Site-specific epigenetic modulator systems and uses thereof
A site-specific demethylation system targets methylation sites in APM-related genes to enhance their expression and antigen presentation in cancer cells, addressing the immune evasion of tumor cells and improving immunotherapy efficacy.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2025/093823
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-04-26
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-30
AI Technical Summary
Cancer cells often exhibit reduced or missing expression of antigen presentation mechanism (APM) genes due to hypermethylation, limiting the immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate tumor cells, which is a challenge for effective immune surveillance and checkpoint-based immunotherapies.
A site-specific demethylation system comprising a fusion protein with a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain is introduced into cancer cells to target and demethylate methylation sites, thereby increasing the expression of APM-related genes such as HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, B2M, TAP-1, TAP-2, PSMB9, and PSMB8, enhancing tumor antigen presentation.
The demethylation system significantly increases the expression and presentation of tumor antigens on cancer cells, potentially improving immune recognition and the efficacy of immunotherapies by at least 2-fold.
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Figure PCTCN2025093823-FTAPPB-I100001 
Figure PCTCN2025093823-FTAPPB-I100002 
Figure PCTCN2025093823-FTAPPB-I100003
Abstract
Description
SITE-SPECIFIC EPIGENETIC MODULATOR SYSTEMS AND USES THEREOFTECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application is directed to compositions, methods, and systems for epigenetic editing of antigen presentation mechanism (APM) -related genes and histones.BACKGROUND
[0002] During the occurrence and development of cancer, the body's immune system can perform surveillance on abnormal tumor cells to promptly identify and eliminate tumor cells. Tumor cells form complexes with processed antigen peptides and MHC class I molecules through the antigen presentation machinery (APM) , which are expressed on the cell surface and presented to CD8+ T cells and ultimately results in target cell death. Therefore, the normal operation of the tumor cell APM is important for the immune system to successfully initiate specific killing of tumor cells, as well as for the efficacy of checkpoint-based immunotherapies.
[0003] APM genes often show reduced or missing expression in most cancer cells, limiting the ability of T lymphocytes to recognize tumor cells. Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation, are important molecular mechanism for regulating the expression and function of genes, such as MHC-I, and other APM molecules. In particular, hypermethylation results in the downregulation or loss of MHC-I and other APM gene expression. Thus, there remains a need to develop methods and systems capable of relevant epigenetic editing. BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] In some aspects, provided herein is a method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain or functional fragment thereof, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein the site-specific DNA binding domain binds to a target site to recruit the site-specific demethylation system to the methylation site, and wherein recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to a target site results in demethylation at the methylation site.
[0005] In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a catalytically inactive site-specific DNA binding protein or a functional fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the catalytically inactive site-specific DNA binding protein, or the functional fragment thereof, is selected from the group consisting of a Cas protein, a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) domain, or a Zinc finger domain. In some embodiments, the catalytically inactive site-specific DNA binding protein, or the functional fragment thereof, is a Cas protein. In some embodiments, the Cas protein is selected from the group consisting of: Type I Cas, Type II Cas, Type V Cas, and Type VI Cas. In some embodiments, the Cas protein is a Type II Cas. In some embodiments, the Cas protein is Cas9. In some embodiments, the Cas protein is a Type V Cas. In some embodiments, the Cas protein is Cas12 or Cas13.
[0006] In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system further comprises a guide ribonucleic acid (gRNA) , and wherein the gRNA comprises a spacer sequence capable of hybridizing to the target site. In some embodiments, the gRNA further comprises a tracrRNA. In some embodiments, the gRNA does not comprise a tracrRNA.
[0007] In some embodiments, the demethylation at the methylation site increases expression of the APM-related gene relative to a methylated state. In some embodiments, the expression increases at least about 2-fold.
[0008] In some embodiments, the demethylation at the methylation site increases tumor antigen presentation on the tumor cell. In some embodiments, the presentation increases at least about 2-fold.
[0009] In some embodiments, the recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to the target site further results in demethylation at one or more other methylation sites.
[0010] In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within promoter region of the APM-related gene. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within a first exon of the APM-related gene. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within a CpG island ( “CGI” ) .
[0011] In some embodiments, the APM-related gene is selected from the group consisting of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, B2M, TAP-1, TAP-2, PSMB9 (LMP2) , and PSMB8 (LMP7) .
[0012] In some embodiments, the APM-related gene is HLA-A. In some embodiments, the methylation site is a CpG site at chr6: 29910202-29911367 (according to the hg19 genome build) . In some embodiments, the methylation site is a CpG site located at any of chr6: 29910202-29910204, chr6: 29910205-29910207, chr6: 29910207-29910209, chr6: 29910236-29910238, chr6: 29910263-29910265, chr6: 29910266-29910268, chr6: 29910268-29910270, chr6: 29910272-29910274, chr6: 29910287-29910289, chr6: 29910291-29910293, chr6: 29910300-29910302, chr6: 29910322-29910324, chr6: 29910325-29910327, chr6: 29910335-29910337, chr6: 29910343-29910345, chr6: 29910348-29910350, chr6: 29910370-29910372, chr6: 29910400-29910402, chr6: 29910410-29910412, chr6: 29910416-29910418, chr6: 29910428-29910430, chr6: 29910436-29910438, chr6: 29910462-29910464, chr6: 29910468-29910470, chr6: 29910476-29910478, chr6: 29910485-29910487, chr6: 29910487-29910489, chr6: 29910490-29910492, chr6: 29910495-29910497, chr6: 29910502-29910504, chr6: 29910524-29910526, chr6: 29910564-29910566, chr6: 29910571-29910573, chr6: 29910576-29910578, chr6: 29910580-29910582, chr6: 29910582-29910584, chr6: 29910592-29910594, chr6: 29910600-29910602, chr6: 29910603-29910605, chr6: 29910612-29910614, chr6: 29910618-29910620, chr6: 29910623-29910625, chr6: 29910630-29910632, chr6: 29910634-29910636, chr6: 29910639-29910641, chr6: 29910645-29910647, chr6: 29910648-29910650, chr6: 29910651-29910653, chr6: 29910653-29910655, chr6: 29910671-29910673, chr6: 29910673-29910675, chr6: 29910677-29910679, chr6: 29910680-29910682, chr6: 29910701-29910703, chr6: 29910724-29910726, chr6: 29910754-29910756, chr6: 29910775-29910777, chr6: 29910777-29910779, chr6: 29910795-29910797, chr6: 29910801-29910803, chr6: 29910814-29910816, chr6: 29910818-29910820, chr6: 29910824-29910826, chr6: 29910850-29910852, chr6: 29910854-29910856, chr6: 29910864-29910866, chr6: 29910877-29910879, chr6: 29910883-29910885, chr6: 29910895-29910897, chr6: 29910901-29910903, chr6: 29910903-29910905, chr6: 29910911-29910913, chr6: 29910925-29910927, chr6: 29910940-29910942, chr6: 29910950-29910952, chr6: 29910984-29910986, chr6: 29910993-29910995, chr6: 29911003-29911005, chr6: 29911010-29911012, chr6: 29911027-29911029, chr6: 29911029-29911031, chr6: 29911035-29911037, chr6: 29911075-29911077, chr6: 29911078-29911080, chr6: 29911086-29911088, chr6: 29911090-29911092, chr6: 29911094-29911096, chr6: 29911103-29911105, chr6: 29911105-29911107, chr6: 29911112-29911114, chr6: 29911120-29911122, chr6: 29911126-29911128, chr6: 29911129-29911131, chr6: 29911144-29911146, chr6: 29911153-29911155, chr6: 29911163-29911165, chr6: 29911174-29911176, chr6: 29911176-29911178, chr6: 29911179-29911181, chr6: 29911188-29911190, chr6: 29911205-29911207, chr6: 29911218-29911220, chr6: 29911230-29911232, chr6: 29911260-29911262, chr6: 29911264-29911266, chr6: 29911277-29911279, chr6: 29911294-29911296, chr6: 29911305-29911307, chr6: 29911313-29911315, chr6: 29911317-29911319, chr6: 29911333-29911335, chr6: 29911338-29911340, chr6: 29911350-29911352, or chr6: 29911365-29911367. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15.
[0013] In some embodiments, the APM-related gene is HLA-B. In some embodiments, the methylation site is a CpG site at chr6: 31323946-31325211. In some embodiments, the methylation site is a CpG site at any of chr6: 31323946-31323948, chr6: 31323948-31323950, chr6: 31323967-31323969, chr6: 31323984-31323986, chr6: 31323997-31323999, chr6: 31324003-31324005, chr6: 31324023-31324025, chr6: 31324031-31324033, chr6: 31324038-31324040, chr6: 31324043-31324045, chr6: 31324056-31324058, chr6: 31324073-31324075, chr6: 31324076-31324078, chr6: 31324082-31324084, chr6: 31324084-31324086, chr6: 31324087-31324089, chr6: 31324098-31324100, chr6: 31324108-31324110, chr6: 31324117-31324119, chr6: 31324132-31324134, chr6: 31324135-31324137, chr6: 31324141-31324143, chr6: 31324156-31324158, chr6: 31324158-31324160, chr6: 31324167-31324169, chr6: 31324171-31324173, chr6: 31324175-31324177, chr6: 31324183-31324185, chr6: 31324186-31324188, chr6: 31324192-31324194, chr6: 31324226-31324228, chr6: 31324232-31324234, chr6: 31324234-31324236, chr6: 31324251-31324253, chr6: 31324258-31324260, chr6: 31324263-31324265, chr6: 31324268-31324270, chr6: 31324277-31324279, chr6: 31324279-31324281, chr6: 31324310-31324312, chr6: 31324318-31324320, chr6: 31324320-31324322, chr6: 31324333-31324335, chr6: 31324336-31324338, chr6: 31324340-31324342, chr6: 31324352-31324354, chr6: 31324359-31324361, chr6: 31324361-31324363, chr6: 31324375-31324377, chr6: 31324382-31324384, chr6: 31324388-31324390, chr6: 31324396-31324398, chr6: 31324401-31324403, chr6: 31324406-31324408, chr6: 31324411-31324413, chr6: 31324415-31324417, chr6: 31324432-31324434, chr6: 31324441-31324443, chr6: 31324446-31324448, chr6: 31324451-31324453, chr6: 31324464-31324466, chr6: 31324470-31324472, chr6: 31324488-31324490, chr6: 31324490-31324492, chr6: 31324499-31324501, chr6: 31324511-31324513, chr6: 31324550-31324552, chr6: 31324564-31324566, chr6: 31324585-31324587, chr6: 31324588-31324590, chr6: 31324592-31324594, chr6: 31324594-31324596, chr6: 31324606-31324608, chr6: 31324612-31324614, chr6: 31324614-31324616, chr6: 31324617-31324619, chr6: 31324620-31324622, chr6: 31324626-31324628, chr6: 31324635-31324637, chr6: 31324647-31324649, chr6: 31324653-31324655, chr6: 31324673-31324675, chr6: 31324683-31324685, chr6: 31324685-31324687, chr6: 31324689-31324691, chr6: 31324694-31324696, chr6: 31324701-31324703, chr6: 31324759-31324761, chr6: 31324763-31324765, chr6: 31324775-31324777, chr6: 31324778-31324780, chr6: 31324780-31324782, chr6: 31324797-31324799, chr6: 31324803-31324805, chr6: 31324809-31324811, chr6: 31324818-31324820, chr6: 31324827-31324829, chr6: 31324848-31324850, chr6: 31324853-31324855, chr6: 31324862-31324864, chr6: 31324874-31324876, chr6: 31324890-31324892, chr6: 31324893-31324895, chr6: 31324910-31324912, chr6: 31324915-31324917, chr6: 31324920-31324922, chr6: 31324937-31324939, chr6: 31324940-31324942, chr6: 31324961-31324963, chr6: 31324971-31324973, chr6: 31324994-31324996, chr6: 31324996-31324998, chr6: 31324999-31325001, chr6: 31325002-31325004, chr6: 31325055-31325057, chr6: 31325057-31325059, chr6: 31325062-31325064, chr6: 31325084-31325086, chr6: 31325135-31325137, chr6: 31325140-31325142, chr6: 31325157-31325159, chr6: 31325159-31325161, chr6: 31325166-31325168, chr6: 31325190-31325192, chr6: 31325194-31325196, or chr6: 31325209-31325211. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 16-29.
[0014] In some embodiments, the APM-related gene is HLA-C. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 31238852-31240120. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr6: 31238852-31238854, chr6: 31238854-31238856, chr6: 31238862-31238864, chr6: 31238873-31238875, chr6: 31238890-31238892, chr6: 31238903-31238905, chr6: 31238907-31238909, chr6: 31238937-31238939, chr6: 31238940-31238942, chr6: 31238944-31238946, chr6: 31238949-31238951, chr6: 31238962-31238964, chr6: 31238979-31238981, chr6: 31238981-31238983, chr6: 31238988-31238990, chr6: 31238990-31238992, chr6: 31238993-31238995, chr6: 31239004-31239006, chr6: 31239014-31239016, chr6: 31239023-31239025, chr6: 31239038-31239040, chr6: 31239041-31239043, chr6: 31239047-31239049, chr6: 31239062-31239064, chr6: 31239064-31239066, chr6: 31239073-31239075, chr6: 31239077-31239079, chr6: 31239080-31239082, chr6: 31239092-31239094, chr6: 31239132-31239134, chr6: 31239138-31239140, chr6: 31239140-31239142, chr6: 31239157-31239159, chr6: 31239164-31239166, chr6: 31239169-31239171, chr6: 31239174-31239176, chr6: 31239183-31239185, chr6: 31239185-31239187, chr6: 31239204-31239206, chr6: 31239216-31239218, chr6: 31239226-31239228, chr6: 31239242-31239244, chr6: 31239246-31239248, chr6: 31239258-31239260, chr6: 31239265-31239267, chr6: 31239294-31239296, chr6: 31239309-31239311, chr6: 31239314-31239316, chr6: 31239319-31239321, chr6: 31239323-31239325, chr6: 31239343-31239345, chr6: 31239352-31239354, chr6: 31239357-31239359, chr6: 31239362-31239364, chr6: 31239375-31239377, chr6: 31239381-31239383, chr6: 31239399-31239401, chr6: 31239401-31239403, chr6: 31239410-31239412, chr6: 31239422-31239424, chr6: 31239440-31239442, chr6: 31239461-31239463, chr6: 31239475-31239477, chr6: 31239496-31239498, chr6: 31239499-31239501, chr6: 31239503-31239505, chr6: 31239505-31239507, chr6: 31239517-31239519, chr6: 31239523-31239525, chr6: 31239525-31239527, chr6: 31239528-31239530, chr6: 31239531-31239533, chr6: 31239537-31239539, chr6: 31239542-31239544, chr6: 31239546-31239548, chr6: 31239553-31239555, chr6: 31239558-31239560, chr6: 31239564-31239566, chr6: 31239584-31239586, chr6: 31239594-31239596, chr6: 31239596-31239598, chr6: 31239600-31239602, chr6: 31239605-31239607, chr6: 31239612-31239614, chr6: 31239615-31239617, chr6: 31239621-31239623, chr6: 31239652-31239654, chr6: 31239670-31239672, chr6: 31239674-31239676, chr6: 31239689-31239691, chr6: 31239691-31239693, chr6: 31239699-31239701, chr6: 31239708-31239710, chr6: 31239714-31239716, chr6: 31239717-31239719, chr6: 31239730-31239732, chr6: 31239740-31239742, chr6: 31239749-31239751, chr6: 31239766-31239768, chr6: 31239787-31239789, chr6: 31239806-31239808, chr6: 31239828-31239830, chr6: 31239833-31239835, chr6: 31239843-31239845, chr6: 31239850-31239852, chr6: 31239874-31239876, chr6: 31239901-31239903, chr6: 31239909-31239911, chr6: 31239915-31239917, chr6: 31239938-31239940, chr6: 31239967-31239969, chr6: 31239969-31239971, chr6: 31239996-31239998, chr6: 31239999-31240001, chr6: 31240044-31240046, chr6: 31240046-31240048, chr6: 31240049-31240051, chr6: 31240068-31240070, chr6: 31240099-31240101, chr6: 31240103-31240105, chr6: 31240118-31240120. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 30-49.
