Recruitment and rejoining of remote double-strand DNA breaks for enhanced and precise chromosome editing

Abstract

Abstract Chromosomal rearrangements, such as translocations, deletions, and inversions, underlie numerous genetic diseases and cancers, yet precise engineering of these rearrangements remains challenging. Here, we present a CRISPR-based homologous recombination-mediated rearrangement (HRMR) strategy that leverages homologous donor templates to align and repair broken chromosome ends. HRMR improves efficiency by approximately 80-fold compared to non-homologous end joining, achieving over 95% homologous recombination. Validated across multiple loci and cell lines, HRMR enables efficient and accurate chromosomal rearrangements. Live-cell imaging reveals that homologous donors mediate chromosome end proximity, enhancing rearrangement efficiency. Thus, HRMR provides a powerful tool for disease modeling, chromosomal biology, and therapeutic applications.

Keywords

• CRISPR-Cas9
• Chromosome rearrangement
• Homologous recombination
• Double-strand DNA break repair