Real-time observation of Cas9 Activity

Binding specificity of Cas9–guide RNA complexes to DNA is important for genome-engineering applications; however, how mismatches influence target recognition/rejection kinetics is not well understood. Here, the Ha group, in collaboration with the Doudna lab at UC Berkeley, used single-molecule FRET to probe real-time interactions between Cas9–RNA and DNA targets. The bimolecular association rate is only weakly dependent on sequence; however, the dissociation rate greatly increases upon introduction of mismatches proximal to protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM), demonstrating that mismatches encountered early during heteroduplex formation induce rapid rejection of off-target DNA. In contrast, PAM-distal mismatches up to 11 base pairs in length, which prevent DNA cleavage, still allow formation of a stable complex, suggesting that extremely slow rejection could sequester Cas9–RNA, increasing the Cas9 expression level necessary for genome-editing, thereby aggravating off-target effects. The team also observed at least two different bound FRET states that may represent distinct steps in target search and proofreading. Refer to: http://rdcu.be/xFAD