[0015] In some embodiments, the APM-related gene is B2M. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr15: 45003460-45004345. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr15: 45003460-45003462, chr15: 45003464-45003466, chr15: 45003482-45003484, chr15: 45003484-45003486, chr15: 45003496-45003498, chr15: 45003503-45003505, chr15: 45003506-45003508, chr15: 45003559-45003561, chr15: 45003587-45003589, chr15: 45003618-45003620, chr15: 45003621-45003623, chr15: 45003642-45003644, chr15: 45003651-45003653, chr15: 45003677-45003679, chr15: 45003679-45003681, chr15: 45003698-45003700, chr15: 45003701-45003703, chr15: 45003703-45003705, chr15: 45003709-45003711, chr15: 45003735-45003737, chr15: 45003740-45003742, chr15: 45003750-45003752, chr15: 45003755-45003757, chr15: 45003773-45003775, chr15: 45003775-45003777, chr15: 45003810-45003812, chr15: 45003831-45003833, chr15: 45003851-45003853, chr15: 45003874-45003876, chr15: 45003887-45003889, chr15: 45003892-45003894, chr15: 45003927-45003929, chr15: 45003930-45003932, chr15: 45003956-45003958, chr15: 45003964-45003966, chr15: 45003967-45003969, chr15: 45003997-45003999, chr15: 45004003-45004005, chr15: 45004008-45004010, chr15: 45004010-45004012, chr15: 45004012-45004014, chr15: 45004028-45004030, chr15: 45004031-45004033, chr15: 45004058-45004060, chr15: 45004061-45004063, chr15: 45004064-45004066, chr15: 45004073-45004075, chr15: 45004090-45004092, chr15: 45004093-45004095, chr15: 45004100-45004102, chr15: 45004108-45004110, chr15: 45004111-45004113, chr15: 45004136-45004138, chr15: 45004144-45004146, chr15: 45004146-45004148, chr15: 45004167-45004169, chr15: 45004185-45004187, chr15: 45004195-45004197, chr15: 45004206-45004208, chr15: 45004208-45004210, chr15: 45004211-45004213, chr15: 45004227-45004229, chr15: 45004229-45004231, chr15: 45004239-45004241, chr15: 45004259-45004261, chr15: 45004262-45004264, chr15: 45004266-45004268, chr15: 45004285-45004287, chr15: 45004322-45004324, chr15: 45004330-45004332, chr15: 45004334-45004336, or chr15: 45004343-45004345. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 50-63.
[0016] In some embodiments, the APM-related gene is TAP-1. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 32820849-32822370. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr6: 32820849-32820851, chr6: 32820856-32820858, chr6: 32820859-32820861, chr6: 32820861-32820863, chr6: 32820867-32820869, chr6: 32820889-32820891, chr6: 32820892-32820894, chr6: 32820911-32820913, chr6: 32820920-32820922, chr6: 32820923-32820925, chr6: 32820941-32820943, chr6: 32820965-32820967, chr6: 32820975-32820977, chr6: 32820992-32820994, chr6: 32820998-32821000, chr6: 32821038-32821040, chr6: 32821040-32821042, chr6: 32821046-32821048, chr6: 32821072-32821074, chr6: 32821089-32821091, chr6: 32821110-32821112, chr6: 32821154-32821156, chr6: 32821160-32821162, chr6: 32821176-32821178, chr6: 32821193-32821195, chr6: 32821214-32821216, chr6: 32821222-32821224, chr6: 32821236-32821238, chr6: 32821246-32821248, chr6: 32821260-32821262, chr6: 32821262-32821264, chr6: 32821288-32821290, chr6: 32821296-32821298, chr6: 32821298-32821300, chr6: 32821303-32821305, chr6: 32821319-32821321, chr6: 32821322-32821324, chr6: 32821352-32821354, chr6: 32821364-32821366, chr6: 32821375-32821377, chr6: 32821382-32821384, chr6: 32821384-32821386, chr6: 32821391-32821393, chr6: 32821420-32821422, chr6: 32821424-32821426, chr6: 32821427-32821429, chr6: 32821432-32821434, chr6: 32821438-32821440, chr6: 32821442-32821444, chr6: 32821458-32821460, chr6: 32821460-32821462, chr6: 32821465-32821467, chr6: 32821483-32821485, chr6: 32821490-32821492, chr6: 32821493-32821495, chr6: 32821511-32821513, chr6: 32821527-32821529, chr6: 32821533-32821535, chr6: 32821542-32821544, chr6: 32821571-32821573, chr6: 32821577-32821579, chr6: 32821604-32821606, chr6: 32821610-32821612, chr6: 32821616-32821618, chr6: 32821620-32821622, chr6: 32821638-32821640, chr6: 32821683-32821685, chr6: 32821707-32821709, chr6: 32821741-32821743, chr6: 32821754-32821756, chr6: 32821813-32821815, chr6: 32821824-32821826, chr6: 32821836-32821838, chr6: 32821858-32821860, chr6: 32821864-32821866, chr6: 32821867-32821869, chr6: 32821869-32821871, chr6: 32821871-32821873, chr6: 32821884-32821886, chr6: 32821897-32821899, chr6: 32821907-32821909, chr6: 32821910-32821912, chr6: 32821913-32821915, chr6: 32821915-32821917, chr6: 32821923-32821925, chr6: 32821932-32821934, chr6: 32821938-32821940, chr6: 32821940-32821942, chr6: 32821947-32821949, chr6: 32821979-32821981, chr6: 32821982-32821984, chr6: 32821991-32821993, chr6: 32822012-32822014, chr6: 32822016-32822018, chr6: 32822029-32822031, chr6: 32822042-32822044, chr6: 32822046-32822048, chr6: 32822062-32822064, chr6: 32822114-32822116, chr6: 32822134-32822136, chr6: 32822136-32822138, chr6: 32822138-32822140, chr6: 32822140-32822142, chr6: 32822164-32822166, chr6: 32822170-32822172, chr6: 32822181-32822183, chr6: 32822197-32822199, chr6: 32822208-32822210, chr6: 32822245-32822247, chr6: 32822258-32822260, chr6: 32822275-32822277, chr6: 32822277-32822279, chr6: 32822295-32822297, chr6: 32822321-32822323, chr6: 32822327-32822329, chr6: 32822345-32822347, chr6: 32822351-32822353, chr6: 32822368-32822370. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 64-103.
[0017] In some embodiments, the APM-related gene is TAP-2. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 32806284-32806669. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr6: 32806284-32806286, chr6: 32806291-32806293, chr6: 32806293-32806295, chr6: 32806296-32806298, chr6: 32806310-32806312, chr6: 32806317-32806319, chr6: 32806330-32806332, chr6: 32806333-32806335, chr6: 32806361-32806363, chr6: 32806387-32806389, chr6: 32806399-32806401, chr6: 32806416-32806418, chr6: 32806433-32806435, chr6: 32806435-32806437, chr6: 32806438-32806440, chr6: 32806447-32806449, chr6: 32806455-32806457, chr6: 32806473-32806475, chr6: 32806483-32806485, chr6: 32806488-32806490, chr6: 32806503-32806505, chr6: 32806509-32806511, chr6: 32806520-32806522, chr6: 32806529-32806531, chr6: 32806533-32806535, chr6: 32806542-32806544, chr6: 32806546-32806548, chr6: 32806556-32806558, chr6: 32806567-32806569, chr6: 32806573-32806575, chr6: 32806609-32806611, chr6: 32806612-32806614, chr6: 32806622-32806624, chr6: 32806624-32806626, chr6: 32806626-32806628, chr6: 32806633-32806635, chr6: 32806642-32806644, chr6: 32806655-32806657, or chr6: 32806667-32806669. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 112-119.
[0018] In some embodiments, the APM-related gene is PSMB9 (LMP2) . In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 32820849-32822370. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located in CGI region at any of chr6: 32820849-32820851, chr6: 32820856-32820858, chr6: 32820859-32820861, chr6: 32820861-32820863, chr6: 32820867-32820869, chr6: 32820889-32820891, chr6: 32820892-32820894, chr6: 32820911-32820913, chr6: 32820920-32820922, chr6: 32820923-32820925, chr6: 32820941-32820943, chr6: 32820965-32820967, chr6: 32820975-32820977, chr6: 32820992-32820994, chr6: 32820998-32821000, chr6: 32821038-32821040, chr6: 32821040-32821042, chr6: 32821046-32821048, chr6: 32821072-32821074, chr6: 32821089-32821091, chr6: 32821110-32821112, chr6: 32821154-32821156, chr6: 32821160-32821162, chr6: 32821176-32821178, chr6: 32821193-32821195, chr6: 32821214-32821216, chr6: 32821222-32821224, chr6: 32821236-32821238, chr6: 32821246-32821248, chr6: 32821260-32821262, chr6: 32821262-32821264, chr6: 32821288-32821290, chr6: 32821296-32821298, chr6: 32821298-32821300, chr6: 32821303-32821305, chr6: 32821319-32821321, chr6: 32821322-32821324, chr6: 32821352-32821354, chr6: 32821364-32821366, chr6: 32821375-32821377, chr6: 32821382-32821384, chr6: 32821384-32821386, chr6: 32821391-32821393, chr6: 32821420-32821422, chr6: 32821424-32821426, chr6: 32821427-32821429, chr6: 32821432-32821434, chr6: 32821438-32821440, chr6: 32821442-32821444, chr6: 32821458-32821460, chr6: 32821460-32821462, chr6: 32821465-32821467, chr6: 32821483-32821485, chr6: 32821490-32821492, chr6: 32821493-32821495, chr6: 32821511-32821513, chr6: 32821527-32821529, chr6: 32821533-32821535, chr6: 32821542-32821544, chr6: 32821571-32821573, chr6: 32821577-32821579, chr6: 32821604-32821606, chr6: 32821610-32821612, chr6: 32821616-32821618, chr6: 32821620-32821622, chr6: 32821638-32821640, chr6: 32821683-32821685, chr6: 32821707-32821709, chr6: 32821741-32821743, chr6: 32821754-32821756, chr6: 32821813-32821815, chr6: 32821824-32821826, chr6: 32821836-32821838, chr6: 32821858-32821860, chr6: 32821864-32821866, chr6: 32821867-32821869, chr6: 32821869-32821871, chr6: 32821871-32821873, chr6: 32821884-32821886, chr6: 32821897-32821899, chr6: 32821907-32821909, chr6: 32821910-32821912, chr6: 32821913-32821915, chr6: 32821915-32821917, chr6: 32821923-32821925, chr6: 32821932-32821934, chr6: 32821938-32821940, chr6: 32821940-32821942, chr6: 32821947-32821949, chr6: 32821979-32821981, chr6: 32821982-32821984, chr6: 32821991-32821993, chr6: 32822012-32822014, chr6: 32822016-32822018, chr6: 32822029-32822031, chr6: 32822042-32822044, chr6: 32822046-32822048, chr6: 32822062-32822064, chr6: 32822114-32822116, chr6: 32822134-32822136, chr6: 32822136-32822138, chr6: 32822138-32822140, chr6: 32822140-32822142, chr6: 32822164-32822166, chr6: 32822170-32822172, chr6: 32822181-32822183, chr6: 32822197-32822199, chr6: 32822208-32822210, chr6: 32822245-32822247, chr6: 32822258-32822260, chr6: 32822275-32822277, chr6: 32822277-32822279, chr6: 32822295-32822297, chr6: 32822321-32822323, chr6: 32822327-32822329, chr6: 32822345-32822347, chr6: 32822351-32822353, chr6: 32822368-32822370. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 64-103.
[0019] In some embodiments, the APM-related gene is PSMB8 (LMP7) . In some embodiments, the methylation site is located in CGI region at chr6: 32811494-32811839. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located in CGI region at any of chr6: 32811494-32811496, chr6: 32811501-32811503, chr6: 32811520-32811522, chr6: 32811533-32811535, chr6: 32811535-32811537, chr6: 32811541-32811543, chr6: 32811547-32811549, chr6: 32811564-32811566, chr6: 32811582-32811584, chr6: 32811586-32811588, chr6: 32811622-32811624, chr6: 32811636-32811638, chr6: 32811646-32811648, chr6: 32811660-32811662, chr6: 32811689-32811691, chr6: 32811693-32811695, chr6: 32811696-32811698, chr6: 32811700-32811702, chr6: 32811707-32811709, chr6: 32811713-32811715, chr6: 32811722-32811724, chr6: 32811728-32811730, chr6: 32811732-32811734, chr6: 32811741-32811743, chr6: 32811751-32811753, chr6: 32811767-32811769, chr6: 32811776-32811778, chr6: 32811799-32811801, chr6: 32811805-32811807, chr6: 32811823-32811825, or chr6: 32811837-32811839. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 104-111.
[0020] In some embodiments, the effector domain comprises a demethylase selected from the group consisting of Tet1, Tet2, Tet3, an AID / APOBEC family enzyme, or base excision repair glycosylase family enzyme, or a functional fragment thereof.
