title: Directed evolution of recombinase specificity by split gene reassembly.
abstract: The engineering of new enzymes that efficiently and specifically modify DNA sequences is necessary for the development of enhanced gene therapies and genetic studies. To address this need, we developed a robust strategy for evolving site-specific recombinases with novel substrate specificities. In this system, recombinase variants are selected for activity on new substrates based on enzyme-mediated reassembly of the gene encoding beta-lactamase that confers ampicillin resistance to Escherichia coli. This stringent evolution method was used to alter the specificities of catalytic domains in the context of a modular zinc finger-recombinase fusion protein. Gene reassembly was detectable over several orders of magnitude, which allowed for tunable selectivity and exceptional sensitivity. Engineered recombinases were evolved to react with sequences from the human genome with only three rounds of selection. Many of the evolved residues, selected from a randomly-mutated library, were conserved among other members of this family of recombinases. This enhanced evolution system will translate recombinase engineering and genome editing into a practical and expedient endeavor for academic, industrial and clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gersbach
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gaj
authors.forename: Russell M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gordley
authors.forename: Carlos F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Barbas
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019020:Directed Molecular Evolution / Q000379:methods*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D045522:Recombinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D016335:Zinc Fingers; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D045522:Recombinases; D001618:beta-Lactamases