The present application relates to the identification of novel DNA methyltransferases including CHG methylation in algal species. The present application relates to algal mutants permitting the expression of exogenous genes by alleviating the epigenetic mechanisms of CHG and CHH methylation of exogenous DNA and mono- and tri-methylation of lysine 9 of histone 3 (H3K9). This is achieved by mutating or attenuating the methyltransferase (MTase) genes in algae. The present application also relates to methods for efficiently expressing exogenous genes in algal species.

The present invention includes a method of increasing, stimulating, inducing, promoting, enhancing or maintaining the genomic stability of a cell of a subject, the method comprising decreasing, reducing, inhibiting, suppressing, limiting or controlling loss of methylation of heterochromatin in the cell and/or modulating heterochromatin dysfunction in a cell of a subject, the method comprising activating, eliciting, stimulate ng, inducing, promoting, increasing or enhancing expression or activity in the cell of one or more DNA methyltransferase (DNMT).

A DNA methylation editing kit comprises: (1) a fusion protein of inactivated CRISPR-associated endonuclease Cas9 (dCas9) having no nuclease activity and a tag peptide array in which plural tag peptides are linked by linkers, or an RNA or DNA coding therefor; (2) a fusion protein(s) of a tag peptide-binding portion and a methylase or demethylase, or an RNA(s) or DNA(s) coding therefor; and (3) a guide RNA(s) (gRNA(s)) comprising a sequence complementary to a DNA sequence within 1 kb of a desired site of methylation or demethylation, or a DNA(s) expressing the gRNA(s).

Methods for reactivating genes on the inactive X chromosome that include administering one or both of a DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) Inhibitor and/or a topoisomerase inhibitor, e.g., etoposide and/or 5′-azacytidine (aza), optionally in combination with an inhibitor of XIST RNA and/or an Xist-interacting protein, e.g., a chromatin-modifying protein, e.g., a small molecule or an inhibitory nucleic acid (such as a small inhibitory RNA (siRNAs) or antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)) that targets XIST RNA and/or a gene encoding an Xist-interacting protein, e.g., a chromatin-modifying protein.

Disclosed herein are artificially synthesized nucleic acid constructs to guide an epigenetic modification for at least partially silencing or activating a target gene in an organism such as a plant or seed, and formulations thereof. Also disclosed are methods of applying such nucleic acid constructs to the plant or to the seed. Also disclosed are engineered seeds and plants obtained by the epigenetic modification.

The present disclosure provides compositions with a modulating gene expression and methods for modulating transcription.

A high-fidelity AsCpf1 mutant is obtained by performing a mutation on arginine at position 951 and/or 955 of a AsCpf1 protein amino acid sequence and replacing the same with an amino acid free of forming a hydrogen bond with DNA of a target site; and the amino acid sequence thereof is shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1-3. The encoding gene of the AsCpf1 mutant has a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 and can be used in the construction of a CRISPR/AsCpf1 gene editing system. A CRISPR/AsCpf1 gene editing system includes a gene encoding a AsCpf1 protein, and the AsCpf1 protein is the AsCpf1 mutant mentioned above. The CRISPR/AsCpf1 gene editing system can be used in lowering an off-target effect of gene editing. The novel AsCpf1 mutant not only retains the gene editing efficiency of wild-type AsCpf1, but also has a higher specificity than the wild-type AsCpf1.

The present disclosure provides modified immune cells or precursors thereof (e.g., gene edited modified T cells) comprising an exogenous T cell receptor (TCR) and/or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having specificity for a target antigen, and an insertion and/or deletion in an endogenous gene locus encoding DNMT3A. Compositions and methods of treatment are also provided.

The invention relates to methods of modifying DNA methylation by contacting a cell with a catalytically inactive site specific nuclease fused to an effector domain having methylation or demethylation activity and one or more guide sequences.

Provided herein are methods, compositions, and kits for forming amplification products. In various embodiments provided herein, transposomes comprising transposases are used in forming tagged polynucleotides for downstream amplification and polynucleotide processing steps.