[0021] In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system further comprises an activator domain. In some embodiments, the activator domain is selected from the group consisting of MS2, VP64, SunTag, or a fragment thereof.
[0022] In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system further comprises a nuclear localization sequence.
[0023] In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain and the effector domain, and optionally the activator domain, are connected by one or more linker sequences. In some embodiments, the linker sequence is about 10-100 amino acids long.
[0024] In some embodiments, the target site is upstream of the methylation site. In some embodiments, the target site is about 1-100 bp upstream, about 5-50 bp upstream, about 10-30 bp upstream, or about 20 bp upstream from the methylation site. In some embodiments, the target site is downstream of the methylation site. In some embodiments, the target site is about 1-100 bp downstream, about 5-50 bp downstream, about 10-30 bp downstream, or about 20 bp downstream from the methylation site. In some embodiments, the target site is on the same strand of dsDNA as the methylation site. In some embodiments, the target site is on the opposite strand of dsDNA as the methylation site.
[0025] In some embodiments, wherein the fusion protein further comprises a histone acetyltransferase domain. In some embodiments, recruitment of the fusion protein to the target site further results in acetylation of a histone adjacent to the target site.
[0026] In some embodiments, the method further comprises introducing into the cancer cell a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system, wherein the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system comprises a second fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the second fusion protein, wherein the second fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain, and 2) a histone acetyltransferase or a fragment thereof, wherein recruitment of the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system to a second target site results in acetylation of a histone adjacent to the second target site. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a catalytically inactive site-specific DNA binding protein or a functional fragment thereof.
[0027] In some embodiments, the histone acetyltransferase domain comprises P300.
[0028] In some embodiments, the method comprises introduction of the site-specific demethylation fusion protein, of a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, and optionally the gRNA into the cell. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system and the gRNA are introduced into the cell separately. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system and the gRNA are introduced into the cell simultaneously. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation fusion protein, or a nucleic acid encoding the same, and / or the gRNA are introduced via lipid nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the method comprises introduction of a nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation system and / or a nucleic acid comprising the gRNA. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation system and the nucleic acid comprising the gRNA are introduced into the cell separately. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation system and the nucleic acid comprising the gRNA are introduced into the cell simultaneously.
[0029] In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation fusion protein, or a nucleic acid encoding the same, and / or the gRNA are introduced in lipid nanoparticles.
[0030] In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation system is on a vector. In some embodiments, the vector is a viral vector.
[0031] In some embodiments, the gRNA is about 10 to about 200 base pairs in length. In some embodiments, the spacer sequence is about 10 to about 25 base pairs long. In some embodiments, the gRNA is modified.
[0032] In some embodiments, the method comprises introducing into the cell two or more gRNAs capable of binding to two or more target sites. In some embodiments, recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to the two or more target sites results in modulation of methylation of two or more APM-related genes.
[0033] In other aspects, provided herein is a method of treating cancer in an individual, the method comprising modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell in the individual according to a method described herein.
[0034] In other aspects, provided herein is a method of treating cancer in an individual, the method comprising introducing into a cancer cell of the individual a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a nuclease domain comprising a catalytically inactive site-specific nuclease or a functional fragment thereof, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity. In some embodiments, introducing into the cell of the individual a site-specific demethylation system results in increased expression of an APM-related gene in the cancer cell. In some embodiments, the method further comprises administering to the individual an effective amount of an immunotherapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of: an immune checkpoint inhibitor, a cancer vaccine, a TIL, or a CAR-T. In some embodiments, the immune checkpoint inhibitor is a PD-1 inhibitor, a PD-L1 inhibitor, or a CTLA-4 inhibitor.
[0035] In some embodiments, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, liver cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, lung squamous cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, colon cancer, and rectal cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and bladder cancer.
[0036] In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining methylation state of the methylation site in the cell of the individual prior to the treatment. In some embodiments, determining methylation state of the methylation site comprises obtaining a methylation profile of the APM-related gene in the cancer cell in the individual. In some embodiments, the individual is selected by determining methylation state of the methylation site.
[0037] In other aspects, provided herein is a site-specific demethylation system for upregulating an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain or a functional fragment thereof, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to a target site results in demethylation at the methylation site. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is a catalytically inactive Cas protein. In other aspects, provided herein is a kit comprising: a) a site-specific demethylation system of described herein, and, b) one or more gRNAs, each comprising a spacer sequence capable of hybridizing to a target site adjacent to a methylation site. In some embodiments, the methylation site is in an APM gene in a cancer cell.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Provided herein, in some aspects, are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell. In certain aspects, the methods of modulating methylation taught herein comprise introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein comprising a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain binds to the target site to recruit the site-specific demethylation system to the methylation site, and recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to a target site results in demethylation at the methylation site. In other aspects, provided herein are methods of modulating acetylation of a histone. In certain aspects, the methods of modulating histone acetylation of a histone taught herein comprise introducing into the cell a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system. In some embodiments, the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system comprises a fusion protein comprising a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain having histone acetylation activity, e.g., a histone acetyltransferase or a fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain binds to the target site to recruit the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system to the histone, and recruitment of the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system to a target site results in acetylation of a histone. In other aspects, provided herein are method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene and modulating acetylation of a histone in a cancer cell, wherein the methods comprise introducing into the cell (i) a site-specific demethylation system further comprising an effector domain having a histone acetyltransferase domain, (ii) a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system further comprising an effector domain comprising an effector domain having demethylation activity, and / or (iii) a site-specific demethylation system and a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system. Further described herein are nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides described herein, systems comprising additional components useful for editing, such as gRNA, methods of treating cancer, and kits directed to practicing the methods described herein.
[0039] The disclosure provided herein is based, at least in part, on the inventors’ unique perspectives associated with a novel method of treating cancer using a site-specific demethylation system to modulate methylation sites on APM-related genes and / or a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system to modulate histone acetylation in cancer cells. As taught herein, the inventors designed systems comprising a demethylase, a site-specific DNA binding domain, and a gRNA designed to recruit the site-specific demethylation system to a methylation site on an APM-related gene. The site-specific demethylation systems described herein provides a precise approach to enhancing transcription of APM-related genes in cancer cells, thus increasing recognition of cancer cells by T cells and increasing efficacy of checkpoint-based immunotherapies. Moreover, the inventors engineered systems comprising a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain having histone acetylation activity, e.g., a histone acetyltransferase or a fragment thereof, to modulate chromatin structure and increase the expression of APM-related genes.
[0040] Thus, in some aspects, provided herein is a method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain binds to a target site to recruit the site-specific demethylation system to the methylation site. In some embodiments, recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to a target site results in demethylation at the methylation site.
[0041] In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein the site-specific DNA binding protein comprises a catalytically inactive Cas protein, TALE domain, or Zinc finger domain.
[0042] In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein the site-specific DNA binding protein comprises a catalytically inactive Cas protein, and wherein the system further comprises a gRNA.
[0043] In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, wherein the APM-related gene is selected from the group consisting of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, B2M, TAP-1, TAP-2, PSMB9 (LMP2) , and PSMB8 (LMP7) .
[0044] In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein the system further comprises an activator domain selected from the group consisting of MS2, VP64, SunTag, or a fragment thereof.
[0045] In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein the system further comprises a histone acetyltransferase domain.
[0046] In another aspect, provided herein are methods of treating cancer in an individual, comprising modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell in the individual.
[0047] In another aspect, provided herein is a site-specific demethylation system for upregulating an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain (e.g., a nuclease domain comprising a catalytically inactive site-specific nuclease or a functional fragment thereof) , and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to a target site results in demethylation at the methylation site.
[0048] In another aspect, provided herein are kits comprising a site-specific demethylation system for upregulating an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain (e.g., a nuclease domain comprising a catalytically inactive site-specific nuclease or a functional fragment thereof) , and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to a target site results in demethylation at the methylation site. I. Definitions
[0049] For purposes of interpreting this specification, the following definitions will apply and whenever appropriate, terms used in the singular will also include the plural and vice versa. In the event that any definition set forth below conflicts with any document incorporated herein by reference, the definition set forth shall control.
[0050] The terms “polypeptide” and “protein, ” as used herein, may be used interchangeably to refer to a polymer comprising amino acid residues, and are not limited to a minimum length. Such polymers may be translational fusions of two or more proteins. Such polymers may contain natural or non-natural amino acid residues, or combinations thereof, and include, but are not limited to, peptides, polypeptides, oligopeptides, dimers, trimers, and multimers of amino acid residues. Full-length polypeptides or proteins, and fragments thereof, are encompassed by this definition. The terms also include modified species thereof, e.g., post-translational modifications of one or more residues, for example, methylation, phosphorylation glycosylation, sialylation, or acetylation.
[0051] The term “polynucleotide, ” as used herein, refers to a polymeric form of nucleotides of any length, and may be either ribonucleotides (RNA) or deoxyribonucleotides (DNA) . Thus, this term includes, but is not limited to unless specifically stated to be so limited, single-, double-or multi-stranded DNA or RNA, genomic DNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) , cDNA, DNA-RNA hybrids, or a polymer comprising purine and pyrimidine bases, or other natural, chemically or biochemically modified, non-natural, or derivatized nucleotide bases. The backbone of the polynucleotide can comprise sugars and phosphate groups (as may typically be found in RNA or DNA) , or modified or substituted sugar or phosphate groups. Alternatively, the backbone of the polynucleotide can comprise a polymer of synthetic subunits such as phosphoramidates and phosphorothioates, and thus can be an oligodeoxynucleoside phosphoramidate (P-NH2) or a mixed phosphoramidate-phosphodiester oligomer. In addition, a double-stranded polynucleotide can be obtained from the single stranded polynucleotide product of chemical synthesis either by synthesizing the complementary strand and annealing the strands under appropriate conditions, or by synthesizing the complementary strand de novo using a DNA polymerase with an appropriate primer.
[0052] As used herein, “treatment” or “treating” is an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired results, including clinical results. For purposes of this invention, beneficial or desired clinical results include, but are not limited to, alleviating one or more symptoms of a disease associated with DNA methylation, e.g., cancer, reducing one or more symptoms of a disease, preventing one or more symptoms of a disease, treating one or more symptoms of a disease, ameliorating one or more symptoms of a disease, delaying onset of one or more symptoms associated with having a disease, diminishing the extent of one or more symptoms of a disease, stabilizing the disease (e.g., preventing or delaying the worsening of the disease) , delaying or slowing the progression of the disease, decreasing the dose of one or more other medications and / or treatments required to treat the disease, increasing the quality of life of the individual, and / or prolonging survival of the individual. Also encompassed by “treatment” is a reduction of a pathological consequence of a disease associated with DNA methylation, e.g., cancer. The methods of the invention contemplate any one or more of these aspects of treatment.
[0053] The term “individual” refers to a mammal and includes, but is not limited to, human, bovine, horse, feline, canine, rodent, or primate. In some embodiments, the individual is human.
[0054] The terms “comprising, ” “having, ” “containing, ” and “including, ” and other similar forms, and grammatical equivalents thereof, as used herein, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and to be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. For example, an article “comprising” components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also one or more other components. As such, it is intended and understood that “comprises” and similar forms thereof, and grammatical equivalents thereof, include disclosure of embodiments of “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of. ”
[0055] Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit, unless the context clearly dictate otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the disclosure.
[0056] Reference to “about” a value or parameter herein includes (and describes) variations that are directed to that value or parameter per se. For example, description referring to “about X” includes description of “X. ”
[0057] As used herein, including in the appended claims, the singular forms “a, ” “or, ” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. II. Methods of modulating methylation
[0058] In certain aspects, provided herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein. In some embodiments, the fusion protein comprises a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity. In certain embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain binds to the target site to recruit the site-specific demethylation system to the methylation site. In some embodiments, recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to a target site results in demethylation at the methylation site.
[0059] Certain aspects of the site-specific demethylation systems for use in the methods taught herein are discussed in more detail in a modular fashion below. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand how the aspects of the present description can be combined to obtain any site-specific demethylation system encompassed by the teachings provided herein. The discussion of site-specific demethylation systems, including components and configurations thereof, in a modular fashion does not limit the scope of the description encompassed herein. A. Effector domains
[0060] In certain aspects, provided herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises an effector domain having demethylation activity. Gene activation during development is associated with demethylation of promoter and enhancer sequences. Demethylation can be achieved through oxidation of the methyl group by TET (ten-eleven translocation) dioxygenases to form 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) , and then restoration into unmodified cytosines by either DNA replication-dependent dilution or DNA glycosylase-initiated base excision repair (BER) , a process termed as active demethylation and proposed to operate during specific developmental stages such as preimplantation embryos or in post-mitotic neurons.
[0061] The site-specific demethylation systems described herein comprise effector domains having demethylation activity. Specific examples of effector domains include 5hmc conversion from 5mC such as Tet1 (Tet1CD) ; DNA demethylation by Tet1, ACID A, MBD4, Apobec1, Apobec2, Apobec3, Tdg, Gadd45a, Gadd45b, ROS1. In some embodiments, the effector domain comprises a demethylase. In some embodiments, the demethylase is selected from the group consisting of Tet1, Tet2, Tet3, an AID / APOBEC family enzyme, or base excision repair glycosylase family enzyme, or a functional fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the effector domain is Tet1. B. Site-specific DNA binding domains
[0062] In certain aspects, provided herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a site-specific DNA binding domain. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is a double-stranded (ds) DNA recognition domain. In some embodiments, wherein the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a catalytically inactive site-specific DNA binding protein or a functional fragment thereof.
[0063] As described herein, the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a polypeptide (and in some embodiments comprises a nucleic acid component, such as a guide) configured to bind to a dsDNA, such as at a specific location to enable action of the demethylation system at a specific target site. As described in more detail below, the site-specific DNA binding domain can be configured (e.g., is programmable) to bind to a specific location, including strand, of dsDNA relative to the target site to be edited. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain does not comprise a nucleic acid component, e.g., the site-specific DNA binding domains is a TALE or zinc finger, or a portion thereof capable of binding to the dsDNA. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding protein, or the functional fragment thereof, is a Cas protein. In certain embodiments, the Cas protein is selected from the group consisting of: Type I Cas, Type II Cas, Type V Cas, and Type VI Cas.
