QBEmax is a sequence-permuted and internally protected base editor
Cytosine base editors (CBEs) show promise for multiplex gene knockout applications, but impure edits, indels and off-targets still frequently occur. We describe here QBEmax, which exhibits high efficiency, low indel and off-targets and high product purity with up to 99.8% of edits comprised of C-to-T. Through molecular dynamic modeling, QBEmax presents as a compact and stable base editor that shields protected bases from undesired repair processes.
Authors
- Qiang Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9323-1101)
- Guanwen Liu
- Jiacheng Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4618-8928)
- Mingyang He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4133-7016)
- Kevin T. Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3440-2094)
- Mengyue Guo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2544-0005)
- Lina Guo
- Quan Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5602-6726)
- Zhiwei Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6541-1203)
- Jia He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6086-0115)
Institutions
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Biodesigns (United States) (US)
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Biotechnology
- Published
- 2025-04-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-025-02641-9
- Citations
- 12
- Primary Topic
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 9.67