IP Library Granted Patent US 12,398,384
Granted Patent B2
US 12,398,384 · App. 17/851,880 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

DNA modifying enzymes and active fragments and variants thereof and methods of use

Inventors: Tyson D. Bowen (Morrisville, NC); Alexandra Briner Crawley (Cary, NC); Tedd D. Elich (Durham, NC)
Assignee: Life Edit Therapeutics, Inc.
C12N9/22C12N15/63C12N2310/20C12N2800/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,398,384
App. No.
17/851,880
Granted
Aug 26, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Compositions and methods comprising novel deaminase polypeptides for targeted editing of nucleic acids are provided. Compositions comprise deaminase polypeptides. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising a DNA-binding polypeptide and a deaminase of the invention. The fusion proteins include RNA-guided nucleases fused to deaminases, optionally in complex with guide RNAs. Compositions also include nucleic acid molecules encoding the deaminases or the fusion proteins. Vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid molecules encoding the deaminases or the fusion proteins are also provided.

Claims (23)

1. A fusion protein comprising a Type II CRISPR-Cas protein nickase and a deaminase, wherein said deaminase comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 430 and has adenine deaminase activity, and wherein said nickase

(a) is a Cas9 nickase; or

(b) comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 42, 52, 53, 55-59, 61, 397, or 398.

2. The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein the nickase has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 42, 53, 55-59, 61, 397, or 398.

3. The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein the fusion protein further comprises at least one nuclear localization signal (NLS).

4. The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein said deaminase comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 430 and has adenine deaminase activity.

5. The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein said deaminase comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 430, 419, or 434.

6. The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein said fusion protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 519, 508, or 523.

7. The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein the fusion protein further comprises a protein tag or a cell penetrating domain.

8. A polypeptide having adenine deaminase activity and comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 430.

9. The polypeptide of claim 8 , wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 430.

10. The polypeptide of claim 8 , wherein said polypeptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 430, 419, or 434.

11. The polypeptide of claim 8 , wherein said polypeptide further comprises at least one nuclear localization signal.

12. An adenine base editor comprising the polypeptide of claim 8 and a Type II CRISPR-Cas nickase, wherein said nickase

(a) is a Cas9 nickase; or

(b) comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to of SEQ ID NO: 42, 52, 53, 55-59, 61, 397, or 398.

13. The adenine base editor of claim 12 , wherein the adenine base editor introduces an A>G mutation in a DNA molecule.

14. A cell comprising the fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein the cell further comprises a guide RNA.

15. A system for modifying a target DNA molecule, said system comprising:

a) the fusion protein of claim 1 ; and

b) one or more guide RNAs (gRNAs) capable of hybridizing to said target DNA molecule, or one or more nucleic acids encoding the one or more gRNAs; and

wherein the one or more gRNAs are capable of forming a complex with the fusion protein in order to direct said fusion protein to bind to and modify the target DNA molecule.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the nickase has the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 42, 52, 53, 55-59, 61, 397, or 398.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2025
From: BOWEN, TYSON D.; CRAWLEY, ALEXANDRA BRINER; ELICH, TEDD D.
To: LIFEEDIT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070799/0140 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 10, 2025
From: LIFEEDIT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
To: LIFE EDIT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070812/0510 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation PCTUS2021049853 · Sep 10, 2021
Provisional Application 63146840 · Feb 8, 2021
Provisional Application 63077089 · Sep 11, 2020
Related Publication 20220348894A1 · Nov 3, 2022
References Cited (3)
CA 3125175A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Database Uniprot, A0A0H3CQ57, “Full-tRNA-specific adenosine deaminase,” 2015, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
Database Uniprot, A0A4R0HT86, “Full=tRNA-specific adenosine deaminase,” 2019, 1 page. [cited by applicant]