[0064] In other embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a domain of a Cas protein such as Cas9, Cas12, Cas13, CasX, CasY, Cpf1, C2c1, C2c2, or C2c3, that binds DNA. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is a Cas9 protein. Cas9 recognizes a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) of 5’-NGG-3’. Cas9 comprises a RuvC domain for cleavage of the non-target strand and a HNH domain for cleavage of the target strand. In certain embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is nicking Cas9, i.e., nCas9. nCas9 is a mutated form of Cas9 wherein an amino acid substitution disables cleavage of one strand of dsDNA. In some embodiments, this mutation is D10A in the RuvC domain, enabling cleavage of only the target strand. In some embodiments, this mutation is H840A in the HNH domain, enabling cleavage of only the non-target strand. In certain embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is dead Cas9, i.e., dCas9. dCas9 is a mutated form of Cas9 with no endonuclease activity, comprising mutations of D10A in the RuvC domain and H840A in the HNH domain.
[0065] In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a guide (such as a guide RNA) for targeting a specific DNA site. In some embodiments, the guide RNA (gRNA) comprises spacer sequence capable of hybridizing to the target site and tracr RNA (scaffolding to Cas protein) as a single RNA molecule known as single guide RNA (sgRNA) . sgRNA is known in the field, e.g., US Pat. No. 11,015,193, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a spacer sequence capable of hybridizing to the target site adjacent to the methylations site and does not comprise a tracrRNA. C. Fusion proteins, configurations, and targeting
[0066] Provided herein, in certain aspects, are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system further comprises a nucleic acid for targeted editing, and such will be apparent based on the type of DNA recognition domain used. The site-specific demethylation system encompassed herein can be formed from any combination or arrangement of a described effector domain and a site-specific DNA binding domain, and, optionally, in some embodiments a targeting nucleic acid such as a gRNA.
[0067] In certain aspects, the site-specific demethylation systems are configured such that an effector domain (e.g., a demethylase) is brought into proximity of a methylation site to catalyze, at least in part, demethylation at the methylation site. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system targets a methylation site on a target DNA strand. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system targets in a non-strand specific manner, i.e., can modulate methylation on either strand of DNA.
[0068] In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises an effector domain (e.g., a demethylase) and a site-specific DNA binding domain, wherein the effector domain and site-specific DNA binding domain are configured such that the site-specific DNA binding domain, when associated with a dsDNA, positions the effector domain (e.g., demethylase) such that it can act on the methylation site. If the site-specific DNA binding domain uses a gRNA, then it can be selected / designed to be complementary to a sequence in proximity to the methylation site. Proper gRNA design limits off-target editing. Polypeptide only DNA binding domains are conceptually similar as can be selected / designed to bind DNA in proximity to the methylation site. In some embodiments, the effector domain (e.g., demethylase) and DNA binding domain are guided to the methylation site by a nucleic acid, e.g., a gRNA. In some embodiments, the gRNA target site is upstream of the methylation site. In some embodiments, the target site is about 1-100 bp upstream, about 5-50 bp upstream, about 10-30 bp upstream, or about 20 bp upstream from the methylation site. In other embodiments, the target site is downstream of the methylation site. In some embodiments, the target site is about 1-100 bp downstream, about 5-50 bp downstream, about 10-30 bp downstream, or about 20 bp downstream from the methylation site.
[0069] In some embodiments, the target site is at a specified position on a protospacer targeted by the gRNA. In certain embodiments, the target site is within positions 1 to 30 base pairs, 5 to 25 base pairs, 10 to 20 base pairs, or 14 to 18 base pairs on the protospacer. In some embodiments, directly preceding the protospacer is a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) , which is required for Cas endonuclease activity. In certain embodiments, the PAM sequence is NGG.
[0070] An effector domain (e.g., a demethylase) and a site-specific DNA binding domain can be configured in various ways, such as via direct fusion, or covalent linkage (e.g., via a polypeptide or non-polypeptide linker) . In some embodiments, the effector domain (e.g., demethylase) is fused to the site-specific DNA binding domain. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is fused to the C-terminus of the effector domain (e.g., demethylase) . In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is fused to the N-terminus of the effector domain (e.g., demethylase) . In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises a linker associating the site-specific DNA binding domain and the effector domain (e.g., demethylase) . In some embodiments, the linker is a polypeptide linker. In some embodiments, additional adjustments may be included for configuring the position of the effector domain (e.g., demethylase) , such as by adjusting a linker length connecting a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain (e.g., a demethylase) . The present disclosure encompasses such variations of the site-specific demethylation systems described herein, e.g., many variations of a site-specific demethylation system may be designed based on the teachings provided herein that perform the same methylation modulation. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is configured to bind 0-25 base pairs away, such as any of 10-20, 12-20, or 14-20 base pairs away, from a methylation site described herein. In some embodiments, the linker comprises a polypeptide linker, such as a GGGGS linker. In some embodiments, the polypeptide linker is from 1-100 amino acids in length, such as any of 1-90 amino acids in length, 1-80 amino acids in length, 1-70 amino acids in length, or 1-65 amino acids in length. In some embodiments, the polypeptide linker is any of the following amino acids in lengths: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, or 70 amino acids. In some embodiments, the linker is selected from a list composed of GS, SGGS, PAPAP, XTEN, 3×EAAAK, 32-amino acid, and 64-amino acid linkers. The site-specific demethylation systems may comprise one or more linker sequences to connect any of the fusion protein domains described herein. D. Methylation sites
[0071] In some aspects, described herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity. Thus, the site-specific DNA binding domain can be used to recruit the site-specific demethylation system to the methylation site.
[0072] In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within a promoter region of the APM-related gene. In other embodiments, the methylation site is located within a first exon of the APM-related gene. CpG sites are regions of DNA where a cytosine base is followed by a guanine base, and these sites are frequently methylated in the human genome. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within a CpG island ( “CGI” ) .
[0073] In some embodiments, the APM-related gene within which the methylation site is located is selected from the group consisting of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, B2M, TAP-1, TAP-2, PSMB9 (LMP2) , and PSMB8 (LMP7) . In some embodiments, the APM-related gene is HLA-A. Chromosomal locations for methylation sites can be specified using the reference genome hg19 (Genome assembly GRCh37) . In some embodiments, the methylation site is a CpG site at chr6: 29910202-29911367 (according to the hg19 genome build) . In some embodiments, the methylation site is a CpG site located at any of chr6: 29910202-29910204, chr6: 29910205-29910207, chr6: 29910207-29910209, chr6: 29910236-29910238, chr6: 29910263-29910265, chr6: 29910266-29910268, chr6: 29910268-29910270, chr6: 29910272-29910274, chr6: 29910287-29910289, chr6: 29910291-29910293, chr6: 29910300-29910302, chr6: 29910322-29910324, chr6: 29910325-29910327, chr6: 29910335-29910337, chr6: 29910343-29910345, chr6: 29910348-29910350, chr6: 29910370-29910372, chr6: 29910400-29910402, chr6: 29910410-29910412, chr6: 29910416-29910418, chr6: 29910428-29910430, chr6: 29910436-29910438, chr6: 29910462-29910464, chr6: 29910468-29910470, chr6: 29910476-29910478, chr6: 29910485-29910487, chr6: 29910487-29910489, chr6: 29910490-29910492, chr6: 29910495-29910497, chr6: 29910502-29910504, chr6: 29910524-29910526, chr6: 29910564-29910566, chr6: 29910571-29910573, chr6: 29910576-29910578, chr6: 29910580-29910582, chr6: 29910582-29910584, chr6: 29910592-29910594, chr6: 29910600-29910602, chr6: 29910603-29910605, chr6: 29910612-29910614, chr6: 29910618-29910620, chr6: 29910623-29910625, chr6: 29910630-29910632, chr6: 29910634-29910636, chr6: 29910639-29910641, chr6: 29910645-29910647, chr6: 29910648-29910650, chr6: 29910651-29910653, chr6: 29910653-29910655, chr6: 29910671-29910673, chr6: 29910673-29910675, chr6: 29910677-29910679, chr6: 29910680-29910682, chr6: 29910701-29910703, chr6: 29910724-29910726, chr6: 29910754-29910756, chr6: 29910775-29910777, chr6: 29910777-29910779, chr6: 29910795-29910797, chr6: 29910801-29910803, chr6: 29910814-29910816, chr6: 29910818-29910820, chr6: 29910824-29910826, chr6: 29910850-29910852, chr6: 29910854-29910856, chr6: 29910864-29910866, chr6: 29910877-29910879, chr6: 29910883-29910885, chr6: 29910895-29910897, chr6: 29910901-29910903, chr6: 29910903-29910905, chr6: 29910911-29910913, chr6: 29910925-29910927, chr6: 29910940-29910942, chr6: 29910950-29910952, chr6: 29910984-29910986, chr6: 29910993-29910995, chr6: 29911003-29911005, chr6: 29911010-29911012, chr6: 29911027-29911029, chr6: 29911029-29911031, chr6: 29911035-29911037, chr6: 29911075-29911077, chr6: 29911078-29911080, chr6: 29911086-29911088, chr6: 29911090-29911092, chr6: 29911094-29911096, chr6: 29911103-29911105, chr6: 29911105-29911107, chr6: 29911112-29911114, chr6: 29911120-29911122, chr6: 29911126-29911128, chr6: 29911129-29911131, chr6: 29911144-29911146, chr6: 29911153-29911155, chr6: 29911163-29911165, chr6: 29911174-29911176, chr6: 29911176-29911178, chr6: 29911179-29911181, chr6: 29911188-29911190, chr6: 29911205-29911207, chr6: 29911218-29911220, chr6: 29911230-29911232, chr6: 29911260-29911262, chr6: 29911264-29911266, chr6: 29911277-29911279, chr6: 29911294-29911296, chr6: 29911305-29911307, chr6: 29911313-29911315, chr6: 29911317-29911319, chr6: 29911333-29911335, chr6: 29911338-29911340, chr6: 29911350-29911352, or chr6: 29911365-29911367.
[0074] In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within the nucleic acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 137-248, described herein in Table 1.
[0075] In other embodiments, the APM-related gene is HLA-B. In some embodiments, the methylation site is a CpG site at chr6: 31323946-31325211. In some embodiments, the methylation site is a CpG site at any of chr6: 31323946-31323948, chr6: 31323948-31323950, chr6: 31323967-31323969, chr6: 31323984-31323986, chr6: 31323997-31323999, chr6: 31324003-31324005, chr6: 31324023-31324025, chr6: 31324031-31324033, chr6: 31324038-31324040, chr6: 31324043-31324045, chr6: 31324056-31324058, chr6: 31324073-31324075, chr6: 31324076-31324078, chr6: 31324082-31324084, chr6: 31324084-31324086, chr6: 31324087-31324089, chr6: 31324098-31324100, chr6: 31324108-31324110, chr6: 31324117-31324119, chr6: 31324132-31324134, chr6: 31324135-31324137, chr6: 31324141-31324143, chr6: 31324156-31324158, chr6: 31324158-31324160, chr6: 31324167-31324169, chr6: 31324171-31324173, chr6: 31324175-31324177, chr6: 31324183-31324185, chr6: 31324186-31324188, chr6: 31324192-31324194, chr6: 31324226-31324228, chr6: 31324232-31324234, chr6: 31324234-31324236, chr6: 31324251-31324253, chr6: 31324258-31324260, chr6: 31324263-31324265, chr6: 31324268-31324270, chr6: 31324277-31324279, chr6: 31324279-31324281, chr6: 31324310-31324312, chr6: 31324318-31324320, chr6: 31324320-31324322, chr6: 31324333-31324335, chr6: 31324336-31324338, chr6: 31324340-31324342, chr6: 31324352-31324354, chr6: 31324359-31324361, chr6: 31324361-31324363, chr6: 31324375-31324377, chr6: 31324382-31324384, chr6: 31324388-31324390, chr6: 31324396-31324398, chr6: 31324401-31324403, chr6: 31324406-31324408, chr6: 31324411-31324413, chr6: 31324415-31324417, chr6: 31324432-31324434, chr6: 31324441-31324443, chr6: 31324446-31324448, chr6: 31324451-31324453, chr6: 31324464-31324466, chr6: 31324470-31324472, chr6: 31324488-31324490, chr6: 31324490-31324492, chr6: 31324499-31324501, chr6: 31324511-31324513, chr6: 31324550-31324552, chr6: 31324564-31324566, chr6: 31324585-31324587, chr6: 31324588-31324590, chr6: 31324592-31324594, chr6: 31324594-31324596, chr6: 31324606-31324608, chr6: 31324612-31324614, chr6: 31324614-31324616, chr6: 31324617-31324619, chr6: 31324620-31324622, chr6: 31324626-31324628, chr6: 31324635-31324637, chr6: 31324647-31324649, chr6: 31324653-31324655, chr6: 31324673-31324675, chr6: 31324683-31324685, chr6: 31324685-31324687, chr6: 31324689-31324691, chr6: 31324694-31324696, chr6: 31324701-31324703, chr6: 31324759-31324761, chr6: 31324763-31324765, chr6: 31324775-31324777, chr6: 31324778-31324780, chr6: 31324780-31324782, chr6: 31324797-31324799, chr6: 31324803-31324805, chr6: 31324809-31324811, chr6: 31324818-31324820, chr6: 31324827-31324829, chr6: 31324848-31324850, chr6: 31324853-31324855, chr6: 31324862-31324864, chr6: 31324874-31324876, chr6: 31324890-31324892, chr6: 31324893-31324895, chr6: 31324910-31324912, chr6: 31324915-31324917, chr6: 31324920-31324922, chr6: 31324937-31324939, chr6: 31324940-31324942, chr6: 31324961-31324963, chr6: 31324971-31324973, chr6: 31324994-31324996, chr6: 31324996-31324998, chr6: 31324999-31325001, chr6: 31325002-31325004, chr6: 31325055-31325057, chr6: 31325057-31325059, chr6: 31325062-31325064, chr6: 31325084-31325086, chr6: 31325135-31325137, chr6: 31325140-31325142, chr6: 31325157-31325159, chr6: 31325159-31325161, chr6: 31325166-31325168, chr6: 31325190-31325192, chr6: 31325194-31325196, or chr6: 31325209-31325211.
[0076] In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within the nucleic acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 297-349, described herein in Table 1.
