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Evolved cas9 proteins for gene editing — President And Fellows Of Harvard College (US20250092374A1)

President And Fellows Of Harvard College · Google Patents

Google Patents · Patents · License: Open Access

patent, google patents, intellectual property, US20250092374A1, President And Fellows Of Harvard College, David R. Liu, en, 2025

ABSTRACT

Abstract

Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for engineering Cas9 and Cas9 variants that have increased activity on target sequences that do not contain the canonical PAM sequence. In some embodiments, fusion proteins comprising such Cas9 variants and nucleic acid editing domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. Â§ 371 of international PCT application, PCT/US2016/058345, filed Oct. 22, 2016, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Â§ 119 (c) to U.S. provisional patent applications, U.S. Ser. No. 62/245,828 filed Oct. 23, 2015, U.S. Ser. No. 62/279,346 filed Jan. 15, 2016, U.S. Ser. No. 62/311,763 filed Mar. 22, 2016, U.S. Ser. No. 62/322,178 filed Apr. 13, 2016, U.S. Ser. No. 62/357,352 filed Jun. 30, 2016, U.S. Ser. No. 62/370,700 filed Aug. 3, 2016, U.S. Ser. No. 62/398,490 filed Sep. 22, 2016, U.S. Ser. No. 62/408,686 filed Oct. 14, 2016, and U.S. Ser. No. 62/357,332 filed Jun. 30, 2016; each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED AS A TEXT FILE VIA EFS-WEB

The present application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Jun. 28, 2022, is named H082470224US02-SUBSEQ-EPG and is 3,977,840 bytes in size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Targeted editing of nucleic acid sequences, for example, the targeted cleavage or the targeted introduction of a specific modification into genomic DNA, is a highly promising approach for the study of gene function and also has the potential to provide new therapies for human genetic diseases. 1 An ideal nucleic acid editing technology possesses three characteristics: (1) high efficiency of installing the desired modification; (2) minimal off-target activity; and (3) the ability to be programmed to edit precisely any site in a given nucleic acid, e.g., any site within the human genome. 2 Current genome engineering tools, including engineered zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), 3 transcription activator like effector nucleases (TALENs), 4 and most recently, the RNA-guided DNA endonuclease Cas9,5 effect sequence-specific DNA cleavage in a genome. This programmable cleavage can result in mutation of the DNA at the cleavage site via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or replacement of the DNA surrounding the cleavage site via homology-directed repair (HDR). 6,7

One drawback of the current technologies is that both NHEJ and HDR are stochastic processes that typically result in modest gene editing efficiencies as well as unwanted gene alterations that can compete with the desired alteration. 8 Since many genetic diseases in principle can be treated by effecting a specific nucleotide change at a specific location in the genome (for example, a C to T change in a specific codon of a gene associated with a disease), 9 the development of a programmable way to achieve such precise gene editing would represent both a powerful new research tool, as well as a potential new approach to gene editing-based human therapeutics.

Another drawback of current genome engineering tools is that they are limited with respect to the DNA sequences that can be targeted. When using ZNFs or TALENS, a new protein must be generated for each individual target sequence. While Cas9 can be targeted to virtually any target sequence by providing a suitable guide RNA, Cas9 technology is still limited with respect to the sequences that can be targeted by a strict requirement for a protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM), typically of the nucleotide sequence 5â²-NGG-3â², that must be present immediately adjacent to the 3â²-end of the targeted DNA sequence in order for the Cas9 protein to bind and act upon the target sequence. The PAM requirement thus limits the sequences that can be efficiently targeted by Cas9 proteins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Significantly, 80-90% of protein mutations responsible for human disease arise from the substitution, deletion, or insertion of only a single nucleotide. 6 Most current strategies for single-base gene correction include engineered nucleases (which rely on the creation of double-strand breaks, DSBs, followed by stochastic, inefficient homology-directed repair, HDR), and DNA-RNA chimeric oligonucleotides. 22 The latter strategy involves the design of a RNA/DNA sequence to base pair with a specific sequence in genomic DNA except at the nucleotide to be edited. The resulting mismatch is recognized by the cell's endogenous repair system and fixed, leading to a change in the sequence of either the chimera or the genome. Both of these strategies suffer from low gene editing efficiencies and unwanted gene alterations, as they are subject to both the stochasticity of HDR and the competition between HDR and non-homologous end-joining, NHEJ. 23-25 HDR efficiencies vary according to the location of the target gene within the genome, 26 the state of the cell cycle, 27 and the type of cell/tissue. 28 The development of a direct, programmable way to install a specific type of base modification at a precise location in genomic DNA with enzyme-like efficiency and no stochasticity therefore represents a powerful new approach to gene editing-based research tools and human therapeutics.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) system is a recently discovered prokaryotic adaptive immune system 10 that has been modified to enable robust and general genome engineering in a variety of organisms and cell lines. 11 CRISPR-Cas (CRISPR-associated) systems are protein-RNA complexes that use an RNA molecule (sgRNA) as a guide to localize the complex to a target DNA sequence via base-pairing. 12 In the natural systems, a Cas protein then acts as an endonuclease to cleave the targeted DNA sequence. 13 The target DNA sequence must be both complementary to the sgRNA and also contain a âprotospacer-adjacent motifâ (PAM) at the 3â²-end of the complementary region in order for the system to function. 14 The requirement for a PAM sequence limits the use of Cas9 technology, since not all desired targeted sequences include a PAM sequence at the 3â²-end and thus cannot efficiently be targeted by wild-type Cas9 proteins.

