IP Library Granted Patent US 12,410,469
Granted Patent B2
US 12,410,469 · App. 18/492,763 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Methods and compositions for sequencing library normalization

Inventors: Martin Ranik (Boulder, CO); Eric van der Walt (Cape Town, ZA); Clara Ross (Lafayette, CO); Craig Marshall (Boulder, CO); Lindsay Peterkin (Longmont, CO); Brian Kudlow (Boulder, CO); Travis J. Sanders (Boulder, CO)
Assignee: Watchmaker Genomics, Inc.
C12Q1/6834C12N9/22C12N2310/20C12Q2600/166
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,410,469
App. No.
18/492,763
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for normalizing polynucleotide concentration. Normalizing may be accomplished using polynucleotide binding proteins (e.g., catalytically inactive CRISPR protein or catalytically inactive Argonaute proteins). The polynucleotide binding proteins may bind to the adapter sequences of a target polynucleotide. Thus, adding the same amount of a polynucleotide binding proteins to different samples and then extracting the polynucleotide protein is shown herein to extract similar amounts of target polynucleotides from the different samples.

Claims (55)

1. A method for normalizing the concentration of target polynucleotides between at least two samples each comprising target polynucleotides, the method comprising, for each sample of the at least two samples:

(i) obtaining the sample, wherein the target polynucleotides of the sample comprise:

a first adapter sequence comprising a proximal portion, and a distal portion comprising a sequence that binds to an adapter binding site of a next-generation sequencing platform during next-generation sequencing; and

a second adapter sequence;

(ii) contacting the target polynucleotides with primers that are complementary to the proximal portion of the first adapter sequence;

(iii) extending the primers to produce reverse complements of the target polynucleotides that do not comprise a reverse complement of the distal portion of the first adapter sequence, thereby producing partially double stranded polynucleotides comprising a double stranded second adapter sequence;

(iv) producing a solution, the producing comprising combining: (a) the partially double stranded polynucleotides, (b) a predetermined concentration of a guide polynucleotide comprising a targeting region that is complementary to a strand of the double stranded second adapter sequence; and (c) a predetermined concentration of a dCas or a dArgonaute comprising an affinity tag, wherein the dCas or the dArgonaute is cognate to the guide polynucleotide;

(v) contacting the solution with a solid phase comprising an affinity tag binding molecule that is capable of binding to the affinity tag;

(vi) separating the solution from the solid phase; and

(vii) extracting the target polynucleotides from the solid phase to normalize the concentration of target polynucleotides between the two or more samples.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the targeting region is complementary to a static region of the proximal portion.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guide polynucleotide comprises a CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) guide RNA (gRNA) polynucleotide or an Argonaute guide polynucleotide.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the Cas gRNA polynucleotide targeting region is a homology region.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the Cas gRNA polynucleotide comprises a homology region of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-6, 9-19 and 21-26.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the Cas gRNA polynucleotide comprises a homology region of SEQ ID NO: 1.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guide polynucleotide comprises a modified nucleic acid.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dCas is a catalytically-inactive Cpf1, C2c1, C2c3, C2c2, CasX, Cas9, or CasY protein.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the dCas protein comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the affinity tag binding molecule comprises Ni2+and the affinity tag comprises a His Tag.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein extracting the target polynucleotides from the solid phase comprises combining the solid phase and a protease.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein normalizing comprises making the concentration of the of target polynucleotides between the at least two samples within 15% of one another after normalization.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method does not comprise amplifying the target polynucleotides of the at least two samples using polymerase chain reaction.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequence that binds to the adapter binding site is a flow cell binding sequence.

15. A method for normalizing the concentration of target polynucleotides between at least two samples each comprising target polynucleotides, the method comprising, for each sample of the at least two samples:

(i) obtaining the sample, wherein the target polynucleotides of the sample comprise:

a first adapter sequence comprising: a proximal portion, and a distal portion comprising a sequence that binds to an adapter binding site of a next-generation sequencing platform during next-generation sequencing; and

a second adapter sequence;

(ii) contacting the target polynucleotides with primers that are complementary to the proximal portion of the first adapter sequence;

(iii) extending the primers to produce reverse complements of the target polynucleotides that do not comprise a reverse complement of the distal portion of the first adapter sequence, thereby producing partially double stranded polynucleotides comprising a double stranded second adapter sequence;

(iv) producing a solution, the producing comprising combining: (a) the partially double stranded polynucleotides, (b) a predetermined concentration of a guide polynucleotide comprising a targeting region that is complementary to a strand of the double stranded second adapter sequence; and (c) a predetermined concentration of a dCas or a dArgonaute comprising an affinity tag; and

(v) contacting the solution with a pre-determined amount of a catalytically active Cas or Argonaute protein to normalize the concentration of target polynucleotides between the two or more samples.

16. A method for normalizing the concentration of target polynucleotides between at least two samples each comprising target polynucleotides, the method comprising:

(i) obtaining the at least two samples, wherein the target polynucleotides of the at least two samples comprise:

a first adapter sequence comprising: a proximal portion, and a distal portion comprising a sequence that binds to an adapter binding site of a next-generation sequencing platform during next-generation sequencing; and

a second adapter sequence;

(ii) contacting each of the at least two samples with primers that are complementary to the proximal portion of the first adapter sequence;

(iii) extending the primers in each of the at least two samples to produce reverse complements of the target polynucleotides that do not comprise a reverse complement of the distal portion of the first adapter sequence, thereby producing partially double stranded polynucleotides comprising a double stranded second adapter sequence;

(iv) binding the double stranded polynucleotides of each of the at least two samples with a predetermined amount of a ribonucleotide protein (RNP) complex, the RNP complex comprising: a dCas or a dArgonaute, and a guide polynucleotide that comprises a targeting region which is complementary to a strand of the double stranded second adapter sequence;

and (v) extracting the target polynucleotides from the RNP complex to normalize the concentration of target polynucleotides between the at least two samples.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the RNP complex comprises a dCas protein and a Cas guide RNA.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the Cas guide RNA comprises a homology region of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-26, and the dCas protein is dCas9.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the Cas gRNA polynucleotide comprises a homology region of SEQ ID NO: 1.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein extracting the target polynucleotides from the RNP complex comprising contacting the RNP with a solid phase comprising an RNP complex binding molecule.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein extracting the target polynucleotides from the RNP complex comprises washing the solid phase.

