The present invention provides novel systems, methods and compositions for making and using recombinantly engineered novel Cas9 enzymes optimized for human cells, for nucleic acid targeting and manipulation. The present invention is based on the discovery of novel Cas9 enzymes from Streptococcus constellatus, Sharpen spp. isolate RUG017, Veillonella parvula, Ezakiella peruensis, Lactobacillus fermentum strain AF15-40LB strain and Peptoniphilus sp. Marseille-P3761 bacteria that were codon-optimized and recombinantly produced for use in human cells. In some embodiments, novel Cas9 enzymes can be used for base editing. In some embodiments, the novel engineered Cas9 enzymes are used to treat human diseases.

Compositions and methods comprising novel deaminase polypeptides for targeted editing of nucleic acids are provided. Compositions comprise deaminase polypeptides. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising a DNA-binding polypeptide and a deaminase of the invention. The fusion proteins include RNA-guided nucleases fused to deaminases, optionally in complex with guide RNAs. Compositions also include nucleic acid molecules encoding the deaminases or the fusion proteins. Vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid molecules encoding the deaminases or the fusion proteins are also provided.

The present disclosure provides for endonuclease enzymes having distinguishing domain features, as well as methods of using such enzymes or variants thereof.

The present invention discloses a modified Cannabis plant exhibiting herbicide resistance (HR) as compared to a Cannabis plant absent of such modification. The modified plant comprises at least one genetically modified HR-related gene comprising at least one mutation conferring herbicide resistance to the plant. The present invention further discloses methods for producing the same.

The present disclosure provides compositions of CRISPR associated (Cas) effector proteins fused to partner proteins. Compositions typically comprise a guide nucleic acid. Also disclosed are the methods and systems for detecting and modifying target nucleic acids using the same. The cells, progenies thereof, and populations thereof produced by the compositions, methods, or systems provided herein are also described.

The invention relates to peptide linkers and fusion proteins comprising linkers designed for optimizing the activity of the proteins comprised therein, and methods for using the same. The invention further relates to newly designed Cas12a-based adenine base editors.

The current disclosure relates to methods, compositions and kits for detecting modified adenosine in a target RNA molecule. Aspects relate to a method for detecting modified adenosine in a target ribonucleic acid (RNA) comprising contacting the target RNA with an adenosine deaminase enzyme (adenosine deaminase, RNA-specific) to generate a target RNA with deaminated adenosines and sequencing the target RNA with deaminated adenosines; wherein the modified adenosine is detected when the nucleotide sequence is adenosine.

Compositions and methods comprising novel deaminase polypeptides for targeted editing of nucleic acids are provided. Compositions comprise deaminase polypeptides. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising a DNA-binding polypeptide and a deaminase of the invention. The fusion proteins include RNA-guided nucleases fused to deaminases, optionally in complex with guide RNAs. Compositions also include nucleic acid molecules encoding the deaminases or the fusion proteins. Vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid molecules encoding the deaminases or the fusion proteins are also provided.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods useful in the treatment of trinucleotide repeat disorders, including Huntington's disease and Friedreich's ataxia. The present disclosure also provides gRNAs designed to target the HTT or FXN genes. Complexes comprising a base editor and any of the gRNAs disclosed herein are also provided by the present disclosure. The present disclosure further provides polynucleotides, vectors, cells, compositions, and kits. Methods of treating Huntington's disease and Friedreich's ataxia are also provided herein.

Compositions and methods for binding to a target sequence of interest are provided. The compositions find use in cleaving or modifying a target sequence of interest, visualization of a target sequence of interest, and modifying the expression of a sequence of interest. Compositions comprise RNA-guided nuclease (RGN) polypeptides, CRISPR RNAs, trans-activating CRISPR RNAs, guide RNAs, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. Vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid molecules are also provided. Further provided are RGN systems for binding a target sequence of interest, wherein the RGN system comprises an RNA-guided nuclease polypeptide and one or more guide RNAs.