Provided herein are novel Cas9 variants that exhibit activity on target sequences that do not include the canonical PAM sequence (5â²-NGG-3â², where N is any nucleotide) at the 3â²-end. Such Cas9 variants are not restricted to target sequences that include the canonical PAM sequence at the 3â²-end.

Among the known Cas proteins, Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 has been mostly widely used as a tool for genome engineering. 15 This Cas9 protein is a large, multi-domain protein containing two distinct nuclease domains. Point mutations can be introduced into Cas9 to abolish nuclease activity, resulting in a dead Cas9 (dCas9) that still retains its ability to bind DNA in a sgRNA-programmed manner. 16 In principle, such Cas9 variants, when fused to another protein or domain, can target that protein to virtually any DNA sequence simply by co-expression with an appropriate sgRNA. Thus, this disclosure also contemplates fusion proteins comprising such Cas9 variants and a DNA modifying domain (e.g., a deaminase, a nuclease, a nickase, a recombinase, a methyltransferase, a methylase, an acetylase, an acetyltransferase, a transcriptional activator, or a transcriptional repressor domain), as well as the use of such fusion proteins in correcting mutations in a genome (e.g., the genome of a human subject) that are associated with disease, or generating mutations in a genome (e.g., the human genome) to decrease or prevent expression of a gene.

In some embodiments, any of the Cas9 proteins provided herein may be fused to a protein that has an enzymatic activity. In some embodiments, the enzymatic activity modifies a target DNA. In some embodiments, the enzymatic activity is nuclease activity, methyltransferase activity, demethylase activity, DNA repair activity, DNA damage activity, deamination activity, dismutase activity, alkylation activity, depurination activity, oxidation activity, pyrimidine dimer forming activity, integrase activity, transposase activity, recombinase activity, polymerase activity, ligase activity, helicase activity, photolyase activity or glycosylase activity. In some cases, the enzymatic activity is nuclease activity. In some cases, the nuclease activity introduces a double strand break in the target DNA. In some cases, the enzymatic activity modifies a target polypeptide associated with the target DNA. In some cases, the enzymatic activity is methyltransferase activity, demethylase activity, acetyltransferase activity, deacetylase activity, kinase activity, phosphatase activity, ubiquitin ligase activity, deubiquitinating activity, adenylation activity, deadenylation activity, SUMOylating activity, deSUMOylating activity, ribosylation activity, deribosylation activity, myristoylation activity or demyristoylation activity. In some cases, the target polypeptide is a histone and the enzymatic activity is methyltransferase activity, demethylase activity, acetyltransferase activity, deacetylase activity, kinase activity, phosphatase activity, ubiquitin ligase activity or deubiquitinating activity.