22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the method does not comprise amplifying the target polynucleotides of the at least two samples using polymerase chain reaction.

23. The method of claim 16 , wherein obtaining the at least two samples comprises:

(i) obtaining at least fifty samples, wherein the target polynucleotides of the at least fifty samples comprise:

a first adapter sequence comprising: a proximal portion, and a distal portion comprising a sequence that binds to an adapter binding site of a next-generation sequencing platform during next-generation sequencing; and

a second adapter sequence;

(ii) contacting each of the at least fifty samples with primers that are complementary to the proximal portion of the first adapter sequence;

iii) extending the primers in each of the at least fifty samples to produce reverse complements of the target polynucleotides that do not comprise a reverse complement of the distal portion of the first adapter sequence, thereby producing partially double stranded polynucleotides comprising a double stranded second adapter sequence;

(iv) binding the double stranded polynucleotides of each of the at least fifty samples with a predetermined amount of a ribonucleotide protein (RNP) complex, the RNP complex comprising: a dCas9, a guide RNA that comprises a homology which is complementary to a strand of the double stranded second adapter sequence, and an affinity tag; and

(v) extracting the target polynucleotides from the RNP complex to normalize the concentration of target polynucleotides between the at least fifty samples, the extracting comprising contacting the RNP with a solid phase comprising an affinity tag binding molecule and washing the solid phase.

24. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sequence that binds to the adapter binding site is a flow cell binding sequence.

25. The method of 20 , wherein the RNP comprises an affinity tag and the RNP complex binding molecule comprises an affinity tag binding molecule.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2025
From: RANIK, MARTIN; ROSS, CLARA; MARSHALL, CRAIG; PETERKIN, LINDSAY; KUDLOW, BRIAN; SANDERS, TRAVIS J.
To: WATCHMAKER GENOMICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070755/0702 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2025
From: VAN DER WALT, ERIC
To: WATCHMAKER GENOMICS PROPRIETARY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 070755/0781 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2025
From: WATCHMAKER GENOMICS PROPRIETARY, LTD.
To: WATCHMAKER GENOMICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070755/0867 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation PCTUS2023077435 · Oct 20, 2023
Provisional Application 63516033 · Jul 27, 2023
Provisional Application 63380488 · Oct 21, 2022
Related Publication 20240132942A1 · Apr 25, 2024
Related Publication 20240229115A9 · Jul 11, 2024
References Cited (49)
US 10081829B1 · Shuber et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10113167B2 · Doudna et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10358658B2 · Doudna et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10370700B2 · Shuber et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10415061B2 · Doudna et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10457969B2 · Cann et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10487341B2 · Doudna et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10513712B2 · Doudna et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10527608B2 · Shuber et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10577649B2 · Mandell · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10676726B2 · Gersbach · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10774365B2 · Carpenter et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10844378B2 · Sikŝnys et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11008590B2 · Doudna et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11085078B2 · Heron · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20150232929A1 · Stephens · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20180171360A1 · Cameron et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180355380A1 · Shuber et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180355406A1 · Glover · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180355408A1 · Shuber · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180355409A1 · Shuber · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180355417A1 · Shuber et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180355419A1 · Glover · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180355436A1 · Shuber et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180355437A1 · Shuber · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190002964A1 · Shuber · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190032116A1 · Shuber · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190071716A1 · Shuber · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190085318A1 · Shuber · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190345539A1 · Shuber et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190390254A1 · Osborne · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200216877A1 · Betts et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210040537A1 · Shuber · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210155972A1 · Shuber · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20230122979A1 · Brown · 2023 [cited by applicant]
EP 3172321A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2007048629A2 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2018048957A2 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2018136881A1 · 2018 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2018231945A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2020131383A1 · 2020 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2020172362A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Doudna “Molecular Mechanisms of RNA Interference” Annu. Rev. Biophys (2013) 42:217-39. (Year: 2013). [cited by examiner]
Invitation to Pay Additional Fees for Application No. PCT/US2023/077435, mailed Feb. 6, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Sashital, Prokaryotic Argonaute Uses an All-in-One Mechanism to Provide Host Defense. Mol Cell. Mar. 16, 2017;65(6):957-958. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2017.03.002. [cited by applicant]
Wu et al., Argonaute proteins: Structural features, functions and emerging roles. J Adv Res. Apr. 29, 2020:24:317-324. doi: 10.1016/j.jare.2020.04.017. eCollection Jul. 2020. [cited by applicant]
Yin et al., Structure-guided chemical modification of guide RNA enables potent non-viral in vivo genome editing. Nat Biotechnol. Dec. 2017;35(12):1179-1187. doi: 10.1038/nbt.4005. Epub Nov. 13, 2017. With supplemental i… [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2023/077435, mailed Apr. 10, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Van Der Valk et al., Estimating the rate of index hopping on the Illumina HiSeq X platform. bioRxiv. Mar. 27, 2018. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/179028. [cited by applicant]