CombiSEAL: New Pathfinder for New Protein Discovery
Overview
CombiSEAL is a simple and powerful platform for rapid and simultaneous profiling of high order combinatorial mutations for protein engineering. New variants of SpCas9 and SaCas9 with superior genome editing efficiency and genome wide targeting specificity have been identified by this platform. The generalizability of this platform will expand the scope to systematically engineer diverse proteins and other biological molecules.
Commercialisation opportunities
Licensing
Problem addressed
The shortage of conventional protein engineering method includes: Conventional site-directed mutagenesis lacks throughput and scalability. Protein function not only depends on one or two amino acids but a combination of changes in many cases.
Innovation
- Simultaneously study the interaction of different amino acids in a protein at much higher thoughput.
- First platform for assembling and barcoding protein encoding sequences carrying multiple mutations en masse. Functional variants could be easily identified by the barcode.
- Successfully identified new variants of Cas9 protein with uperior genome editing efficiency and genome wide targeting specificity.
Key impact
- Could accelerate the engineering of CRISPR enzyme for precise gene editing.
- The generalizability of this approach will also expand our scope to systematically engineer diverse proteins, as well as other biological molecules and systems including synthetic DNAs and genetic regulatory circuits, which are relevant to many biomedical and biotechnology applications.
Application
- Drug discovery service
- Reagent kits for protein engineering
- Automatic platform for combinatorial constructs
Patent
- EP Appln No. 19863047.7; US Reg Appln No. 17/278,189; JP appln No. 2021-515089; CN Appln No. 201980061793.9; KR Appln No. 10-2021-7011033
- PCT Appln No. PCT/CN2021/087250
- US Prov Appln No. 63/268,745
The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
Founded in 1911, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is the first and oldest institution of higher education in Hong Kong. For over a century, the University has dedicated itself to creating knowledge, providing education, and serving society. Today, HKU has an established worldwide reputation for being a research-led comprehensive University with ten Faculties and a strong commitment to intellectual freedom, liberty and diversity. HKU has a proud record of academic recognition in researches through honours and awards received from both local and international bodies.
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