In some embodiments, any of the Cas9 proteins provided herein may be fused to a protein that has an enzymatic activity. In some embodiments, the enzymatic activity modifies a polypeptide associated with DNA (e.g. a histone). In some embodiments, the enzymatic activity is methyltransferase activity, demethylase activity, acetyltransferase activity, deacetylase activity, kinase activity, phosphatase activity, ubiquitin ligase activity (i.e., ubiquitination activity), deubiquitinating activity, adenylation activity, deadenylation activity, SUMOylating activity, deSUMOylating activity, ribosylation activity, deribosylation activity, myristoylation activity, demyristoylation activity glycosylation activity (e.g., from O-GlcNAc transferase) or deglycosylation activity. The enzymatic activities listed herein catalyze covalent modifications to proteins. Such modifications are known in the art to alter the stability or activity of the target protein (e.g., phosphorylation due to kinase activity can stimulate or silence protein activity depending on the target protein). Of particular interest as protein targets are histones. Histone proteins are known in the art to bind DNA and form complexes known as nucleosomes. Histones can be modified (e.g., by methylation, acetylation, ubuitination, phosphorylation) to elicit structural changes in the surrounding DNA, thus controlling the accessibility of potentially large portions of DNA to interacting factors such as transcription factors, polymerases and the like. A single histone can be modified in many different ways and in many different combinations (e.g., trimethylation of lysine 27 of histone 3, H3K27, is associated with DNA regions of repressed transcription while trimethylation of lysine 4 of histone 3, H3K4, is associated with DNA regions of active transcription). Thus, a site-directed modifying polypeptide with histone-modifying activity finds use in the site specific control of DNA structure and can be used to alter the histone modification pattern in a selected region of target DNA. Such methods find use in both research and clinical applications.

In some embodiments, the deaminase domain catalyzes the removal of an amine group from a molecule. In further embodiments, cytidine deaminase domains deaminate cytosine to yield uracil. In other embodiments, the nuclease domain has enzymatic activity and may cleave phosphodiester bonds between the nucleotide subunits of nucleic acids. In some embodiments, recombinase domains, which recombine specific sequences of DNA, may be used to manipulate the structure of genomes and to control gene expression. In further embodiments, methylase domains may be utilized to methylate their respective substrates, while acetylase domains may be used to acetylate their respective substrates. In other embodiments, acetyltransferase domains may be used to transfer an acetyl group. Examples of acetyltransferase molecules include, but are not limited to, histone acetyltransferases (e.g., CBP histone acetyltransferase), choline acetyltransferase, chloramphenicol acetytransferase, serotonic N-acetyltransferase, NatA acetyltransferase, and NatB acetyltransferase. The disclosure also contemplates transcriptional activator and transcriptional repressor domains. Transcriptional activator domains are regions of a transcription factor which may activate transcription from a promoter through an interaction or multiple interactions with a DNA binding domain, general transcription factors, and RNA polymerase. Transcriptional repressor domains are regions of a transcription factor which may repress transcription from a protomer through an interaction or multiple interactions with a DNA binding domain, general transcription factors, and RNA polymerase.

The potential of the Cas9 system for genome engineering is immense. Its unique ability to bring proteins to specific sites in a genome programmed by the sgRNA can be developed into a variety of site-specific genome engineering tools beyond nucleases, including transcriptional activators, transcriptional repressors, histone-modifying proteins, integrases, deaminases, and recombinases. 11 Some of these potential applications have recently been implemented through dCas9 fusions with transcriptional activators to afford RNA-guided transcriptional activators, 17,18 transcriptional repressors, 16,19,20 and chromatin modification enzymes. 21 Simple co-expression of these fusions with a variety of sgRNAs results in specific expression of the target genes. These seminal studies have paved the way for the design and construction of readily programmable sequence-specific effectors for the precise manipulation of genomes.

Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, proteins, nucleic acids, compositions, cells, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted binding, editing, and/or cleaving of nucleic acids, including editing a single site within a subject's genome, e.g., a human subject's genome. In some embodiments, recombinant Cas9 proteins are provided that comprise at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, or at least ten mutations as compared to a naturally occurring Cas9 protein, and that exhibit activity on target sequences that do not include the canonical PAM (5â²-NGG-3â², where N is any nucleotide) at the 3â²-end. Examples of such Cas9 protein mutations are given in Tables 3, 5, 8, and 9. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or enzymatic domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, methods for targeted nucleic acid binding, editing, and/or cleaving are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid binding, editing, and/or cleaving proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of Cas9 variants and nucleic acid editing enzymes or domains, are provided.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED AS A TEXT FILE VIA EFS-WEB

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some aspects of this disclosure provide recombinant Cas9 proteins comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% identical to the amino acid sequence of Cas9 as provided by any of the sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 9-262, wherein the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or at least seven mutations in an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 122, 137, 182, 262, 294, 409, 480, 543, 660, 694, 1219, and 1329 of S. pyogenes Cas9 having the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or in a corresponding amino acid residue in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the recombinant Cas9 protein comprises a RuvC and an HNH domain. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the recombinant Cas9 protein is not identical to the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring Cas9 protein. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or at least seven mutations selected from the group consisting of X262T, X294R, X409I, X480K, X543D, X694I, and X1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or at least seven mutations selected from the group consisting of A262T, K294R, S409I, E480K, E543D, M694I, and E1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

