The mechanism of gene targeting in human somatic cells.

Gene targeting in human somatic cells is of importance because it can be used to either delineate the loss-of-function phenotype of a gene or correct a mutated gene back to wild-type. Both of these outcomes require a form of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair known as homologous recombination (HR)...

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Main Authors: Yinan Kan, Brian Ruis, Sherry Lin, Eric A Hendrickson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-04-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1004251&type=printable
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author Yinan Kan
Brian Ruis
Sherry Lin
Eric A Hendrickson
author_facet Yinan Kan
Brian Ruis
Sherry Lin
Eric A Hendrickson
author_sort Yinan Kan
collection DOAJ
description Gene targeting in human somatic cells is of importance because it can be used to either delineate the loss-of-function phenotype of a gene or correct a mutated gene back to wild-type. Both of these outcomes require a form of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair known as homologous recombination (HR). The mechanism of HR leading to gene targeting, however, is not well understood in human cells. Here, we demonstrate that a two-end, ends-out HR intermediate is valid for human gene targeting. Furthermore, the resolution step of this intermediate occurs via the classic DSB repair model of HR while synthesis-dependent strand annealing and Holliday Junction dissolution are, at best, minor pathways. Moreover, and in contrast to other systems, the positions of Holliday Junction resolution are evenly distributed along the homology arms of the targeting vector. Most unexpectedly, we demonstrate that when a meganuclease is used to introduce a chromosomal DSB to augment gene targeting, the mechanism of gene targeting is inverted to an ends-in process. Finally, we demonstrate that the anti-recombination activity of mismatch repair is a significant impediment to gene targeting. These observations significantly advance our understanding of HR and gene targeting in human cells.
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spelling doaj-art-0f0dd41c5fe44a0aaf0e13deff6617352025-08-20T03:00:29ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042014-04-01104e100425110.1371/journal.pgen.1004251The mechanism of gene targeting in human somatic cells.Yinan KanBrian RuisSherry LinEric A HendricksonGene targeting in human somatic cells is of importance because it can be used to either delineate the loss-of-function phenotype of a gene or correct a mutated gene back to wild-type. Both of these outcomes require a form of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair known as homologous recombination (HR). The mechanism of HR leading to gene targeting, however, is not well understood in human cells. Here, we demonstrate that a two-end, ends-out HR intermediate is valid for human gene targeting. Furthermore, the resolution step of this intermediate occurs via the classic DSB repair model of HR while synthesis-dependent strand annealing and Holliday Junction dissolution are, at best, minor pathways. Moreover, and in contrast to other systems, the positions of Holliday Junction resolution are evenly distributed along the homology arms of the targeting vector. Most unexpectedly, we demonstrate that when a meganuclease is used to introduce a chromosomal DSB to augment gene targeting, the mechanism of gene targeting is inverted to an ends-in process. Finally, we demonstrate that the anti-recombination activity of mismatch repair is a significant impediment to gene targeting. These observations significantly advance our understanding of HR and gene targeting in human cells.https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1004251&type=printable
spellingShingle Yinan Kan
Brian Ruis
Sherry Lin
Eric A Hendrickson
The mechanism of gene targeting in human somatic cells.
PLoS Genetics
title The mechanism of gene targeting in human somatic cells.
title_full The mechanism of gene targeting in human somatic cells.
title_fullStr The mechanism of gene targeting in human somatic cells.
title_full_unstemmed The mechanism of gene targeting in human somatic cells.
title_short The mechanism of gene targeting in human somatic cells.
title_sort mechanism of gene targeting in human somatic cells
url https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1004251&type=printable
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