNAs that could act as triggers. We will also elaborate on the potential biotech applications related to the detection of synthetic RNA triggers. This includes its use in Synthetic Biology circuit design and the implementation of logic gates for mammalian cell engineering.

    Reviewer #2 (Public Review):

    In this work, the authors describe engineering of sgRNAs that render Cas9 DNA binding controllable by a second RNA trigger. The authors introduce several iterations of their engineered sgRNAs, as well as a computational pipeline to identify designs for user-specified RNA triggers which offers a helpful alternative to purely rational design. Also included is an investigation of the fate of the engineered sgRNAs when introduced into cells, and the use of this information to inform installation of modified nucleotides to improve engineered sgRNA stability. Engineered sgRNAs are demonstrated to be activated by trigger RNAs in both cultured mammalian cells and zebrafish.

    The conclusions made by the authors in this work are predominantly supported by the data provided. However, some claims are not consistent with the data shown and some of the figures would benefit from revision or further clarification.

    Strengths:

    • The sgRNA engineering in this paper is performed and presented in a systematic and logical fashion. Inclusion of a computational method to predict iSBH-sgRNAs adds to the strength of the engineering.
    • Investigation into the cellular fate of the engineered sgRNAs and the use of this information to guide inclusion of chemically modified nucleotides is also a strength.
    • Demonstration of activity in both cultured mammalian cells and in zebrafish embryos increases the impact and utility of the technology reported in this work.

    Weaknesses:

    • While the methods here represent an important step forward in advancing the technology, they still fall short of the dynamic range and selectivity likely required for robust activation by endogenous RNA.
    • While the iSBH-sgRNAs where the RNA trigger overlaps with the spacer appear to function robustly, the modular iSBH-sgRNAs seem to perform quite a bit less well. The authors state that modular iSBH-sgRNAs show better activity without increasing background when the SAM system is added, but this is not supported by the data shown in Figure 3D, where in 3 out of 4 cases CRISPR activation in the absence of the RNA trigger is substantially increased.
    • There is very little discussion of how the performance of the technology reported in this work compares to previous iterations of RNA-triggered CRISPR systems, of which there are many examples.

    We are very grateful to the Reviewer #3 for the meticulous examination of our work, highlighting both the systematic approach in sgRNA engineering and areas for improvement. The insights offered in this review are extremely useful, and we are committed to addressing these points in the following sections of our response.

    Concerning the methods falling short of the dynamic range and selectivity required for robust activation by endogenous RNA, we acknowledge this limitation and recognize the need for improvement in this area. In the final version of our manuscript, we will provide a detailed discussion on how the selection of appropriate triggers might partially improve dynamic ranges and selectivity. This includes an exploration of various strategies and considerations that may enhance the robustness of our system. Regarding the inconsistent performance of the modular iSBH-sgRNAs, as observed in Figure 3D, we recognize this discrepancy and will clarify it in the following iteration. For the concern about the lack of comparison with previous iterations of RNA-triggered CRISPR systems, we recently published a comprehensive literature review on the existing systems for activation of CRISPR in response to RNA detection (doi/full/10.1089/crispr.2022.0052). In the final version of our manuscript, we will include a comparison between our system and existing technologies, thereby addressing this valid observation.

    Thank you once again to the entire review team for the meticulous examination and for your thoughtful and constructive feedback. Your insights are instrumental in refining our research, and we look forward to incorporating these changes as we finalize our manuscript.

  5. eLife

    eLife assessment

    The authors aim to develop a CRISPR system that can be activated upon sensing an RNA. As an initial step to this goal, they describe RNA-sensing guide RNAs for controlled activation of CRISPR modification. Many of the data look convincing and while several steps remain to achieve the stated goal in an in vivo setting and for robust activation by endogenous RNAs, the current work will be important for many in the field.