Other aspects of this disclosure provide recombinant Cas9 proteins comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% identical to the amino acid sequence of Cas9 as provided by any of the sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or at least seven mutations in an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 262, 267, 294, 405, 409, 480, 543, 694, 1219, 1224, 1256, and 1362 of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or in a corresponding amino acid residue in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOS: 10-262; and wherein the amino acid sequence of the recombinant Cas9 protein is not identical to the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring Cas9 protein. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises a RuvC and an HNH domain. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or at least seven mutations selected from the group consisting of X262T, X267G, X294R, X405I, X409I, X480K, X543D, X694I, X1219V, X1224K, and X1256K of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or at least seven mutations selected from the group consisting of A262T, S267G, K294R, F405I, S409I, E480K, E543D, M694I, E1219V, N1224K, and Q1256K of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

It should be appreciated that any of the amino acid mutations described herein, (e.g., A262T) from a first amino acid residue (e.g., A) to a second amino acid residue (e.g., T) may also include mutations from the first amino acid residue to an amino acid residue that is similar to (e.g., conserved) the second amino acid residue. For example, a mutation of an alanine to a threonine (e.g., a A262T mutation) may also be a mutation from an alanine to an amino acid that is similar in size and chemical properties to a threonine, for example, serine. Additional similar amino acid pairs include, but are not limited to, the following: phenylalanine and tyrosine; asparagine and glutamine; methionine and cysteine; aspartic acid and glutamic acid; and arginine and lysine. The skilled artisan would recognize that such conservative amino acid substitutions will likely have minor effects on protein structure and are likely to be well tolerated without compromising function. In some embodiments, any of the amino acid mutations provided herein from one amino acid to a threonine may be an amino acid mutation to a serine. In some embodiments, any of the amino acid mutations provided herein from one amino acid to an arginine may be an amino acid mutation to a lysine. In some embodiments, any of the amino acid mutations provided herein from one amino acid to an isoleucine may be an amino acid mutation to an alanine, valine, methionine, or leucine. In some embodiments, any of the amino acid mutations provided herein from one amino acid to a lysine may be an amino acid mutation to an arginine. In some embodiments, any of the amino acid mutations provided herein from one amino acid to an aspartic acid may be an amino acid mutation to a glutamic acid or asparagine. In some embodiments, any of the amino acid mutations provided herein from one amino acid to a valine may be an amino acid mutation to an alanine, isoleucine, methionine, or leucine. In some embodiments, any of the amino acid mutations provided herein from one amino acid to a glycine may be an amino acid mutation to an alanine. It should be appreciated, however, that additional conserved amino acid residues would be recognized by the skilled artisan and any of the amino acid mutations to other conserved amino acid residues are also within the scope of this disclosure.

In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein is a Cas9 domain of a fusion protein. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises an X1219V mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid. In some embodiments, the mutation is X1219A, X1219I, X1219M, or X1219L.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises an E1219V mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the mutation is E1219A, E1219I, E1219M or E1219L.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises an X480K mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid. In some embodiments, the mutation is X480R.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises an E480K mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the mutation is E480R.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises an X543D mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid. In some embodiments, the mutation is X543N.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises an E543D mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the mutation is E543N.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations X480K, X543D, and X1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations X262T, X409I, X480K, X543D, X694I, and X1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations X294R, X480K, X543D, X1219V, X1256K, and X1362P of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations X294R, X480K, X543D, X1219V, and X1256K of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations X267G, X294R, X480K, X543D, X1219V, X1224K, and X1256K of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations X262T, X405I, X409I, X480K, X543D, X694I, and X1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations E480K, E543D, and E1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations A262T, S409I, E480K, E543D, M694I, and E1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, Q1256K, and L1362P of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, and Q1256K of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations S267G, K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, N1224K, and Q1256K of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations A262T, F405I, S409I, E480K, E543D, M694I, and E1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

The HNH nuclease domain of Cas9 functions to cleave the DNA strand complementary to the guide RNA (gRNA). Its active site consists of a Î²Î²Î±-metal fold, and its histidine 840 activates a water molecule to attack the scissile phosphate, which is more electrophilic due to coordination with a magnesium ion, resulting in cleavage of the 3â²-5â² phosphate bond. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the HNH domain is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% identical to the amino acid sequence of the HNH domain of any of SEQ ID NOs: 9-262. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the HNH domain is identical to the amino acid sequence of the HNH domain of any of SEQ ID NOs: 9-262.

