title: Broad specificity profiling of TALENs results in engineered nucleases with improved DNA-cleavage specificity.
abstract: Although transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) can be designed to cleave chosen DNA sequences, TALENs have activity against related off-target sequences. To better understand TALEN specificity, we profiled 30 unique TALENs with different target sites, array length and domain sequences for their abilities to cleave any of 10(12) potential off-target DNA sequences using in vitro selection and high-throughput sequencing. Computational analysis of the selection results predicted 76 off-target substrates in the human genome, 16 of which were accessible and modified by TALENs in human cells. The results suggest that (i) TALE repeats bind DNA relatively independently; (ii) longer TALENs are more tolerant of mismatches yet are more specific in a genomic context; and (iii) excessive DNA-binding energy can lead to reduced TALEN specificity in cells. Based on these findings, we engineered a TALEN variant that exhibits equal on-target cleavage activity but tenfold lower average off-target activity in human cells.
authors: 1] Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: John P
authors: JP
authors: Guilinger
authors: 1] Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Vikram
authors: V
authors: Pattanayak
authors: 1] Molecular Pathology Unit, Center for Cancer Research, and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Deepak
authors: D
authors: Reyon
authors: 1] Molecular Pathology Unit, Center for Cancer Research, and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Shengdar Q
authors: SQ
authors: Tsai
authors: 1] Molecular Pathology Unit, Center for Cancer Research, and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Jeffry D
authors: JD
authors: Sander
authors: 1] Molecular Pathology Unit, Center for Cancer Research, and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: J Keith
authors: JK
authors: Joung
authors: 1] Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: David R
authors: DR
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D013379:Substrate Specificity / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases