ABE7.10 Adenine Base Editor
First adenine base editor validated in human cells, achieving ~50% A-to-G conversion at positions 4–7 with ≤0.1% indels. Addresses the class of pathogenic mutations responsible for ~48% of disease-causing SNPs. Foundational reference for all subsequent ABE development, using an evolved TadA*–SpCas9 D10A nickase heterodimer.
Origin: E. coli TadA adenosine deaminase (evolved through 7 rounds of directed evolution)
Characteristics
Achieves ~50% A-to-G editing efficiency at positions 4-7 with >99.9% product purity. Heterodimer of wild-type TadA and evolved TadA* enables processive deamination. Indel formation typically ≤0.1% with minimal bystander editing.
Applications: Corrects A-to-G transition mutations addressing ~48% of known pathogenic SNPs. Complements cytosine base editors for all four transition mutations. Validated for installing disease-suppressing mutations and correcting hereditary disorders in human cells.
Limitations: Editing window positions 4-7 narrower than some applications require. Lower efficiency than ABE8e variants at challenging loci and in primary cells. Slower deamination kinetics can result in incomplete editing before Cas9 dissociates.
Architecture: Evolved TadA deaminase (E. coli tRNA adenosine deaminase) fused to Cas9 D10A nickase. Heterodimer of wild-type TadA and evolved TadA* enables processive deamination.
Sequence
References
- Gaudelli NM, Komor AC, Rees HA, et al. (2017). Programmable base editing of A•T to G•C in genomic DNA without DNA cleavage. Nature 551:464-471 - Gaudelli 2017 Adenine Base Editor