A microRNA-inducible CRISPR-Cas9 platform serves as a microRNA sensor and cell-type-specific genome regulation tool.
Xi-Wen WangLu-Feng HuJing HaoLe-Qi LiaoYa-Tzu ChiuMing ShiYangming WangPublished in: Nature cell biology (2019)
microRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play important regulatory roles in plants, animals and viruses. Measuring miRNA activity in vivo remains a big challenge. Here, using an miRNA-mediated single guide RNA (sgRNA)-releasing strategy and dCas9-VPR to drive a transgene red fluorescent protein, we create an miRNA sensor that can faithfully measure miRNA activity at cellular levels and use it to monitor differentiation status of stem cells. Furthermore, by designing sgRNAs to target endogenous loci, we adapted this system to control the expression of endogenous genes or mutate specific DNA bases upon induction by cell-type-specific miRNAs. Finally, by miRNA sensor library screening, we discover a previously undefined layer of heterogeneity associated with miR-21a activity in mouse embryonic stem cells. Together, these results highlight the utility of an miRNA-induced CRISPR-Cas9 system as miRNA sensors and cell-type-specific genome regulation tools.
Keyphrases
- crispr cas
- stem cells
- genome wide
- genome editing
- long non coding rna
- embryonic stem cells
- cell proliferation
- poor prognosis
- gene expression
- mesenchymal stem cells
- transcription factor
- single cell
- big data
- small molecule
- artificial intelligence
- binding protein
- endothelial cells
- deep learning
- high glucose
- genome wide identification