Implementation of a CRISPR-Based System for Gene Regulation in <italic toggle="yes">Candida albicans</italic>
ABSTRACT Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) methodology is not only an efficient tool in gene editing but also an attractive platform to facilitate DNA, RNA, and protein interactions. We describe here the implementation of a CRISPR-based system to regulate expression i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2019-02-01
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| Series: | mSphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00001-19 |
| _version_ | 1819041654145810432 |
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| author | Elvira Román Ioana Coman Daniel Prieto Rebeca Alonso-Monge Jesús Pla |
| author_facet | Elvira Román Ioana Coman Daniel Prieto Rebeca Alonso-Monge Jesús Pla |
| author_sort | Elvira Román |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) methodology is not only an efficient tool in gene editing but also an attractive platform to facilitate DNA, RNA, and protein interactions. We describe here the implementation of a CRISPR-based system to regulate expression in the clinically important yeast Candida albicans. By fusing an allele of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 devoid of nuclease activity to a transcriptional repressor (Nrg1) or activator (Gal4), we were able to show specific repression or activation of the tester gene CAT1, encoding the cytosolic catalase. We generated strains where a 1.6-kbp upstream regulatory region of CAT1 controls the expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and demonstrated the functionality of the constructs by quantitative PCR (qPCR), flow cytometry, and analysis of sensitivity/resistance to hydrogen peroxide. Activation and repression were strongly dependent on the position of the complex in this regulatory region. We also improved transcriptional activation using an RNA scaffolding strategy to allow interaction of inactive variants of Cas9 (dCas9) with the RNA binding protein MCP (monocyte chemoattractant protein) fused to the VP64 activator. The strategy shown here may facilitate the analysis of complex regulatory traits in this fungal pathogen. IMPORTANCE CRISPR technology is a new and efficient way to edit genomes, but it is also an appealing way to regulate gene expression. We have implemented CRISPR as a gene expression platform in Candida albicans using fusions between a Cas9 inactive enzyme and specific repressors or activators and demonstrated its functionality. This will allow future manipulation of complex virulence pathways in this important fungal pathogen. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T09:28:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4fc64b16a4ec417390ec6a68c5afc03b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2379-5042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T09:28:26Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | mSphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-4fc64b16a4ec417390ec6a68c5afc03b2022-12-21T19:08:49ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymSphere2379-50422019-02-014110.1128/mSphere.00001-19Implementation of a CRISPR-Based System for Gene Regulation in <italic toggle="yes">Candida albicans</italic>Elvira Román0Ioana Coman1Daniel Prieto2Rebeca Alonso-Monge3Jesús Pla4Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IRYCIS), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IRYCIS), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IRYCIS), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IRYCIS), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IRYCIS), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, SpainABSTRACT Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) methodology is not only an efficient tool in gene editing but also an attractive platform to facilitate DNA, RNA, and protein interactions. We describe here the implementation of a CRISPR-based system to regulate expression in the clinically important yeast Candida albicans. By fusing an allele of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 devoid of nuclease activity to a transcriptional repressor (Nrg1) or activator (Gal4), we were able to show specific repression or activation of the tester gene CAT1, encoding the cytosolic catalase. We generated strains where a 1.6-kbp upstream regulatory region of CAT1 controls the expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and demonstrated the functionality of the constructs by quantitative PCR (qPCR), flow cytometry, and analysis of sensitivity/resistance to hydrogen peroxide. Activation and repression were strongly dependent on the position of the complex in this regulatory region. We also improved transcriptional activation using an RNA scaffolding strategy to allow interaction of inactive variants of Cas9 (dCas9) with the RNA binding protein MCP (monocyte chemoattractant protein) fused to the VP64 activator. The strategy shown here may facilitate the analysis of complex regulatory traits in this fungal pathogen. IMPORTANCE CRISPR technology is a new and efficient way to edit genomes, but it is also an appealing way to regulate gene expression. We have implemented CRISPR as a gene expression platform in Candida albicans using fusions between a Cas9 inactive enzyme and specific repressors or activators and demonstrated its functionality. This will allow future manipulation of complex virulence pathways in this important fungal pathogen.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00001-19CRISPRCandida albicansGal4RNA scaffoldcatalasegene activation |
| spellingShingle | Elvira Román Ioana Coman Daniel Prieto Rebeca Alonso-Monge Jesús Pla Implementation of a CRISPR-Based System for Gene Regulation in <italic toggle="yes">Candida albicans</italic> mSphere CRISPR Candida albicans Gal4 RNA scaffold catalase gene activation |
| title | Implementation of a CRISPR-Based System for Gene Regulation in <italic toggle="yes">Candida albicans</italic> |
| title_full | Implementation of a CRISPR-Based System for Gene Regulation in <italic toggle="yes">Candida albicans</italic> |
| title_fullStr | Implementation of a CRISPR-Based System for Gene Regulation in <italic toggle="yes">Candida albicans</italic> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementation of a CRISPR-Based System for Gene Regulation in <italic toggle="yes">Candida albicans</italic> |
| title_short | Implementation of a CRISPR-Based System for Gene Regulation in <italic toggle="yes">Candida albicans</italic> |
| title_sort | implementation of a crispr based system for gene regulation in italic toggle yes candida albicans italic |
| topic | CRISPR Candida albicans Gal4 RNA scaffold catalase gene activation |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00001-19 |
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