  6. eLife

    Reviewer #1 (Public Review):

    This paper describes RNA-sensing guide RNAs for controlled activation of CRISPR modification. This works by having an extended guide RNA with a sequence that folds back onto the targeting sequence such that the guide RNA cannot hybridise to its genomic target. The CRISPR is "activated" by the introduction of another RNA, referred to as a trigger, that competes with this "back folding" to make the guide RNA available for genome targeting. The authors first confirm the efficacy of the approach using several RNA triggers and a GFP reporter that is activated by dCas9 fused to transcriptional activators. A major potential application of this technique is the activation of CRISPR in response to endogenous biomarkers. As these will typically be longer than the first generation triggers employed by the authors they test some extended triggers, which also work though not always to the same extent. They then introduce MODesign which may enable the design of bespoke or improved triggers. After that, they determine that the mode of activation by the RNA trigger involves cleavage of the RNA complexes. Finally, they test the potential for their system to work in a developmental setting - specifically zebrafish embryos. There is some encouraging evidence, though the effects appear more subtle than those originally obtained in cell culture.

    Overall, the potential of a CRISPR system that can be activated upon sensing an RNA is high and there are a myriad of opportunities and applications for it. This paper represents a reasonable starting point having developed such a system in principle.

    The weakness of the study is that it does not demonstrate that the system can be used in a completely natural setting. This would require an endogenous transcript as the RNA trigger with a clear readout. Such an experiment would clearly strengthen the paper and provide strong confidence that the method could be employed for one of the major applications discussed by the authors. The zebrafish data relied on exogenous RNA triggers whereas the major applications (as I understood them) would use endogenous triggers.

    Related, most endogenous RNAs are longer than the various triggers tested and may require extensive modification of the system to be detected or utilised effectively.
    While additional data would clearly be beneficial, there should nevertheless be a more detailed discussion of these caveats and/or the strengths and applications of the system as it is presented (i.e. utility with synthetic triggers).

  7. eLife

    Reviewer #2 (Public Review):

    In this work, the authors describe engineering of sgRNAs that render Cas9 DNA binding controllable by a second RNA trigger. The authors introduce several iterations of their engineered sgRNAs, as well as a computational pipeline to identify designs for user-specified RNA triggers which offers a helpful alternative to purely rational design. Also included is an investigation of the fate of the engineered sgRNAs when introduced into cells, and the use of this information to inform installation of modified nucleotides to improve engineered sgRNA stability. Engineered sgRNAs are demonstrated to be activated by trigger RNAs in both cultured mammalian cells and zebrafish.

    The conclusions made by the authors in this work are predominantly supported by the data provided. However, some claims are not consistent with the data shown and some of the figures would benefit from revision or further clarification.

    Strengths:
    - The sgRNA engineering in this paper is performed and presented in a systematic and logical fashion. Inclusion of a computational method to predict iSBH-sgRNAs adds to the strength of the engineering.
    - Investigation into the cellular fate of the engineered sgRNAs and the use of this information to guide inclusion of chemically modified nucleotides is also a strength.
    - Demonstration of activity in both cultured mammalian cells and in zebrafish embryos increases the impact and utility of the technology reported in this work.

    Weaknesses:
    - While the methods here represent an important step forward in advancing the technology, they still fall short of the dynamic range and selectivity likely required for robust activation by endogenous RNA.
    - While the iSBH-sgRNAs where the RNA trigger overlaps with the spacer appear to function robustly, the modular iSBH-sgRNAs seem to perform quite a bit less well. The authors state that modular iSBH-sgRNAs show better activity without increasing background when the SAM system is added, but this is not supported by the data shown in Figure 3D, where in 3 out of 4 cases CRISPR activation in the absence of the RNA trigger is substantially increased.
    - There is very little discussion of how the performance of the technology reported in this work compares to previous iterations of RNA-triggered CRISPR systems, of which there are many examples.

  8. Version published to 10.1101/2023.05.08.539738v1 on bioRxiv