The RuvC domain of Cas9 cleaves the non-target DNA strand. It is encoded by sequentially disparate sites which interact in the tertiary structure to form the RuvC cleavage domain and consists of an RNase H fold structure. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the RuvC domain is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% identical to the amino acid sequence of the RuvC domain of any of SEQ ID NOs: 9-262. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the RuvC domain is identical to the amino acid sequence of the RuvC domain of any of SEQ ID NOs: 9-262.

In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises one or more mutations that affects (e.g., inhibits) the ability of Cas9 to cleave one or both strands of a DNA duplex. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises a D10A and/or a H840A mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises a D10X 1 and/or a H840X 2 mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X1 is any amino acid except for D, and X 2 is any amino acid except for H. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises an D10A mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises an H at amino acid residue 840 of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding residue in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises an H840A mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises a D at amino acid residue 10 of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding residue in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein of the present disclosure exhibits activity, for example, increased binding, on a target sequence that does not include the canonical PAM sequence (5â²-NGG-3â²) at its 3â²-end as compared to Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 as provided by SEQ ID NO: 9.

Some aspects of this disclosure provide recombinant Cas9 proteins comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 as provided by SEQ ID NO: 9 wherein the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or at least seven mutations selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 262, 267, 294, 405, 409, 480, 543, 694, 1219, 1224, 1256, and 1362 of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, wherein the amino acid sequence of the recombinant Cas9 protein is not identical to the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring Cas9 protein, and wherein the recombinant Cas9 protein exhibits increased activity on a target sequence that does not comprise the canonical PAM sequence (5â²-NGG-3â²) at its 3â² end as compared to Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 as provided in SEQ ID NO: 9. In some embodiments, the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 comprises a RuvC and an HNH domain. In other embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or at least seven mutations selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 122, 137, 182, 262, 294, 409, 480, 543, 660, 694, 1219, and 1329 of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9

As one example, the Cas9 protein may exhibit increased binding to the target sequence, may exhibit increased nuclease activity at the target sequence, or may exhibit an increase in other activities, depending on whether the Cas 9 protein is fused to an additional domain, such as an enzyme that has enzymatic activity. In some embodiments, the enzymatic activity modifies a target DNA. In some embodiments, the enzymatic activity is nuclease activity, methyltransferase activity, demethylase activity, DNA repair activity, DNA damage activity, deamination activity, dismutase activity, alkylation activity, depurination activity, oxidation activity, pyrimidine dimer forming activity, integrase activity, transposase activity, recombinase activity, polymerase activity, ligase activity, helicase activity, photolyase activity or glycosylase activity. In some cases, the enzymatic activity is nuclease activity. In some cases, the nuclease activity introduces a double strand break in the target DNA. In some cases, the enzymatic activity modifies a target polypeptide associated with the target DNA. In some cases, the enzymatic activity is methyltransferase activity, demethylase activity, acetyltransferase activity, deacetylase activity, kinase activity, phosphatase activity, ubiquitin ligase activity, deubiquitinating activity, adenylation activity, deadenylation activity, SUMOylating activity, deSUMOylating activity, ribosylation activity, deribosylation activity, myristoylation activity or demyristoylation activity. In some cases, the target polypeptide is a histone and the enzymatic activity is methyltransferase activity, demethylase activity, acetyltransferase activity, deacetylase activity, kinase activity, phosphatase activity, ubiquitin ligase activity or deubiquitinating activity.

In some embodiments, any of the Cas9 protein is fused to a protein that has an enzymatic activity. In some embodiments, the enzymatic activity modifies a polypeptide associated with DNA (e.g. a histone). In some embodiments, the enzymatic activity is methyltransferase activity, demethylase activity, acetyltransferase activity, deacetylase activity, kinase activity, phosphatase activity, ubiquitin ligase activity (i.e., ubiquitination activity), deubiquitinating activity, adenylation activity, deadenylation activity, SUMOylating activity, deSUMOylating activity, ribosylation activity, deribosylation activity, myristoylation activity, demyristoylation activity glycosylation activity (e.g., from O-GlcNAc transferase) or deglycosylation activity. The enzymatic activities listed herein catalyze covalent modifications to proteins. Such modifications are known in the art to alter the stability or activity of the target protein (e.g., phosphorylation due to kinase activity can stimulate or silence protein activity depending on the target protein). Of particular interest as protein targets are histones. Histone proteins are known in the art to bind DNA and form complexes known as nucleosomes. Histones can be modified (e.g., by methylation, acetylation, ubuitination, phosphorylation) to elicit structural changes in the surrounding DNA, thus controlling the accessibility of potentially large portions of DNA to interacting factors such as transcription factors, polymerases and the like. A single histone can be modified in many different ways and in many different combinations (e.g., trimethylation of lysine 27 of histone 3, H3K27, is associated with DNA regions of repressed transcription while trimethylation of lysine 4 of histone 3, H3K4, is associated with DNA regions of active transcription). Thus, a site-directed modifying polypeptide with histone-modifying activity finds use in the site specific control of DNA structure and can be used to alter the histone modification pattern in a selected region of target DNA. Such methods find use in both research and clinical applications.