[0077] In other embodiments, the APM-related gene is HLA-C. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 31238852-31240120. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr6: 31238852-31238854, chr6: 31238854-31238856, chr6: 31238862-31238864, chr6: 31238873-31238875, chr6: 31238890-31238892, chr6: 31238903-31238905, chr6: 31238907-31238909, chr6: 31238937-31238939, chr6: 31238940-31238942, chr6: 31238944-31238946, chr6: 31238949-31238951, chr6: 31238962-31238964, chr6: 31238979-31238981, chr6: 31238981-31238983, chr6: 31238988-31238990, chr6: 31238990-31238992, chr6: 31238993-31238995, chr6: 31239004-31239006, chr6: 31239014-31239016, chr6: 31239023-31239025, chr6: 31239038-31239040, chr6: 31239041-31239043, chr6: 31239047-31239049, chr6: 31239062-31239064, chr6: 31239064-31239066, chr6: 31239073-31239075, chr6: 31239077-31239079, chr6: 31239080-31239082, chr6: 31239092-31239094, chr6: 31239132-31239134, chr6: 31239138-31239140, chr6: 31239140-31239142, chr6: 31239157-31239159, chr6: 31239164-31239166, chr6: 31239169-31239171, chr6: 31239174-31239176, chr6: 31239183-31239185, chr6: 31239185-31239187, chr6: 31239204-31239206, chr6: 31239216-31239218, chr6: 31239226-31239228, chr6: 31239242-31239244, chr6: 31239246-31239248, chr6: 31239258-31239260, chr6: 31239265-31239267, chr6: 31239294-31239296, chr6: 31239309-31239311, chr6: 31239314-31239316, chr6: 31239319-31239321, chr6: 31239323-31239325, chr6: 31239343-31239345, chr6: 31239352-31239354, chr6: 31239357-31239359, chr6: 31239362-31239364, chr6: 31239375-31239377, chr6: 31239381-31239383, chr6: 31239399-31239401, chr6: 31239401-31239403, chr6: 31239410-31239412, chr6: 31239422-31239424, chr6: 31239440-31239442, chr6: 31239461-31239463, chr6: 31239475-31239477, chr6: 31239496-31239498, chr6: 31239499-31239501, chr6: 31239503-31239505, chr6: 31239505-31239507, chr6: 31239517-31239519, chr6: 31239523-31239525, chr6: 31239525-31239527, chr6: 31239528-31239530, chr6: 31239531-31239533, chr6: 31239537-31239539, chr6: 31239542-31239544, chr6: 31239546-31239548, chr6: 31239553-31239555, chr6: 31239558-31239560, chr6: 31239564-31239566, chr6: 31239584-31239586, chr6: 31239594-31239596, chr6: 31239596-31239598, chr6: 31239600-31239602, chr6: 31239605-31239607, chr6: 31239612-31239614, chr6: 31239615-31239617, chr6: 31239621-31239623, chr6: 31239652-31239654, chr6: 31239670-31239672, chr6: 31239674-31239676, chr6: 31239689-31239691, chr6: 31239691-31239693, chr6: 31239699-31239701, chr6: 31239708-31239710, chr6: 31239714-31239716, chr6: 31239717-31239719, chr6: 31239730-31239732, chr6: 31239740-31239742, chr6: 31239749-31239751, chr6: 31239766-31239768, chr6: 31239787-31239789, chr6: 31239806-31239808, chr6: 31239828-31239830, chr6: 31239833-31239835, chr6: 31239843-31239845, chr6: 31239850-31239852, chr6: 31239874-31239876, chr6: 31239901-31239903, chr6: 31239909-31239911, chr6: 31239915-31239917, chr6: 31239938-31239940, chr6: 31239967-31239969, chr6: 31239969-31239971, chr6: 31239996-31239998, chr6: 31239999-31240001, chr6: 31240044-31240046, chr6: 31240046-31240048, chr6: 31240049-31240051, chr6: 31240068-31240070, chr6: 31240099-31240101, chr6: 31240103-31240105, chr6: 31240118-31240120.
[0078] In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within the nucleic acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 249-296, described herein in Table 1.
[0079] In other embodiments, the APM-related gene is B2M. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr15: 45003460-45004345. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr15: 45003460-45003462, chr15: 45003464-45003466, chr15: 45003482-45003484, chr15: 45003484-45003486, chr15: 45003496-45003498, chr15: 45003503-45003505, chr15: 45003506-45003508, chr15: 45003559-45003561, chr15: 45003587-45003589, chr15: 45003618-45003620, chr15: 45003621-45003623, chr15: 45003642-45003644, chr15: 45003651-45003653, chr15: 45003677-45003679, chr15: 45003679-45003681, chr15: 45003698-45003700, chr15: 45003701-45003703, chr15: 45003703-45003705, chr15: 45003709-45003711, chr15: 45003735-45003737, chr15: 45003740-45003742, chr15: 45003750-45003752, chr15: 45003755-45003757, chr15: 45003773-45003775, chr15: 45003775-45003777, chr15: 45003810-45003812, chr15: 45003831-45003833, chr15: 45003851-45003853, chr15: 45003874-45003876, chr15: 45003887-45003889, chr15: 45003892-45003894, chr15: 45003927-45003929, chr15: 45003930-45003932, chr15: 45003956-45003958, chr15: 45003964-45003966, chr15: 45003967-45003969, chr15: 45003997-45003999, chr15: 45004003-45004005, chr15: 45004008-45004010, chr15: 45004010-45004012, chr15: 45004012-45004014, chr15: 45004028-45004030, chr15: 45004031-45004033, chr15: 45004058-45004060, chr15: 45004061-45004063, chr15: 45004064-45004066, chr15: 45004073-45004075, chr15: 45004090-45004092, chr15: 45004093-45004095, chr15: 45004100-45004102, chr15: 45004108-45004110, chr15: 45004111-45004113, chr15: 45004136-45004138, chr15: 45004144-45004146, chr15: 45004146-45004148, chr15: 45004167-45004169, chr15: 45004185-45004187, chr15: 45004195-45004197, chr15: 45004206-45004208, chr15: 45004208-45004210, chr15: 45004211-45004213, chr15: 45004227-45004229, chr15: 45004229-45004231, chr15: 45004239-45004241, chr15: 45004259-45004261, chr15: 45004262-45004264, chr15: 45004266-45004268, chr15: 45004285-45004287, chr15: 45004322-45004324, chr15: 45004330-45004332, chr15: 45004334-45004336, or chr15: 45004343-45004345.
[0080] In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within the nucleic acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 120-136, described herein in Table 1.
[0081] In other embodiments, the APM-related gene is TAP-1. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 32820849-32822370. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr6: 32820849-32820851, chr6: 32820856-32820858, chr6: 32820859-32820861, chr6: 32820861-32820863, chr6: 32820867-32820869, chr6: 32820889-32820891, chr6: 32820892-32820894, chr6: 32820911-32820913, chr6: 32820920-32820922, chr6: 32820923-32820925, chr6: 32820941-32820943, chr6: 32820965-32820967, chr6: 32820975-32820977, chr6: 32820992-32820994, chr6: 32820998-32821000, chr6: 32821038-32821040, chr6: 32821040-32821042, chr6: 32821046-32821048, chr6: 32821072-32821074, chr6: 32821089-32821091, chr6: 32821110-32821112, chr6: 32821154-32821156, chr6: 32821160-32821162, chr6: 32821176-32821178, chr6: 32821193-32821195, chr6: 32821214-32821216, chr6: 32821222-32821224, chr6: 32821236-32821238, chr6: 32821246-32821248, chr6: 32821260-32821262, chr6: 32821262-32821264, chr6: 32821288-32821290, chr6: 32821296-32821298, chr6: 32821298-32821300, chr6: 32821303-32821305, chr6: 32821319-32821321, chr6: 32821322-32821324, chr6: 32821352-32821354, chr6: 32821364-32821366, chr6: 32821375-32821377, chr6: 32821382-32821384, chr6: 32821384-32821386, chr6: 32821391-32821393, chr6: 32821420-32821422, chr6: 32821424-32821426, chr6: 32821427-32821429, chr6: 32821432-32821434, chr6: 32821438-32821440, chr6: 32821442-32821444, chr6: 32821458-32821460, chr6: 32821460-32821462, chr6: 32821465-32821467, chr6: 32821483-32821485, chr6: 32821490-32821492, chr6: 32821493-32821495, chr6: 32821511-32821513, chr6: 32821527-32821529, chr6: 32821533-32821535, chr6: 32821542-32821544, chr6: 32821571-32821573, chr6: 32821577-32821579, chr6: 32821604-32821606, chr6: 32821610-32821612, chr6: 32821616-32821618, chr6: 32821620-32821622, chr6: 32821638-32821640, chr6: 32821683-32821685, chr6: 32821707-32821709, chr6: 32821741-32821743, chr6: 32821754-32821756, chr6: 32821813-32821815, chr6: 32821824-32821826, chr6: 32821836-32821838, chr6: 32821858-32821860, chr6: 32821864-32821866, chr6: 32821867-32821869, chr6: 32821869-32821871, chr6: 32821871-32821873, chr6: 32821884-32821886, chr6: 32821897-32821899, chr6: 32821907-32821909, chr6: 32821910-32821912, chr6: 32821913-32821915, chr6: 32821915-32821917, chr6: 32821923-32821925, chr6: 32821932-32821934, chr6: 32821938-32821940, chr6: 32821940-32821942, chr6: 32821947-32821949, chr6: 32821979-32821981, chr6: 32821982-32821984, chr6: 32821991-32821993, chr6: 32822012-32822014, chr6: 32822016-32822018, chr6: 32822029-32822031, chr6: 32822042-32822044, chr6: 32822046-32822048, chr6: 32822062-32822064, chr6: 32822114-32822116, chr6: 32822134-32822136, chr6: 32822136-32822138, chr6: 32822138-32822140, chr6: 32822140-32822142, chr6: 32822164-32822166, chr6: 32822170-32822172, chr6: 32822181-32822183, chr6: 32822197-32822199, chr6: 32822208-32822210, chr6: 32822245-32822247, chr6: 32822258-32822260, chr6: 32822275-32822277, chr6: 32822277-32822279, chr6: 32822295-32822297, chr6: 32822321-32822323, chr6: 32822327-32822329, chr6: 32822345-32822347, chr6: 32822351-32822353, chr6: 32822368-32822370.
[0082] In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within the nucleic acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 488-679, described herein in Table 1.
[0083] In other embodiments, the APM-related gene is TAP-2. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 32806284-32806669. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr6: 32806284-32806286, chr6: 32806291-32806293, chr6: 32806293-32806295, chr6: 32806296-32806298, chr6: 32806310-32806312, chr6: 32806317-32806319, chr6: 32806330-32806332, chr6: 32806333-32806335, chr6: 32806361-32806363, chr6: 32806387-32806389, chr6: 32806399-32806401, chr6: 32806416-32806418, chr6: 32806433-32806435, chr6: 32806435-32806437, chr6: 32806438-32806440, chr6: 32806447-32806449, chr6: 32806455-32806457, chr6: 32806473-32806475, chr6: 32806483-32806485, chr6: 32806488-32806490, chr6: 32806503-32806505, chr6: 32806509-32806511, chr6: 32806520-32806522, chr6: 32806529-32806531, chr6: 32806533-32806535, chr6: 32806542-32806544, chr6: 32806546-32806548, chr6: 32806556-32806558, chr6: 32806567-32806569, chr6: 32806573-32806575, chr6: 32806609-32806611, chr6: 32806612-32806614, chr6: 32806622-32806624, chr6: 32806624-32806626, chr6: 32806626-32806628, chr6: 32806633-32806635, chr6: 32806642-32806644, chr6: 32806655-32806657, or chr6: 32806667-32806669.
[0084] In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within the nucleic acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 350-503, described herein in Table 1.
[0085] In other embodiments, the APM-related gene is PSMB9 (LMP2) . In some embodiments, the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 32820849-32822370. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located in CGI region at any of chr6: 32820849-32820851, chr6: 32820856-32820858, chr6: 32820859-32820861, chr6: 32820861-32820863, chr6: 32820867-32820869, chr6: 32820889-32820891, chr6: 32820892-32820894, chr6: 32820911-32820913, chr6: 32820920-32820922, chr6: 32820923-32820925, chr6: 32820941-32820943, chr6: 32820965-32820967, chr6: 32820975-32820977, chr6: 32820992-32820994, chr6: 32820998-32821000, chr6: 32821038-32821040, chr6: 32821040-32821042, chr6: 32821046-32821048, chr6: 32821072-32821074, chr6: 32821089-32821091, chr6: 32821110-32821112, chr6: 32821154-32821156, chr6: 32821160-32821162, chr6: 32821176-32821178, chr6: 32821193-32821195, chr6: 32821214-32821216, chr6: 32821222-32821224, chr6: 32821236-32821238, chr6: 32821246-32821248, chr6: 32821260-32821262, chr6: 32821262-32821264, chr6: 32821288-32821290, chr6: 32821296-32821298, chr6: 32821298-32821300, chr6: 32821303-32821305, chr6: 32821319-32821321, chr6: 32821322-32821324, chr6: 32821352-32821354, chr6: 32821364-32821366, chr6: 32821375-32821377, chr6: 32821382-32821384, chr6: 32821384-32821386, chr6: 32821391-32821393, chr6: 32821420-32821422, chr6: 32821424-32821426, chr6: 32821427-32821429, chr6: 32821432-32821434, chr6: 32821438-32821440, chr6: 32821442-32821444, chr6: 32821458-32821460, chr6: 32821460-32821462, chr6: 32821465-32821467, chr6: 32821483-32821485, chr6: 32821490-32821492, chr6: 32821493-32821495, chr6: 32821511-32821513, chr6: 32821527-32821529, chr6: 32821533-32821535, chr6: 32821542-32821544, chr6: 32821571-32821573, chr6: 32821577-32821579, chr6: 32821604-32821606, chr6: 32821610-32821612, chr6: 32821616-32821618, chr6: 32821620-32821622, chr6: 32821638-32821640, chr6: 32821683-32821685, chr6: 32821707-32821709, chr6: 32821741-32821743, chr6: 32821754-32821756, chr6: 32821813-32821815, chr6: 32821824-32821826, chr6: 32821836-32821838, chr6: 32821858-32821860, chr6: 32821864-32821866, chr6: 32821867-32821869, chr6: 32821869-32821871, chr6: 32821871-32821873, chr6: 32821884-32821886, chr6: 32821897-32821899, chr6: 32821907-32821909, chr6: 32821910-32821912, chr6: 32821913-32821915, chr6: 32821915-32821917, chr6: 32821923-32821925, chr6: 32821932-32821934, chr6: 32821938-32821940, chr6: 32821940-32821942, chr6: 32821947-32821949, chr6: 32821979-32821981, chr6: 32821982-32821984, chr6: 32821991-32821993, chr6: 32822012-32822014, chr6: 32822016-32822018, chr6: 32822029-32822031, chr6: 32822042-32822044, chr6: 32822046-32822048, chr6: 32822062-32822064, chr6: 32822114-32822116, chr6: 32822134-32822136, chr6: 32822136-32822138, chr6: 32822138-32822140, chr6: 32822140-32822142, chr6: 32822164-32822166, chr6: 32822170-32822172, chr6: 32822181-32822183, chr6: 32822197-32822199, chr6: 32822208-32822210, chr6: 32822245-32822247, chr6: 32822258-32822260, chr6: 32822275-32822277, chr6: 32822277-32822279, chr6: 32822295-32822297, chr6: 32822321-32822323, chr6: 32822327-32822329, chr6: 32822345-32822347, chr6: 32822351-32822353, chr6: 32822368-32822370.
