The capacity to diversify genetic codes advances our ability to understand and engineer biological systems. A method for continuously diversifying user-defined regions of a genome would enable forward genetic approaches in systems that are not amenable to efficient homology-directed oligonucleotide integration. It would also facilitate the rapid evolution of biotechnologically useful phenotypes through accelerated and parallelized rounds of mutagenesis and selection, as well as cell-lineage tracking through barcode mutagenesis. Here we present EvolvR, a system that can continuously diversify all nucleotides within a tunable window length at user-defined loci. This is achieved by directly generating mutations using engineered DNA polymerases targeted to loci via CRISPR-guided nickases. We identified nickase and polymerase variants that offer a range of targeted mutation rates that are up to 7,770,000-fold greater than rates seen in wild-type cells, and editing windows with lengths of up to 350 nucleotides. We used EvolvR to identify novel ribosomal mutations that confer resistance to the antibiotic spectinomycin. Our results demonstrate that CRISPR-guided DNA polymerases enable multiplexed and continuous diversification of user-defined genomic loci, which will be useful for a broad range of basic and biotechnological applications.
B cell–intrinsic IFN-γ receptor signaling through STAT1 is required for the generation of spontaneous germinal centers, which can lead to pathogenic autoantibody production.
Spontaneous germinal center (Spt-GC) B cells and follicular helper T cells (Tfh) generate high affinity autoantibodies involved in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Toll like receptors (TLRs) play a pivotal role in SLE pathogenesis. While previous studies have focused on the B cell intrinsic role of TLR-MyD88 signaling on immune activation, autoantibody repertoire and systemic inflammation, a thorough investigation of the mechanisms by which TLRs control the formation of Spt-GCs remains unclear. Using non-autoimmune C57BL/6 (B6) mice deficient in MyD88, TLR2, 3, 4, 7 or 9, we identified B cell-intrinsic TLR7 signaling as a prerequisite to Spt-GC formation without the confounding effects of autoimmune susceptibility genes and the overexpression of TLRs. TLR7 deficiency also rendered autoimmune B6.Sle1b mice unable to form Spt-GCs, leading to markedly decreased autoantibodies. Conversely, B6.yaa and B6.Sle1b.yaa mice expressing an extra copy of TLR7 and B6.Sle1b mice treated with a TLR7 agonist had increased Spt-GCs and Tfh. Further, TLR7/ MyD88 deficiency led to compromised B cell proliferation and survival after B cell stimulation both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, TLR9 inhibited Spt-GC development. Our findings demonstrate an absolute requirement of TLR7 and a negative regulatory function for TLR9 in Spt-GC formation under non-autoimmune and autoimmune conditions. Our data suggest that, under non-autoimmune conditions, Spt-GCs initiated by TLR7 produce protective antibodies. However, in the presence of autoimmune susceptibility genes, TLR7 dependent Spt-GCs produce pathogenic autoantibodies. Thus, a single copy of TLR7 in B cells is the minimal requirement for breaking the GC-tolerance checkpoint.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.