In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein exhibits activity on a target sequence having a 3â² end that is not directly adjacent to, or does not have the canonical PAM sequence (5â²-NGG-3â²), that is at least 2-fold, at least 3-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 10-fold, at least 50-fold, at least 100-fold, at least 500-fold, at least 1,000-fold, at least 5,000-fold, at least 10,000-fold, at least 50,000-fold, at least 100,000-fold, at least 500,000-fold, or at least 1,000,000-fold increased as compared to the activity of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 as provided by SEQ ID NO: 9 on the same target sequence.

In some embodiments, the 3â²-end of the target sequence is directly adjacent to an AGC, GAG, TTT, GTG, CAA CAC, GAT, TAA, ACG, CGA, or CGT sequence.

In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein activity is measured by a nuclease assay or a nucleic acid binding assay, which are known in the art and would be apparent to the skilled artisan. As provided herein, the Cas9 protein may be fused to one or more domains that confer an activity to the protein, such as a nucleic acid editing activity (e.g., deaminase activity or transcriptional activation activity), which may be measured (e.g., by a deaminase assay or transcriptional activation assay). In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein is fused to a deaminase domain and its activity may be measured using a deaminase assay. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein is fused to a transcriptional activation domain and its activity may be measured using a transcriptional activation assay, for example, reporter activation assay where the reporter, e.g., GFP or luciferase, among others, is expressed in response to Cas9 binding to a target sequence.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises any of the mutations provided herein. For example, in some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or at least seven mutations selected from the group consisting of X262T, X267G, X294R, X405I, X409I, X480K, X543D, X694I, X1219V, X1224K, X1256K, and X1362P of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid. In other embodiments, the mutations may be A262T, S267G, K294R, F405I, S409I, E480K, E543D, M694I, E1219V, N1224K, Q1256K, and L1362P of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises any of the mutations provided herein. For example, in some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, or at least seven mutations selected from the group consisting of X262T, X294R, X409I, X480K, X543D, X694I, and X1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid. In other embodiments, the mutations may be A262T, K294R, S409I, E480K, E543D, M694I, or E1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises an X1219V mutation or an E1219V mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises an X480K mutation or an E480K mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises an X543D mutation or a E543D mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 comprises the mutations X480K, X543D, and X1219V; or the mutations E480K, E543D, and E1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 comprises the mutations X262T, X409I, X480K, X543D, X694I, and X1219V; or the mutations A262T, S409I, E480K, E543D, M694I, and E1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations X294R, X480K, X543D, X1219V, X1256K, and X1362P; or the mutations K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, Q1256K, and L1362P of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations X294R, X480K, X543D, X1219V, and X1256K, or mutations K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, and Q1256K of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations X267G, X294R, X480K, X543D, X1219V, X1224K, and X1256K; or the mutations S267G, K294R, E480K, E543DE1219V, N1224K, and Q1256K of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises the mutations X262T, X405I, X409I, X480K, X543D, X694I, and X1219V; or the mutations A262T, F405I, S409I, E480K, E543D, M694I, and E1219V of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X represents any amino acid.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the HNH domain is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% identical to the amino acid sequence of the HNH domain of any of SEQ ID NOs: 9-262. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the HNH domain is identical to the amino acid sequence of any of the HNH domains of SEQ ID NOs: 9-262.

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the RuvC domain is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% identical to the amino acid sequence of the RuvC domain of any of SEQ ID NOs: 9-262. In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the RuvC domain is identical to the amino acid sequence of any of the RuvC domains of SEQ ID NOs: 9-262.

