Aditya Raguram, Meirui An, Paul Z. Chen, David R. Liu
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Engineered virus-like particles (eVLPs) are promising vehicles for transient delivery of proteins and RNAs, including gene editing agents. We report a system for the laboratory evolution of eVLPs that enables the discovery of eVLP variants with improved properties. The system uses barcoded guide RNAs loaded within DNA-free eVLP-packaged cargos to uniquely label each eVLP variant in a library, enabling the identification of desired variants following selections for desired properties. We applied this system to mutate and select eVLP capsids with improved eVLP production properties or transduction efficiencies in human cells. By combining beneficial capsid mutations, we developed fifth-generation (v5) eVLPs, which exhibit a 2–4-fold increase in cultured mammalian cell delivery potency compared to previous-best v4 eVLPs. Analyses of v5 eVLPs suggest that these capsid mutations optimize packaging and delivery of desired ribonucleoprotein cargos rather than native viral genomes and substantially alter eVLP capsid structure. These findings suggest the potential of barcoded eVLP evolution to support the development of improved eVLPs.
期刊介绍:
Nature Biotechnology is a monthly journal that focuses on the science and business of biotechnology. It covers a wide range of topics including technology/methodology advancements in the biological, biomedical, agricultural, and environmental sciences. The journal also explores the commercial, political, ethical, legal, and societal aspects of this research.
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