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Szczelkun, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Szczelkun, M..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

ENDO-Pore: High-throughput linked-end mapping of single DNA cleavage events using nanopore sequencing

Mapping the precise position of DNA cleavage events plays a key role in determining the mechanism and function of endonucleases. ENDO-Pore is a high-throughput nanopore-based method that allows the time resolved mapping single molecule DNA cleavage events in vitro. Following linearisation of a circular DNA substrate by the endonuclease, a resistance cassette is ligated recording the position of the cleavage event. A library of single cleavage events is constructed and subjected to rolling circle amplification to generate concatemers. These are sequenced and used to produce accurate consensus sequences. To identify the cleavage site(s), we developed CSI (Cleavage Site Investigator). CSI recognizes the ends of the cassette ligated into the cleaved substrate and triangulates the position of the dsDNA break. We firstly benchmarked ENDO-Pore using Type II restriction endonucleases. Secondly, we analysed the effect of crRNA length on the cleavage pattern of CRISPR Cas12a. Finally, we mapped the time-resolved DNA cleavage by the Type ISP restriction endonuclease LlaGI that introduces random double-strand breaks into its DNA substrates.

molecular biology↗

A gate and clamp regulate sequential DNA strand cleavage by CRISPR-Cas12a

CRISPR-Cas12a has been widely used for genome editing and diagnostic applications, yet it is not fully understood how RNA-guided DNA recognition activates the sequential cleavage of the non-target strand (NTS) followed by the target strand (TS). Here we used single-molecule magnetic tweezers microscopy, ensemble gel-based assays and nanopore sequencing to explore the coupling of DNA unwinding and cleavage. In addition to dynamic R-loop formation, we also directly observed transient dsDNA unwinding downstream of the 20 bp DNA:RNA hybrid and, following NTS cleavage and prior to TS cleavage, formation of a hyperstable "clamped" Cas12a-DNA intermediate resistant to DNA twisting. Alanine substitution of a conserved aromatic amino acid "gate" in the REC2 domain that normally caps the heteroduplex produced more frequent and extended downstream DNA breathing, a longer-lived twist-resistant state, and a 16-fold faster rate of TS cleavage. We suggest that both breathing and clamping events, regulated by the gate and by NTS cleavage, deliver the unwound TS to the RuvC nuclease and result from previously described REC2 and NUC domain motions.

biochemistry↗