In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises at D10A and/or a H840A mutation in the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises a D10X 1 and/or a H840X 2 mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262, wherein X 1 is any amino acid except for D, and wherein X 2 is any amino acid except for H. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises an D10A mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises an H at amino acid residue 840 of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding residue in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises an H840A mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262. In some embodiments, the Cas9 protein comprises an D at amino acid residue 10 of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding residue in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOS: 10-262.

Some aspects of this disclosure provide fusion proteins comprising a Cas9 protein as provided herein that is fused to a second protein, thus forming a fusion protein. In some embodiments, the second protein is fused to the N-terminus of the Cas9 protein. In some embodiments, the second protein is fused to the C-terminus of the Cas9 protein. In some embodiments, the Cas9 domain and the effector domain are fused via a linker. The linker may be as simple as a covalent bond, or it may be a polymeric linker many atoms in length. In certain embodiments, the linker is a polypeptide or based on amino acids. In other embodiments, the linker is not peptide-like. In certain embodiments, the linker is a covalent bond (e.g., a carbon-carbon bond, disulfide bond, carbon-heteroatom bond, etc.). In certain embodiments, the linker is a carbon-nitrogen bond of an amide linkage. In certain embodiments, the linker is a cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched aliphatic or heteroaliphatic linker. In certain embodiments, the linker is polymeric (e.g., polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyamide, polyester, etc.). In certain embodiments, the linker comprises a monomer, dimer, or polymer of aminoalkanoic acid. In certain embodiments, the linker comprises an aminoalkanoic acid (e.g., glycine, ethanoic acid, alanine, beta-alanine, 3-aminopropanoic acid, 4-aminobutanoic acid, 5-pentanoic acid, etc.). In certain embodiments, the linker comprises a monomer, dimer, or polymer of aminohexanoic acid (Ahx). In certain embodiments, the linker is based on a carbocyclic moiety (e.g., cyclopentane, cyclohexane). In other embodiments, the linker comprises a polyethylene glycol moiety (PEG). In other embodiments, the linker comprises amino acids. In certain embodiments, the linker comprises a peptide. In certain embodiments, the linker comprises an aryl or heteroaryl moiety. In certain embodiments, the linker is based on a phenyl ring. The linker may included functionalized moieties to facilitate attachment of a nucleophile (e.g., thiol, amino) from the peptide to the linker. Any electrophile may be used as part of the linker. Exemplary electrophiles include, but are not limited to, activated esters, activated amides, Michael acceptors, alkyl halides, aryl halides, acyl halides, and isothiocyanates.

In some embodiments, the linker comprises a chemical group or molecule linking two molecules or moieties, e.g., two domains of a fusion protein, such as, for example, a nuclease-inactive Cas9 domain and a effector domain (e.g., a deaminase domain). In some embodiments, the linker comprises one or more amino acid residues. For example, the linker may comprise at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, or more amino acid residues. In some embodiments, the linker is 3, 9, 16, or 21 amino acids in length. In some embodiments, the linker comprises a (GGGGS) n (SEQ ID NO: 5), a (G) n (SEQ ID NO: 5087), an (EAAAK) n (SEQ ID NO: 6), a (GGS) n (SEQ ID NO: 5088), an SGSETPGTSESATPES (SEQ ID NO: 7) (also referred to as XTEN), or an (XP) n (SEQ ID NO: 5089) motif, or a combination of any of these, wherein n is independently an integer between 1 and 30. In some embodiments, wherein the linker comprises a (GGS) 3 (SEQ ID NO: 5088) motif or a SGSETPGTSESATPES (SEQ ID NO: 7) (XTEN) motif.

In some embodiments, the effector domain comprises an enzymatic domain. In some embodiments, the effector domain comprises a nuclease, a nickase, a recombinase, a deaminase, a methyltransferase, a methylase, an acetylase, an acetyltransferase, a transcriptional activator, or a transcriptional repressor domain, which may have nuclease activity, nickase activity, recombinase activity, deaminase activity, methyltransferase activity, methylase activity, acetylase activity, acetyltransferase activity transcriptional activation activity or transcriptional repression activity, respectively. In some embodiments, the effector domain is a effector domain. In some embodiments, the effector domain is a deaminase domain. In some embodiments, the deaminase is a cytosine deaminase or a cytidine deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing complex (APOBEC) family deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC1 deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC2 deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC3 deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC3A deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC3D deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC3E deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC3F deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC3G deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC3H deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an APOBEC4 deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an activation-induced deaminase (AID). In some embodiments, the effector domain is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 99.5% identical to the deaminase domain of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 263-281. In some embodiments, the deaminase is a cytidine deaminase. In some embodiments, the deaminase is an apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing complex (APOBEC) family de

CLAIMS

Claims ( 21 )

1 . A Cas9 protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of a Cas9 protein as provided by any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-262,

wherein the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one mutation in an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 267, 294, 405, 480, 543, 1219, 1224, 1256, and 1362 of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or in a corresponding amino acid residue in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOS: 10-262, and wherein the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein is not identical to the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring Cas9 protein.