[0086] In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within the nucleic acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 481-694, described herein in Table 1.
[0087] In other embodiments, the APM-related gene is PSMB8 (LMP7) . In some embodiments, the methylation site is located in CGI region at chr6: 32811494-32811839. In some embodiments, the methylation site is located in CGI region at any of chr6: 32811494-32811496, chr6: 32811501-32811503, chr6: 32811520-32811522, chr6: 32811533-32811535, chr6: 32811535-32811537, chr6: 32811541-32811543, chr6: 32811547-32811549, chr6: 32811564-32811566, chr6: 32811582-32811584, chr6: 32811586-32811588, chr6: 32811622-32811624, chr6: 32811636-32811638, chr6: 32811646-32811648, chr6: 32811660-32811662, chr6: 32811689-32811691, chr6: 32811693-32811695, chr6: 32811696-32811698, chr6: 32811700-32811702, chr6: 32811707-32811709, chr6: 32811713-32811715, chr6: 32811722-32811724, chr6: 32811728-32811730, chr6: 32811732-32811734, chr6: 32811741-32811743, chr6: 32811751-32811753, chr6: 32811767-32811769, chr6: 32811776-32811778, chr6: 32811799-32811801, chr6: 32811805-32811807, chr6: 32811823-32811825, or chr6: 32811837-32811839.
[0088] In some embodiments, the methylation site is located within the nucleic acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 432-578, described herein in Table 1.
[0089] In some embodiments, provided herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in one or more APM related genes in a cancer cell. In some embodiments, the methylation sites to be modulated are located in one or more of, two or more of, three of more of, four or more of, five or more of, six or more of, seven or more of, or all of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, B2M, TAP-1, TAP-2, PSMB9 (LMP2) , and PSMB8 (LMP7) .
[0090] In some aspects, the gRNAs described herein may be used to direct the site-specific demethylation system to any of the methylation sites described herein. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15, targeting methylation sites within HLA-A. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 16-29, targeting methylation sites within HLA-B. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 30-49, targeting methylation sites within HLA-C. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 50-63, targeting methylation sites within B2M. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 64-103, targeting methylation sites within TAP-1. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 112-119, targeting methylation sites within TAP-2. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 64-103, targeting methylation sites with PSMB9 (LMP2) . In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 104-111, targeting methylation sites within PSMB8 (LMP7) .
[0091] gRNA length may be varied to refine targeting of the site-specific demethylation system described herein. A gRNA described herein may be about 10 to about 200 base pairs in length. In some embodiments, such a gRNA targets a spacer sequence that is about 10 to about 25 base pairs long. In some embodiments, the gRNA is modified.
[0092] In some embodiments, the methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell further comprise introducing into the cell two or more gRNAs capable of binding to two or more target sites. In some embodiments, recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to the two or more target sites results in modulation of methylation of two or more APM-related genes.
[0093] As described herein, the site-specific DNA binding domains of a site-specific demethylation system may be configured to position an associated effector domain (e.g., a demethylase) relative to one or more methylation sites. In some embodiments, the effector domain (e.g., a demethylase) may demethylate one or more methylation sites. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain recognizes DNA that occurs at a single target site. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain recognizes DNA that occurs at different target sites (e.g., the target sequence recognized by the site-specific DNA binding domain occurs at two or more different locations of the genome) .
[0094] In some embodiments, the dsDNA targeted for demethylation by the site-specific demethylation systems described herein can be any type of double-stranded DNA. In some embodiments, the dsDNA is a circularized dsDNA. In some embodiments, the dsDNA is a B-DNA conformation. In some embodiments, the dsDNA is an A-DNA conformation. In some embodiments, the dsDNA is a Z-DNA conformation. E. Additional components
[0095] Provided herein, in certain aspects, are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity. In certain aspects, the site-specific demethylation systems provided herein may comprise one or more additional features, such as to aid in delivery and / or function of the site-specific demethylation systems. For example, in some embodiments, the fusion protein further comprises a nuclear localization sequence.
[0096] In some embodiments, the fusion proteins provided herein further comprise one or more activator domains. In some embodiments, the activator domain is selected from the group consisting of MS2, VP64, SunTag, or a fragment thereof. Such activator domains enhance the transcriptional activation activity of the site-specific demethylation systems provided herein. In some embodiments, the activator domain is connected to a site-specific demethylation system described here by a linker.
[0097] Histone acetylation levels have also been found to modulate chromatin accessibility, and therefore transcription regulation, of APM-related genes. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation systems provided herein further comprise a histone acetyltransferase domain. In some embodiments, recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system comprising a histone acetyltransferase domain to a methylation site further results in acetylation of a histone adjacent to the methylation site.
[0098] In some aspects, provided herein is a method further comprising introducing into a cell an effector domain or molecule having histone acetyltransferase activity, such as a histone acetyltransferase or fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the histone acetyltransferase effector domain is a component of the site-specific demethylation system (for example, the histone acetyltransferase can be part of the fusion protein) . In some embodiments, the method comprises introducing into a cell a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system, wherein the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a site-specific DNA binding domain and a histone acetyltransferase or a fragment thereof, wherein recruitment of the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system to a target site results in acetylation of a histone adjacent to the target site.
[0099] In some embodiments, the histone acetyltransferase domains described herein comprise a histone acetylase selected from the group consisting of Gcn5, PCAF, Hat1, Elp3, Hpa2, Hpa3, ATF-2, Nut1, Esa1, Sas2, Sas3 (Ybf2) , Tip60, MOF, MOZ, MORF, HBO1, p300, CBP, SRC-1, ACTR, TIF-2, TAFII250 (TAF1) , TFIIIC (p220, p110, p90) , Rtt109, and CLOCK. In some embodiments, the histone acetyltransferase domain comprises a P300 domain. P300 is a transcriptional co-activator histone acetyltransferase. In some embodiments, the histone acetyltransferase domain comprises a CBP domain. F. Delivery of systems
[0100] Modulation of methylation sites in cells requires the use of techniques to deliver the site-specific demethylation systems described herein to target genes. In some embodiments, the method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell comprises introduction of the site-specific demethylation protein, or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, and optionally the gRNA into the cell. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system and the gRNA are introduced into the cell separately. In other embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system and the gRNA are introduced into the cell simultaneously. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system and / or the gRNA are introduced using cell-penetrating peptides, bacterial contraction injection systems, or engineered virus-like particles that mimic viruses. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation fusion protein, or a nucleic acid encoding the same, and / or the gRNA are introduced via lipid nanoparticles.
[0101] In some embodiments, the method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell comprises introduction of one or more nucleic acids encoding the site-specific demethylation fusion protein and optionally comprising the gRNA into the cell. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation fusion protein and the nucleic acid comprising the gRNA are introduced into the cell separately. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation fusion protein and the nucleic acid comprising the gRNA are introduced into the cell simultaneously. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation fusion protein, or a nucleic acid encoding the same, and / or the gRNA are introduced in lipid nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation fusion protein is on a vector. In some embodiments, the vector is a viral vector.
[0102] In some embodiments, the method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell comprises introduction of one or more nucleic acids encoding the site-specific demethylation fusion protein and optionally comprising the gRNA into the cell. In some embodiments, the cancer cell is selected from the group consisting of a breast cancer cell, a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell, a liver cancer cell, a prostate cancer cell, an endometrial cancer cell, a lung squamous cell carcinoma cell, a lung adenocarcinoma cell, a colon cancer cell, a rectal cancer cell, an esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell, and a bladder cancer cell.
[0103] In some embodiments, the method can be practiced in a variety of cell lines. In certain embodiments, the cell line is selected from a group consisting of human cell lines HEK293T and HCT116, mouse cell line N2A, and monkey cell lines NIH3T3 and Cos-7. G. Example site-specific demethylation systems
[0104] Described herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a gRNA and a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a dCas9 domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein said gRNA is configured to target a methylation site within HLA-A.
[0105] Described herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a gRNA and a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a dCas9 domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein said gRNA is configured to target a methylation site within HLA-B.
[0106] Described herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a gRNA and a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a dCas9 domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein said gRNA is configured to target a methylation site within HLA-C.
[0107] Described herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a gRNA and a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a dCas9 domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein said gRNA is configured to target a methylation site within B2M.
[0108] Described herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a gRNA and a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a dCas9 domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein said gRNA is configured to target a methylation site within TAP-1.
[0109] Described herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a gRNA and a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a dCas9 domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein said gRNA is configured to target a methylation site within TAP-2.
[0110] Described herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a gRNA and a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a dCas9 domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein said gRNA is configured to target a methylation site within PSMB9 (LMP2) .
[0111] Described herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a gRNA and a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a dCas9 domain and an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein said gRNA is configured to target a methylation site within PSMB8 (LMP7) .
[0112] Described herein are methods of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to a target site results in demethylation at the methylation site. In some embodiments, the demethylation at the methylation site increases expression of the APM-related gene relative to a methylated state. In certain embodiments, the expression increases at least about 1.5-fold, at least about 2-fold, at least about 3-fold, at least about 4-fold, at least about 5-fold, at least about 10-fold, at least about 50-fold, at least about 100-fold, or at least about 1000-fold. In some embodiments, the demethylation at the methylation site increases tumor antigen presentation on the tumor cell. In some embodiments, the presentation increases at least about 2-fold, at least about 3-fold, at least about 4-fold, at least about 5-fold, at least about 10-fold, at least about 50-fold, at least about 100-fold, or at least about 1000-fold. In some embodiments, the recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to the target site further results in demethylation at one or more other methylation sites. H. Polynucleotide forms of the polypeptides described herein
[0113] Provided herein, in certain aspects, are polynucleotide forms of site-specific methylation system fusion proteins described herein. The disclosure provided herein covers a multitude of formats capable of introducing functional site-specific methylation system fusion proteins described herein in a cancer cell, including different types of polynucleotides (e.g., DNA or RNA, such as circular RNA) and different designs of polynucleotides.
[0114] “Introducing” or “introduction” used herein in reference to delivering site-specific methylation system fusion proteins means delivering one or more components of a site-specific methylation system fusion protein a precursor thereof (e.g., one or more polynucleotides encoding a site-specific methylation system fusion protein or a component thereof) , to a cell. The compositions and methods of the present application can employ many delivery systems, including but not limited to, viral, liposome, electroporation, nanoparticle, microinjection and conjugation, to achieve the introduction of the construct as described herein into a cell. Conventional viral and non-viral based gene transfer methods can be used to introduce nucleic acids into mammalian cells or target tissues. Such methods can be used to administer nucleic acids of the present application to cells in culture, or in a host organism. Non-viral vector delivery systems include DNA plasmids, RNA (e.g., a transcript of a construct described herein) , naked nucleic acid, and nucleic acid complexed with a delivery vehicle, such as a liposome. Viral vector delivery systems include DNA and RNA viruses, which have either episomal or integrated genomes for delivery to the cell. As described herein, the polynucleotides taught herein encoding a site-specific methylation system fusion protein may be one or more polynucleotides. In some embodiments, introducing the site-specific methylation system fusion protein may comprise introducing two or more different polynucleotides, wherein said two or more different polynucleotides may be introduced simultaneously, sequentially, or concurrently, including introduced simultaneously, sequentially, or concurrently into the cell.
[0115] Methods of non-viral delivery of one or more components of a site-specific methylation system fusion protein, including nucleic acids, include lipofection, nucleofection, microinjection, biolistics, virosomes, liposomes, immunoliposomes, polycation or lipid: nucleic acid conjugates, electroporation, nanoparticles, exosomes, microvesicles, or gene-gun, naked DNA and artificial virions.
[0116] In some embodiments, the polynucleotides described herein comprise additional features useful for expression of a demethylation system in a cancer cell, such as a promoter sequence. A promoter can be constitutively active, meaning that the promoter is always active in a given cellular context, or conditionally active, meaning that the promoter is only active in the presence of a specific condition. For example, a conditional promoter may only be active in the presence of a specific protein that connects a protein associated with a regulatory element in the promoter to the basic transcriptional machinery, or only in the absence of an inhibitory molecule. A subclass of conditionally active promoters are inducible promoters that require the presence of a small molecule “inducer” for activity. Examples of inducible promoters include, but are not limited to, arabinose-inducible promoters, Tet-on promoters, and tamoxifen-inducible promoters. A variety of constitutive, conditional, and inducible promoters are well known to the skilled artisan, and the skilled artisan will be able to ascertain a variety of such promoters useful in carrying out the instant invention, which is not limited in this respect.
[0117] The use of RNA or DNA viral based systems for the delivery of nucleic acids has high efficiency in targeting a virus to specific cells and trafficking the viral payload to the cellular nuclei. In some embodiments, delivery comprises introducing a viral vector (such as lentiviral vector) encoding the nucleic acid (s) to the cell. In some embodiments, the viral vector is an AAV, e.g., AAV8. In some embodiments, delivery comprises introducing a plasmid encoding one or more site-specific methylation system fusion protein components to the cell. In some embodiments, delivery comprises introducing (e.g., by electroporation) one or more site-specific methylation system fusion protein components into the cell. In some embodiments, delivery comprises transfection of one or more site-specific methylation system fusion protein components into the cell.
[0118] In some embodiments, the fusion protein, such as the fusion protein introduced to a cell, is DNA or RNA. In some embodiments, the RNA is linear RNA. In some embodiments, the RNA is circular RNA. In some embodiments, the linear RNA is capable of forming a circular RNA. The circulation can be performed, for example, by using the Tornado expression system ( “Twister-optimized RNA for durable overexpression” ) as described in Litke, J.L. & Jaffrey, S.R. Highly efficient expression of circular RNA aptamers in cells using autocatalytic transcripts. Nat Biotechnol 37, 667-675 (2019) , which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Briefly, Tornado-expressed transcripts contain an RNA of interest flanked by Twister ribozymes. A twister ribozyme is any catalytic RNA sequences that are capable of self-cleavage. The ribozymes rapidly undergo autocatalytic cleavage, leaving termini that are ligated by an RNA ligase. Non-limiting examples of RNA ligase include: RtcB, T4 RNA Ligase 1, T4 RNA Ligase 2, Rnl3 and Trl1. In some embodiments, the RNA ligase is expressly endogenously in the cell. In some embodiments, the RNA ligase is RNA ligase RtcB. In some embodiments, the method further comprises introducing an RNA ligase (e.g., RtcB) into the cell. In some embodiments, the RNA is circularized before being introduced to the cell. In some embodiments, the RNA is chemically synthesized. In some embodiments, the RNA is circularized through in vitro enzymatic ligation (e.g., using RNA or DNA ligase) or chemical ligation (e.g., using cyanogen bromide or a similar condensing agent) .
