IP Library Granted Patent US 12,252,718
Granted Patent B2
US 12,252,718 · App. 18/631,568 · Granted Mar 18, 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
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 12,252,718
App. No.
18/631,568
Granted
Mar 18, 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 (27)

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 the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 405 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 any one of SEQ ID NO: 42, 52, 53, 55-59, 61, 397, or 398.

2. 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: 405 and has adenine deaminase activity.

3. The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein said deaminase comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 405.

4. The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein the nickase has the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 42, 52, 53, 55-59, 61, 397, or 398.

5. The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein said fusion protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 494.

6. The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein the fusion protein further comprises at least one nuclear localization signal.

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

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

9. A ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex comprising the fusion protein of claim 1 and a guide RNA.

10. 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 said target DNA molecule.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the nickase has the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 42, 52, 53, 55-59, 61, 397, or 398.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the one or more nucleic acids encoding the one or more gRNAs is operably linked to a promoter heterologous to said nucleic acid.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the target DNA molecule is a eukaryotic target DNA.

14. 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: 405.

15. The polypeptide of claim 14 , wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 405.

16. The polypeptide of claim 14 , wherein said polypeptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 405.

17. The polypeptide of claim 14 , wherein said polypeptide further comprises at least one nuclear localization signal.

18. An adenine base editor comprising the polypeptide of claim 14 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 any one of SEQ ID NOs: 42, 52, 53, 55-59, 61, 397, or 398.

19. The adenine base editor of claim 18 , wherein the nickase has the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 42, 52, 53, 55-59, 61, 397, or 398.

20. The adenine base editor of claim 18 , wherein the adenine base editor introduces an A>G mutation in a DNA molecule.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2024
From: BOWEN, TYSON D.; CRAWLEY, ALEXANDRA BRINER; ELICH, TEDD
To: LIFEEDIT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069450/0030 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 2, 2024
From: LIFEEDIT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
To: LIFE EDIT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069469/0092 →
Continuity (6)
Division 17929162 · Sep 1, 2022
Continuation 17851880 · Jun 28, 2022
Continuation PCTUS2021049853 · Sep 10, 2021
Provisional Application 63146840 · Feb 8, 2021
Provisional Application 63077089 · Sep 11, 2020
Related Publication 20240360428A1 · Oct 31, 2024
References Cited (10)
CA 3125175A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Database Uniprot, A0A0H3CQ57, “Full=tRNA-specific adenosine deaminase,” 2015, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
Database Uniprot, A0A4ROHT86, “Full=tRNA-specific adenosine deaminase,” 2019, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
Gaudelli, N., et al., “Programmable base editing of A⋅T to G⋅C in genomic DNA without DNA cleavage,” Nature, 2017, vol. 551, pp. 464-471. [cited by applicant]
Richter, M., et al., “Phage-assisted evolution of an adenine base editor with improved Cas domain compatibility and activity,” [cited by applicant]
Sadowski, M., et anan., “The sequence structure relationship and protein function prediction,” [cited by applicant]
Seffernick, J., et al., “Melamine Deaminase and Atrazine Chlorohydrolase: 98 Percent Identical but Functionally Different,” [cited by applicant]
Singh, R., et al., “Protein Engineering Approaches in the Post-Genomic Era,” [cited by applicant]
Tang, S., et anan., “Identification of [cited by applicant]
Wiltkowski, A., et al.,“Conversion of a β-Ketoacyl Synthase to a Malonyl Decarboxylase by Replacement of the Active-Site Cysteine with Glutamine,” [cited by applicant]