2 - 434 . (canceled)

435 . The Cas9 protein of claim 1 , wherein the Cas9 protein comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

436 . The Cas9 protein of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of S267G, K294R, F405I, E480K, E543D, E1219V, N1224K, Q1256K, and L1362P in the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

437 . The Cas9 protein of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises a K294R mutation in the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9 and further comprises at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of S267G, F405I, E480K, E543D, E1219V, N1224K, Q1256K, and L1362P in the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOS: 10-262.

438 . The Cas9 protein of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the Cas9 protein comprises any one of the following groups of mutations:

K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, Q1256K, and L1362P; K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, and Q1256K; S267G, K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, N1224K, and Q1256K; R115H, K141Q, S267G, K294R, Q394H, E480K, E543D, E1219V, and Q1256K; S267G, K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, and Q1256K; D257N, S267G, K294R, T466A, E480K, E543D, 11063V, E1219V, and Q1256K; K294R, E480K, E543D, A711E, E1219V, and Q1256K; P230S, S267G, K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, and Q1256K; P230F, S267G, K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, and Q1256K; K294R, E480K, E543D, A711E, E1207G, E1219V, and Q1256K; or N175T, S267G, K294R, E480K, E543D, E1219V, and Q1256K;

in the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

439 . The Cas9 protein of claim 1 , wherein the Cas9 protein comprises a D10A and/or a H840A mutation of the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 9, or a corresponding mutation in any of the amino acid sequences provided in SEQ ID NOs: 10-262.

440 . The Cas9 protein of claim 1 , wherein the Cas9 protein recognizes a non-canonical PAM sequence.

441 . The Cas9 protein of claim 440 , wherein the non-canonical PAM sequence is selected from the group consisting of AAA, AAC, AAG, AAT, CAA, CAC, CAG, CAT, GAA, GAC, GAG, GAT, TAA, TAC, TAG, TAT, ACA, ACC, ACG, ACT, CCA, CCC, CCG, CCT, GCA, GCC, GCG, GCT, TCA, TCC, TCG, TCT, AGA, AGC, AGT, CGA, CGC, CGT, GGA, GGC, GGT, TGA, TGC, TGT, ATA, ATC, ATG, ATT, CTA, CTC, CTG, CTT, GTA, GTC, GTG, GTT, TTA, TTC, TTG, and TTT.

442 . A fusion protein comprising the Cas9 protein of claim 1 , wherein the Cas9 protein is fused to an effector domain.

443 . The fusion protein of claim 442 , wherein the effector domain comprises an enzyme domain.

444 . The fusion protein of claim 442 , wherein the effector domain comprises a nuclease domain, a nickase domain, a recombinase domain, a deaminase domain, a methyltransferase domain, a methylase domain, an acetylase domain, an acetyltransferase domain, a transcriptional activator domain, or a transcriptional repressor domain.

445 . The fusion protein of claim 442 , wherein the effector domain is a nuclease domain.

446 . A dimer of the fusion protein of claim 445 .

447 . A fusion protein comprising a first Cas9 protein fused to a second Cas9 protein, wherein the first Cas9 protein is the Cas9 protein of claim 1 .

448 . A complex comprising the Cas9 protein of claim 1 and a guide RNA bound to the Cas9 protein.

449 . A complex comprising the fusion protein of claim 447 ,

a first guide RNA bound to the first Cas9 protein of the fusion protein, and a second guide RNA bound to the second Cas9 protein of the fusion protein.

450 . A method comprising contacting a DNA molecule with the Cas9 protein of claim 1 and a guide RNA, wherein the guide RNA is about 15-100 nucleotides long and comprises a sequence of at least 10 contiguous nucleotides that is complementary to a target sequence.

451 . A polynucleotide encoding the Cas9 protein of claim 1 .

452 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of claim 451 .

453 . A cell comprising the Cas9 protein of claim 1 , wherein the cell is an isolated cell.

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Cas9 variants and uses thereof

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