[0119] In some embodiments, the fusion proteins described herein comprise additional features useful for expression of a site-specific methylation system fusion protein in a cancer cell. III. Methods of modulating histone acetylation
[0120] In certain aspects, the methods described herein comprises modulating histone acetylation in a cancer cell by introducing into the cell a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system. The histone acetylation can be carried out on histones near any of the methylation sites described herein, further increasing expression of APM-related genes. In some embodiments, the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein. In some embodiments, the fusion protein comprises a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain having histone acetyltransferase activity. In certain embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain binds to the target site to recruit the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system to a histone. In some embodiments, recruitment of the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system to a target site results in acetylation of a histone.
[0121] Certain aspects of the site-specific histone acetyltransferase systems for use in the methods taught herein are discussed in more detail in a modular fashion below. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand how the aspects of the present description can be combined to obtain any site-specific histone acetyltransferase system encompassed by the teachings provided herein. The discussion of site-specific histone acetyltransferase systems, including components and configurations thereof, in a modular fashion does not limit the scope of the description encompassed herein. A. Effector domains
[0122] In certain aspects, provided herein are methods of modulating histone acetylation in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system, wherein the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises an effector domain having histone acetyltransferase activity. Histone acetylation leads to changes in chromatin architecture thereby influencing gene expression based on the opening and closing of the chromatin structure.
[0123] The site-specific histone acetyltransferase systems described herein comprise effector domains having histone acetyltransferase activity. Specific examples of effector domains include enzyme that catalyze the addition of an acetyl group to the ε-amino group of lysine. In some embodiments, the histone acetyltransferase uses an acetyl CoA as a cofactor. In some embodiments, the histone acetyltransferase is a Type A or Type B histone acetyltransferase. In some embodiments, the histone acetyltransferase is selected from the group consisting of Gcn5, PCAF, Hat1, Elp3, Hpa2, Hpa3, ATF-2, Nut1, Esa1, Sas2, Sas3 (Ybf2) , Tip60, MOF, MOZ, MORF, HBO1, p300, CBP, SRC-1, ACTR, TIF-2, TAFII250 (TAF1) , TFIIIC (p220, p110, p90) , Rtt109, and CLOCK. B. Site-specific DNA binding domains
[0124] The site-specific DNA binding domain of the histone acetylation system can bind to the same site as the target site for the site-specific demethylation system. Alternatively, the site-specific DNA binding domain of the histone acetylation system can bind to a different site than the target site for the site-specific demethylation system. In certain aspects, provided herein are methods of modulating histone acetylation in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system, wherein the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a site-specific DNA binding domain. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is a double-stranded (ds) DNA recognition domain. In some embodiments, wherein the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a catalytically inactive site-specific DNA binding protein or a functional fragment thereof.
[0125] As described herein, the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a polypeptide (and in some embodiments comprises a nucleic acid component, such as a guide) configured to bind to a dsDNA, such as at a specific location to enable action of the histone acetyltransferase system near a specific target site. As described in more detail below, the site-specific DNA binding domain can be configured (e.g., is programmable) to bind to a specific location. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain does not comprise a nucleic acid component, e.g., the site-specific DNA binding domains is a TALE or zinc finger, or a portion thereof capable of binding to the dsDNA. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding protein, or the functional fragment thereof, is a Cas protein. In certain embodiments, the Cas protein is selected from the group consisting of: Type I Cas, Type II Cas, Type V Cas, and Type VI Cas.
[0126] In other embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a domain of a Cas protein such as Cas9, Cas12, Cas13, CasX, CasY, Cpf1, C2c1, C2c2, or C2c3, that binds DNA. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is a Cas9 protein. Cas9 recognizes a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) of 5’-NGG-3’. Cas9 comprises a RuvC domain for cleavage of the non-target strand and a HNH domain for cleavage of the target strand. In certain embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is nicking Cas9, i.e., nCas9. nCas9 is a mutated form of Cas9 wherein an amino acid substitution disables cleavage of one strand of dsDNA. In some embodiments, this mutation is D10A in the RuvC domain, enabling cleavage of only the target strand. In some embodiments, this mutation is H840A in the HNH domain, enabling cleavage of only the non-target strand. In certain embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is dead Cas9, i.e., dCas9. dCas9 is a mutated form of Cas9 with no endonuclease activity, comprising mutations of D10A in the RuvC domain and H840A in the HNH domain.
[0127] In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a guide (such as a guide RNA) for targeting a specific DNA site. In some embodiments, the guide RNA (gRNA) comprises a Crispr RNA (targeting) and tracr RNA (scaffolding to Cas protein) as a single RNA molecule known as single guide RNA (sgRNA) . sgRNA is known in the field, e.g., US Pat. No. 11,015,193, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In some embodiments, the gRNA does not comprise a tracrRNA. In some embodiments, the gRNA comprises a spacer sequence capable of hybridizing to the target site adjacent to the methylations site. C. Fusion proteins, configurations, and targeting
[0128] Provided herein, in certain aspects, are methods of modulating histone acetylation near a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system, wherein the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain having histone acetyltransferase activity. In some embodiments, the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system further comprises a nucleic acid for targeted recognition, and such will be apparent based on the type of DNA recognition domain used. The site-specific histone acetyltransferase system encompassed herein can be formed from any combination or arrangement of a described effector domain and a site-specific DNA binding domain, and, optionally, in some embodiments a targeting nucleic acid such as a gRNA.
[0129] In certain aspects, the site-specific histone acetyltransferase systems are configured such that an effector domain (e.g., a histone acetyltransferase) is brought into proximity of a methylation site to catalyze, at least in part, acetylation of histones near the methylation site.
[0130] In some embodiments, the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system comprises an effector domain (e.g., a histone acetyltransferase) and a site-specific DNA binding domain, such that the site-specific DNA binding domain, when associated with a dsDNA, positions the effector domain (e.g., histone acetyltransferase) such that it can act on histones near the methylation site. If the site-specific DNA binding domain uses a gRNA, then it can be selected / designed to be complementary to a sequence in proximity to the methylation site. Proper gRNA design limits off-target editing. Polypeptide only DNA binding domains are conceptually similar as can be selected / designed to bind DNA in proximity to the methylation site. In some embodiments, the effector domain (e.g., histone acetyltransferase) and DNA binding domain are guided to a target site by a nucleic acid, e.g., a gRNA. In some embodiments, the gRNA target site is upstream of the methylation site. In some embodiments, the target site is about 1-100 bp upstream, about 5-50 bp upstream, about 10-30 bp upstream, or about 20 bp upstream from the methylation site. In other embodiments, the target site is downstream of the methylation site. In some embodiments, the target site is about 1-100 bp downstream, about 5-50 bp downstream, about 10-30 bp downstream, or about 20 bp downstream from the methylation site.
[0131] In some embodiments, the target site is at a specified position on a protospacer targeted by the gRNA. In certain embodiments, the target site is within positions 1 to 30 base pairs, 5 to 25 base pairs, 10 to 20 base pairs, or 14 to 18 base pairs on the protospacer. In some embodiments, directly preceding the protospacer is a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) , which is required for Cas endonuclease activity. In certain embodiments, the PAM sequence is NGG.
[0132] An effector domain (e.g., a histone acetyltransferase) and a site-specific DNA binding domain can be configured in various ways, such as via direct fusion (e.g., as a single expressed polypeptide) , or covalent linkage (e.g., via a polypeptide or non-polypeptide linker) . In some embodiments, the effector domain (e.g., histone acetyltransferase) is fused to the site-specific DNA binding domain. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is fused to the C-terminus of the effector domain (e.g., histone acetyltransferase) . In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is fused to the N-terminus of the effector domain (e.g., histone acetyltransferase) . In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises a linker associating the site-specific DNA binding domain and the effector domain (e.g., histone acetyltransferase) . In some embodiments, the linker is a polypeptide linker. In some embodiments, additional adjustments may be included for configuring the position of the effector domain (e.g., histone acetyltransferase) , such as by adjusting a linker length connecting a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain (e.g., a histone acetyltransferase) . The present disclosure encompasses such variations of the site-specific histone acetyltransferase systems described herein, e.g., many variations of a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system may be designed based on the teachings provided herein that perform the same histone acetylation modulation. In some embodiments, the site-specific DNA binding domain is configured to bind 0-25 base pairs away, such as any of 10-20, 12-20, or 14-20 base pairs away, from a histone acetylation site described herein. In some embodiments, the linker comprises a polypeptide linker, such as a GGGGS linker. In some embodiments, the polypeptide linker is from 1-100 amino acids in length, such as any of 1-90 amino acids in length, 1-80 amino acids in length, 1-70 amino acids in length, or 1-65 amino acids in length. In some embodiments, the polypeptide linker is any of the following amino acids in lengths: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, or 70 amino acids. In some embodiments, the linker is selected from a list composed of GS, SGGS, PAPAP, XTEN, 3×EAAAK, 32-amino acid, and 64-amino acid linkers. The site-specific demethylation systems may comprise one or more linker sequences to connect any of the fusion protein domains described herein. D. Additional components
[0133] Provided herein, in certain aspects, are methods of modulating histone acetylation near a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system, wherein the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a site-specific DNA binding domain and an effector domain having histone acetyltransferase activity. In certain aspects, the site-specific histone acetyltransferase systems provided herein may comprise one or more additional features, such as to aid in delivery and / or function of the site-specific histone acetyltransferase systems. For example, in some embodiments, the site-specific histone acetyltransferase fusion protein further comprises a nuclear localization sequence.
[0134] In some embodiments, the histone acetyltransferase domains described herein comprise a P300 domain. P300 is a transcriptional co-activator histone acetyltransferase.
[0135] The histone acetyltransferase system described herein can be delivered and / or made in the same manner as the site-specific methylation system, for example by methods descried above. IV. Methods of treatment, kits, medicines
[0136] Provided herein, in some aspects, is a method of treating cancer in an individual, the method comprising administering to the individual a site-specific demethylation system described herein, or a precursor thereof, and / or a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system described herein, or a precursor thereof. In some embodiments, the method of treatment comprises modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell in the individual according to the methods describes herein. In some embodiments, the method of treatment further comprises administering to the individual an effective amount of an immunotherapeutic agent. In certain embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of an immune checkpoint inhibitor, a cancer vaccine, a TIL, or a CAR-T. Example immune checkpoint inhibitors include PD-1 inhibitors, PD-L1 inhibitors, or CTLA-4 inhibitors.
[0137] In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of treating cancer in an individual, the method comprising administering to the individual a site-specific demethylation system described herein, or a precursor thereof, and / or a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system described herein, or a precursor thereof. In some embodiments, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, liver cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, lung squamous cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, colon cancer, and rectal cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and bladder cancer.
[0138] In some embodiments, the method of treatment further comprises determining methylation state of the methylation site in the cancer cell of the individual prior to the treatment. In some embodiments, determining the methylation state of the methylation site comprises obtaining a methylation profile (e.g., any means of quantifying the level of methylation in an APM-related gene or element thereof, e.g., a promoter region) of the APM-related gene in the cancer cell in the individual. In some embodiments, the methylation profile comprises the presence, absence, or level of methylation at one or more methylation sites. In some embodiments, the individual is selected for treatment based on the methylation profile.
[0139] In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system is configured to modulate methylation at a methylation site associated with the cancer, determined by obtaining a methylation profile of the APM-related gene in the cancer cell in the individual. In some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system is configured to modulate methylation at a methylation site associated with treatment, in whole or in part, of the cancer.
[0140] It will be understood that the examples of modulating methylation in the APM-related genes described herein are provided for illustration purposes and are not meant to limit the instant disclosure. The skilled artisan will understand that the instantly disclosed site-specific demethylation systems can be used to modulated methylation associated with other genes, cancers, and with diseases other than cancer including other proliferative diseases.
[0141] Provided herein, in certain aspects, are kits and compositions of the site-specific demethylation systems taught herein.
[0142] In some embodiments, provided herein is a kit for a site-specific demethylation system, the kit comprising: an effector domain (e.g., a demethylase) described herein and a site-specific DNA binding domain. In some embodiments, provided herein is a kit for a site-specific demethylation system, the kit comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding an effector domain (e.g., a demethylase) described herein and a site-specific DNA binding domain. Kits provided herein may include one or more containers, and instruction for use thereof according to the methods provided herein. Instructions supplied in the kits of the invention are typically written instructions on a label or package insert (e.g., a paper sheet included in the kit) , but machine-readable instructions (e.g., instructions carried on a magnetic or optical storage disk) are also acceptable.
[0143] The kits provided herein are in suitable packaging. Suitable packaging includes, but is not limited to, vials, bottles, jars, flexible packaging (e.g., sealed Mylar or plastic bags) , and the like. Kits may optionally provide additional components such as buffers and interpretative information. The present application thus also provides articles of manufacture, which include vials (such as sealed vials) , bottles, jars, flexible packaging, and the like.
[0144] Also provided are medicines, compositions, and unit dosage forms useful for the methods described herein. In some embodiments, the medicine, composition, or unit dosage form comprise a site-specific demethylation system described herein. For example, in some embodiments, the site-specific demethylation system comprises an effector domain described herein and a DNA recognition domain described herein. V. Sequences
[0145] Provided in this section are sequences referenced in the instant description. Sequences in lower case are used to indicate repetitive or low-complexity regions of the genome.
[0146] Table 1
[0147] Those skilled in the art will recognize that several embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the disclosure of this application. The disclosure is illustrated further by the examples below, which are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure in scope or spirit to the specific procedures described therein.
