There is growing interest in the use of nonmodel microorganisms as hosts for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. These hosts require genomic engineering to meet clinically relevant product qualities and titers, but the adaptation of tools for editing genomes, such as CRISPR-Cas9, has been slow for poorly characterized hosts. Specifically, a lack of biochemical characterization of RNA polymerase III transcription has hindered reliable expression of guide RNAs in new hosts. Here, we present a sequencingbased strategy for the design of host-specific cassettes for modular, reliable, expression of guide RNAs. Using this strategy, we achieved up to 95% gene editing efficiency in the methylotrophic yeast Komagataella phaff ii. We applied this approach for the rapid, multiplexed engineering of a complex phenotype, achieving humanized product glycosylation in two sequential steps of engineering. Reliable extension of simple gene editing tools to nonmodel manufacturing hosts will enable rapid engineering of manufacturing strains tuned for specific product profiles and potentially decrease the costs and timelines for process development.

Paclitaxel is a key member of the Taxane (Taxol/paclitaxel, docetaxel/taxotere) family of successful drugs used in the current treatment of several solid tumors, including ovarian cancer. The molecular target of Taxol/paclitaxel has been identified as tubulin, and paclitaxel binding alters the dynamics and thus stabilizes microtubule bundles. Traditionally, the anti-cancer mechanism of paclitaxel has been thought to originate from its interfering with the role of microtubules in mitosis, resulting in mitotic arrest and subsequent apoptosis. However, recent evidence suggests that paclitaxel operates in cancer therapies via an as-yet-undefined mechanism rather than as a mitotic inhibitor. We found that paclitaxel caused a striking break up of nuclei (referred to as multimicronucleation) in malignant ovarian cancer cells but not in normal cells, and susceptibility to undergo nuclear fragmentation and cell death correlated with a reduction in nuclear lamina proteins, Lamin A/C. Lamin A/C proteins are commonly lost, reduced, or heterogeneously expressed in ovarian cancer, accounting for the aberration of nuclear shape in malignant cells. Mouse ovarian epithelial cells isolated from Lamin A/C null mice were highly sensitive to paclitaxel and underwent nuclear breakage, compared to control wildtype cells. Forced over-expression of Lamin A/C led to resistance to paclitaxel-induced nuclear breakage in cancer cells. Additionally, paclitaxel-induced multimicronucleation occurred independently of cell division that was achieved either by the withdrawal of serum or addition of mitotic inhibitors. These results provide a new understanding for the mitotic-independent mechanism for paclitaxel killing of cancer cells, where paclitaxel induces nuclear breakage in malignant cancer cells that have a malleable nucleus, but not in normal cells that have a stiffer nuclear envelope. As such, we identify that reduced nuclear Lamin A/C protein levels correlate with nuclear shape deformation and is a key determinant of paclitaxel sensitivity of cancer cells.

An adolescent female patient presented with atraumatic left knee pain and limited flexion. MRI demonstrated evidence of a soft tissue lesion abutting the posterior cruciate ligament. Differential diagnosis included pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) and fibroma of the tendon sheath (FTS). Following arthroscopic biopsy, histopathological evaluation confirmed FTS. The tumour was then excised via an arthroscopic approach. This case report provides a unique example of FTS abutting the cruciate ligaments in an uncommonly young female patient. It highlights the importance of including benign processes, such as FTS, in the differential with more aggressive-type diagnoses like PVNS. Furthermore, this case exemplifies an appropriate surgical indication for FTS. Finally, it emphasises the importance of communication and collaboration among orthopaedic subspecialists in providing safe and effective arthroscopic treatment of this unique tumour presentation.