Disclosed herein are methods for evaluation, selection, optimization, and design of Cas9 molecule/gRNA molecule complexes.

Compositions and methods are provided for the inhibition of the function of RNA guided endonucleases, including the identification and use of such inhibitors. Methods of identifying inhibitor compounds of RNA guided nucleases, assays for detecting nuclease activity and compounds for use therein are also provided.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for use in detecting on-target and/or off-target cleavage of genomic DNA in a cell by a nuclease. The on-target and off-target cleavage is detected by using oligonucleotides that bind to the single-stranded 3′-overhang created at the cleavage site. The nuclease may be an engineered nuclease comprising a nucleic acid binding domain that binds to a target nucleic acid of interest.

Provided herein are methods of identifying a location of an RNA in a sample that include: (a) contacting the sample with an array comprising capture probes, where a capture probe comprises a capture domain and a spatial barcode; (b) releasing the RNA from the sample; (c) extending a 3′ end of the capture probe using the capture domain-bound RNA as a template; (d) generating nick(s) in the extended capture probe-hybridized RNA and performing random-primed DNA synthesis; (e) performing end repair on the second strand DNA molecule; (f) adding a single adenosine nucleotide to the 3′ end of the extended capture probe; (g) ligating a double-stranded sequencing adaptor to the double-stranded DNA product; and (h) determining all or a part of the sequence of the RNA, and the sequence of the spatial barcode, or complements thereof, and using the determined sequences to identify the location of the RNA in the sample.

Described herein are compositions and systems comprising activators of type III accessory nucleases and methods of using these compositions and systems.

Compositions, methods and systems are provided for isolating nucleic acids. A polymerase-nucleic acid complex can be formed by mixing a polymerase enzyme comprising strand displacement activity and a mixture of double stranded nucleic acids. Nucleic acid synthesis can then be initiated by the polymerase enzyme to produce a nascent strand complementary to the first strand, thereby displacing a portion of the second strand. After halting or reducing the rate of nucleic acid synthesis, a hybridizing a hook oligonucleotide can be used hybridize to the nucleic acid through a capture region on the hook oligonucleotide that is complementary to the displaced portion of the second strand. The nucleic acid can then be isolated from the mixture of nucleic acids using the hook oligonucleotide.

Provided herein are methods of identifying a location of an RNA in a sample that include: (a) contacting the sample with an array comprising capture probes, where a capture probe comprises a capture domain and a spatial barcode; (b) releasing the RNA from the sample; (c) extending a 3′ end of the capture probe using the capture domain-bound RNA as a template; (d) generating nick(s) in the extended capture probe-hybridized RNA and performing random-primed DNA synthesis; (e) performing end repair on the second strand DNA molecule; (f) adding a single adenosine nucleotide to the 3′ end of the extended capture probe; (g) ligating a double-stranded sequencing adaptor to the double-stranded DNA product; and (h) determining all or a part of the sequence of the RNA, and the sequence of the spatial barcode, or complements thereof, and using the determined sequences to identify the location of the RNA in the sample.

Provided herein are methods of treating a disease, such as Parkinson's disease, that is due to increased poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP-1) activation, by inhibiting macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) nuclease activity.

Methods of making mutant Cas9 proteins are described.

The present application is directed to methods of performing chemical reactions, including multi-step chemical reactions in which two or more of the reagents in the chemical reaction are incorporated or entrapped in a solid polymeric structure comprising pullulan. In certain embodiments, the chemical reaction or multi-step reaction serves as a sensor. Accordingly the present application is also directed to sensors for performing the methods of the application. In certain embodiments, at least one of the reagents is a biomolecule and the sensor is a biosensor. In certain other embodiments, the solid polymeric structure comprising pullulan and the reagents for performing a chemical reaction form a convenient device for performing a chemical reaction.