Cas13d-mediated isoform-specific RNA knockdown with a unified computational and experimental toolbox

Abstract Pre- and post-transcriptional mechanisms, including alternative promoters, termination signals, and splicing, play essential roles in diversifying protein output by generating distinct RNA and protein isoforms. Two major challenges in characterizing the cellular function of alternative isof...

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Main Authors: Megan D. Schertzer, Andrew Stirn, Keren Isaev, Laura Pereira, Stella H. Park, Anjali Das, Aline Réal, Erin D. Jeffery, Claire Harbison, Hans-Hermann Wessels, Gloria M. Sheynkman, Neville E. Sanjana, David A. Knowles
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62066-5
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author Megan D. Schertzer
Andrew Stirn
Keren Isaev
Laura Pereira
Stella H. Park
Anjali Das
Aline Réal
Erin D. Jeffery
Claire Harbison
Hans-Hermann Wessels
Gloria M. Sheynkman
Neville E. Sanjana
David A. Knowles
author_facet Megan D. Schertzer
Andrew Stirn
Keren Isaev
Laura Pereira
Stella H. Park
Anjali Das
Aline Réal
Erin D. Jeffery
Claire Harbison
Hans-Hermann Wessels
Gloria M. Sheynkman
Neville E. Sanjana
David A. Knowles
author_sort Megan D. Schertzer
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Pre- and post-transcriptional mechanisms, including alternative promoters, termination signals, and splicing, play essential roles in diversifying protein output by generating distinct RNA and protein isoforms. Two major challenges in characterizing the cellular function of alternative isoforms are the lack of experimental methods to specifically and efficiently modulate isoform expression and computational tools for complex experimental design and analysis. To address these gaps, we develop and methodically test an isoform-specific knockdown strategy which pairs the RNA-targeting CRISPR/Cas13d system with guide RNAs that span exon-exon junctions. In parallel, we provide computational tools for experimental design and analysis. In this study, we demonstrate that junction-targeting achieves robust and isoform-specific RNA knockdown across diverse alternative isoform events, genes, and cell types.
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issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-73cd1e5da5e84c9b9e8b22cd094789dc2025-08-20T03:05:14ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111910.1038/s41467-025-62066-5Cas13d-mediated isoform-specific RNA knockdown with a unified computational and experimental toolboxMegan D. Schertzer0Andrew Stirn1Keren Isaev2Laura Pereira3Stella H. Park4Anjali Das5Aline Réal6Erin D. Jeffery7Claire Harbison8Hans-Hermann Wessels9Gloria M. Sheynkman10Neville E. Sanjana11David A. Knowles12New York Genome CenterNew York Genome CenterNew York Genome CenterNew York Genome CenterNew York Genome CenterNew York Genome CenterNew York Genome CenterDepartment of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of VirginiaNew York Genome CenterNew York Genome CenterDepartment of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of VirginiaNew York Genome CenterNew York Genome CenterAbstract Pre- and post-transcriptional mechanisms, including alternative promoters, termination signals, and splicing, play essential roles in diversifying protein output by generating distinct RNA and protein isoforms. Two major challenges in characterizing the cellular function of alternative isoforms are the lack of experimental methods to specifically and efficiently modulate isoform expression and computational tools for complex experimental design and analysis. To address these gaps, we develop and methodically test an isoform-specific knockdown strategy which pairs the RNA-targeting CRISPR/Cas13d system with guide RNAs that span exon-exon junctions. In parallel, we provide computational tools for experimental design and analysis. In this study, we demonstrate that junction-targeting achieves robust and isoform-specific RNA knockdown across diverse alternative isoform events, genes, and cell types.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62066-5
spellingShingle Megan D. Schertzer
Andrew Stirn
Keren Isaev
Laura Pereira
Stella H. Park
Anjali Das
Aline Réal
Erin D. Jeffery
Claire Harbison
Hans-Hermann Wessels
Gloria M. Sheynkman
Neville E. Sanjana
David A. Knowles
Cas13d-mediated isoform-specific RNA knockdown with a unified computational and experimental toolbox
Nature Communications
title Cas13d-mediated isoform-specific RNA knockdown with a unified computational and experimental toolbox
title_full Cas13d-mediated isoform-specific RNA knockdown with a unified computational and experimental toolbox
title_fullStr Cas13d-mediated isoform-specific RNA knockdown with a unified computational and experimental toolbox
title_full_unstemmed Cas13d-mediated isoform-specific RNA knockdown with a unified computational and experimental toolbox
title_short Cas13d-mediated isoform-specific RNA knockdown with a unified computational and experimental toolbox
title_sort cas13d mediated isoform specific rna knockdown with a unified computational and experimental toolbox
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62066-5
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