Claims
1.A method of modulating methylation at a methylation site in an antigen presentation mechanism ( “APM” ) -related gene in a cancer cell, comprising introducing into the cell a site-specific demethylation system,wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein,wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain or functional fragment thereof, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein the site-specific DNA binding domain binds to a target site to recruit the site-specific demethylation system to the methylation site, andwherein recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to a target site results in demethylation at the methylation site.2.The method of claim 1, wherein the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a catalytically inactive site-specific DNA binding protein or a functional fragment thereof.3.The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein catalytically inactive site-specific DNA binding protein, or the functional fragment thereof, is selected from the group consisting of a Cas protein, a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) domain, or a Zinc finger domain.4.The method of claim 3, wherein the catalytically inactive site-specific DNA binding protein, or the functional fragment thereof, is a Cas protein.5.The method of claim 4, wherein the Cas protein is selected from the group consisting of: Type I Cas, Type II Cas, Type V Cas, and Type VI Cas.6.The method of claim 5, wherein the Cas protein is a Type II Cas.7.The method of claim 6, wherein the Cas protein is Cas9.8.The method of claim 5, wherein the Cas protein is a Type V Cas.9.The method of claim 8, wherein the Cas protein is Cas12 or Cas13.10.The method of any one of claims 4-9, wherein the site-specific demethylation system further comprises a guide ribonucleic acid (gRNA) , and wherein the gRNA comprises a spacer sequence capable of hybridizing to the target site.11.The method of claim 10, wherein the gRNA further comprises a tracrRNA.12.The method of claim 10, wherein the gRNA does not comprise a tracrRNA.13.The method of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the demethylation at the methylation site increases expression of the APM-related gene relative to a methylated state.14.The method of claim 13, wherein the expression increases at least about 2-fold.15.The method of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the demethylation at the methylation site increases tumor antigen presentation on the tumor cell.16.The method of claim 15, wherein the presentation increases at least about 2-fold.17.The method of any one of claims 1-16, wherein the recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to the target site further results in demethylation at one or more other methylation sites.18.The method of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the methylation site is located within promoter region of the APM-related gene.19.The method of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the methylation site is located within a first exon of the APM-related gene.20.The method of any one of claims 1-19, wherein the methylation site is located within a CpG island ( “CGI” ) .21.The method of any one of claims 1-20, wherein the APM-related gene is selected from the group consisting of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, B2M, TAP-1, TAP-2, PSMB9 (LMP2) , and PSMB8 (LMP7) .22.The method of claim 21, wherein the APM-related gene is HLA-A.23.The method of claim 22, wherein the methylation site is a CpG site at chr6: 29910202-29911367 (according to the hg19 genome build) .24.The method of claim 23, wherein the methylation site is a CpG site located at any of chr6: 29910202-29910204, chr6: 29910205-29910207, chr6: 29910207-29910209, chr6: 29910236-29910238, chr6: 29910263-29910265, chr6: 29910266-29910268, chr6: 29910268-29910270, chr6: 29910272-29910274, chr6: 29910287-29910289, chr6: 29910291-29910293, chr6: 29910300-29910302, chr6: 29910322-29910324, chr6: 29910325-29910327, chr6: 29910335-29910337, chr6: 29910343-29910345, chr6: 29910348-29910350, chr6: 29910370-29910372, chr6: 29910400-29910402, chr6: 29910410-29910412, chr6: 29910416-29910418, chr6: 29910428-29910430, chr6: 29910436-29910438, chr6: 29910462-29910464, chr6: 29910468-29910470, chr6: 29910476-29910478, chr6: 29910485-29910487, chr6: 29910487-29910489, chr6: 29910490-29910492, chr6: 29910495-29910497, chr6: 29910502-29910504, chr6: 29910524-29910526, chr6: 29910564-29910566, chr6: 29910571-29910573, chr6: 29910576-29910578, chr6: 29910580-29910582, chr6: 29910582-29910584, chr6: 29910592-29910594, chr6: 29910600-29910602, chr6: 29910603-29910605, chr6: 29910612-29910614, chr6: 29910618-29910620, chr6: 29910623-29910625, chr6: 29910630-29910632, chr6: 29910634-29910636, chr6: 29910639-29910641, chr6: 29910645-29910647, chr6: 29910648-29910650, chr6: 29910651-29910653, chr6: 29910653-29910655, chr6: 29910671-29910673, chr6: 29910673-29910675, chr6: 29910677-29910679, chr6: 29910680-29910682, chr6: 29910701-29910703, chr6: 29910724-29910726, chr6: 29910754-29910756, chr6: 29910775-29910777, chr6: 29910777-29910779, chr6: 29910795-29910797, chr6: 29910801-29910803, chr6: 29910814-29910816, chr6: 29910818-29910820, chr6: 29910824-29910826, chr6: 29910850-29910852, chr6: 29910854-29910856, chr6: 29910864-29910866, chr6: 29910877-29910879, chr6: 29910883-29910885, chr6: 29910895-29910897, chr6: 29910901-29910903, chr6: 29910903-29910905, chr6: 29910911-29910913, chr6: 29910925-29910927, chr6: 29910940-29910942, chr6: 29910950-29910952, chr6: 29910984-29910986, chr6: 29910993-29910995, chr6: 29911003-29911005, chr6: 29911010-29911012, chr6: 29911027-29911029, chr6: 29911029-29911031, chr6: 29911035-29911037, chr6: 29911075-29911077, chr6: 29911078-29911080, chr6: 29911086-29911088, chr6: 29911090-29911092, chr6: 29911094-29911096, chr6: 29911103-29911105, chr6: 29911105-29911107, chr6: 29911112-29911114, chr6: 29911120-29911122, chr6: 29911126-29911128, chr6: 29911129-29911131, chr6: 29911144-29911146, chr6: 29911153-29911155, chr6: 29911163-29911165, chr6: 29911174-29911176, chr6: 29911176-29911178, chr6: 29911179-29911181, chr6: 29911188-29911190, chr6: 29911205-29911207, chr6: 29911218-29911220, chr6: 29911230-29911232, chr6: 29911260-29911262, chr6: 29911264-29911266, chr6: 29911277-29911279, chr6: 29911294-29911296, chr6: 29911305-29911307, chr6: 29911313-29911315, chr6: 29911317-29911319, chr6: 29911333-29911335, chr6: 29911338-29911340, chr6: 29911350-29911352, or chr6: 29911365-29911367.25.The method of claim 24, wherein the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15.26.The method of claim 21, wherein the APM-related gene is HLA-B.27.The method of claim 26, wherein the methylation site is a CpG site at chr6: 31323946-31325211.28.The method of claim 27, wherein the methylation site is a CpG site at any of chr6: 31323946-31323948, chr6: 31323948-31323950, chr6: 31323967-31323969, chr6: 31323984-31323986, chr6: 31323997-31323999, chr6: 31324003-31324005, chr6: 31324023-31324025, chr6: 31324031-31324033, chr6: 31324038-31324040, chr6: 31324043-31324045, chr6: 31324056-31324058, chr6: 31324073-31324075, chr6: 31324076-31324078, chr6: 31324082-31324084, chr6: 31324084-31324086, chr6: 31324087-31324089, chr6: 31324098-31324100, chr6: 31324108-31324110, chr6: 31324117-31324119, chr6: 31324132-31324134, chr6: 31324135-31324137, chr6: 31324141-31324143, chr6: 31324156-31324158, chr6: 31324158-31324160, chr6: 31324167-31324169, chr6: 31324171-31324173, chr6: 31324175-31324177, chr6: 31324183-31324185, chr6: 31324186-31324188, chr6: 31324192-31324194, chr6: 31324226-31324228, chr6: 31324232-31324234, chr6: 31324234-31324236, chr6: 31324251-31324253, chr6: 31324258-31324260, chr6: 31324263-31324265, chr6: 31324268-31324270, chr6: 31324277-31324279, chr6: 31324279-31324281, chr6: 31324310-31324312, chr6: 31324318-31324320, chr6: 31324320-31324322, chr6: 31324333-31324335, chr6: 31324336-31324338, chr6: 31324340-31324342, chr6: 31324352-31324354, chr6: 31324359-31324361, chr6: 31324361-31324363, chr6: 31324375-31324377, chr6: 31324382-31324384, chr6: 31324388-31324390, chr6: 31324396-31324398, chr6: 31324401-31324403, chr6: 31324406-31324408, chr6: 31324411-31324413, chr6: 31324415-31324417, chr6: 31324432-31324434, chr6: 31324441-31324443, chr6: 31324446-31324448, chr6: 31324451-31324453, chr6: 31324464-31324466, chr6: 31324470-31324472, chr6: 31324488-31324490, chr6: 31324490-31324492, chr6: 31324499-31324501, chr6: 31324511-31324513, chr6: 31324550-31324552, chr6: 31324564-31324566, chr6: 31324585-31324587, chr6: 31324588-31324590, chr6: 31324592-31324594, chr6: 31324594-31324596, chr6: 31324606-31324608, chr6: 31324612-31324614, chr6: 31324614-31324616, chr6: 31324617-31324619, chr6: 31324620-31324622, chr6: 31324626-31324628, chr6: 31324635-31324637, chr6: 31324647-31324649, chr6: 31324653-31324655, chr6: 31324673-31324675, chr6: 31324683-31324685, chr6: 31324685-31324687, chr6: 31324689-31324691, chr6: 31324694-31324696, chr6: 31324701-31324703, chr6: 31324759-31324761, chr6: 31324763-31324765, chr6: 31324775-31324777, chr6: 31324778-31324780, chr6: 31324780-31324782, chr6: 31324797-31324799, chr6: 31324803-31324805, chr6: 31324809-31324811, chr6: 31324818-31324820, chr6: 31324827-31324829, chr6: 31324848-31324850, chr6: 31324853-31324855, chr6: 31324862-31324864, chr6: 31324874-31324876, chr6: 31324890-31324892, chr6: 31324893-31324895, chr6: 31324910-31324912, chr6: 31324915-31324917, chr6: 31324920-31324922, chr6: 31324937-31324939, chr6: 31324940-31324942, chr6: 31324961-31324963, chr6: 31324971-31324973, chr6: 31324994-31324996, chr6: 31324996-31324998, chr6: 31324999-31325001, chr6: 31325002-31325004, chr6: 31325055-31325057, chr6: 31325057-31325059, chr6: 31325062-31325064, chr6: 31325084-31325086, chr6: 31325135-31325137, chr6: 31325140-31325142, chr6: 31325157-31325159, chr6: 31325159-31325161, chr6: 31325166-31325168, chr6: 31325190-31325192, chr6: 31325194-31325196, or chr6: 31325209-31325211.29.The method of claim 28, wherein the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 16-29.30.The method of claim 21, wherein the APM-related gene is HLA-C.31.The method of claim 30, wherein the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 31238852-31240120.32.The method of claim 31, wherein the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr6: 31238852-31238854, chr6: 31238854-31238856, chr6: 31238862-31238864, chr6: 31238873-31238875, chr6: 31238890-31238892, chr6: 31238903-31238905, chr6: 31238907-31238909, chr6: 31238937-31238939, chr6: 31238940-31238942, chr6: 31238944-31238946, chr6: 31238949-31238951, chr6: 31238962-31238964, chr6: 31238979-31238981, chr6: 31238981-31238983, chr6: 31238988-31238990, chr6: 31238990-31238992, chr6: 31238993-31238995, chr6: 31239004-31239006, chr6: 31239014-31239016, chr6: 31239023-31239025, chr6: 31239038-31239040, chr6: 31239041-31239043, chr6: 31239047-31239049, chr6: 31239062-31239064, chr6: 31239064-31239066, chr6: 31239073-31239075, chr6: 31239077-31239079, chr6: 31239080-31239082, chr6: 31239092-31239094, chr6: 31239132-31239134, chr6: 31239138-31239140, chr6: 31239140-31239142, chr6: 31239157-31239159, chr6: 31239164-31239166, chr6: 31239169-31239171, chr6: 31239174-31239176, chr6: 31239183-31239185, chr6: 31239185-31239187, chr6: 31239204-31239206, chr6: 31239216-31239218, chr6: 31239226-31239228, chr6: 31239242-31239244, chr6: 31239246-31239248, chr6: 31239258-31239260, chr6: 31239265-31239267, chr6: 31239294-31239296, chr6: 31239309-31239311, chr6: 31239314-31239316, chr6: 31239319-31239321, chr6: 31239323-31239325, chr6: 31239343-31239345, chr6: 31239352-31239354, chr6: 31239357-31239359, chr6: 31239362-31239364, chr6: 31239375-31239377, chr6: 31239381-31239383, chr6: 31239399-31239401, chr6: 31239401-31239403, chr6: 31239410-31239412, chr6: 31239422-31239424, chr6: 31239440-31239442, chr6: 31239461-31239463, chr6: 31239475-31239477, chr6: 31239496-31239498, chr6: 31239499-31239501, chr6: 31239503-31239505, chr6: 31239505-31239507, chr6: 31239517-31239519, chr6: 31239523-31239525, chr6: 31239525-31239527, chr6: 31239528-31239530, chr6: 31239531-31239533, chr6: 31239537-31239539, chr6: 31239542-31239544, chr6: 31239546-31239548, chr6: 31239553-31239555, chr6: 31239558-31239560, chr6: 31239564-31239566, chr6: 31239584-31239586, chr6: 31239594-31239596, chr6: 31239596-31239598, chr6: 31239600-31239602, chr6: 31239605-31239607, chr6: 31239612-31239614, chr6: 31239615-31239617, chr6: 31239621-31239623, chr6: 31239652-31239654, chr6: 31239670-31239672, chr6: 31239674-31239676, chr6: 31239689-31239691, chr6: 31239691-31239693, chr6: 31239699-31239701, chr6: 31239708-31239710, chr6: 31239714-31239716, chr6: 31239717-31239719, chr6: 31239730-31239732, chr6: 31239740-31239742, chr6: 31239749-31239751, chr6: 31239766-31239768, chr6: 31239787-31239789, chr6: 31239806-31239808, chr6: 31239828-31239830, chr6: 31239833-31239835, chr6: 31239843-31239845, chr6: 31239850-31239852, chr6: 31239874-31239876, chr6: 31239901-31239903, chr6: 31239909-31239911, chr6: 31239915-31239917, chr6: 31239938-31239940, chr6: 31239967-31239969, chr6: 31239969-31239971, chr6: 31239996-31239998, chr6: 31239999-31240001, chr6: 31240044-31240046, chr6: 31240046-31240048, chr6: 31240049-31240051, chr6: 31240068-31240070, chr6: 31240099-31240101, chr6: 31240103-31240105, chr6: 31240118-31240120.33.The method of claim 32, wherein the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 30-49.34.The method of claim 21, wherein the APM-related gene is B2M.35.The method of claim 34, wherein the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr15: 45003460-45004345.36.The method of claim 35, wherein the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr15: 45003460-45003462, chr15: 45003464-45003466, chr15: 45003482-45003484, chr15: 45003484-45003486, chr15: 45003496-45003498, chr15: 45003503-45003505, chr15: 45003506-45003508, chr15: 45003559-45003561, chr15: 45003587-45003589, chr15: 45003618-45003620, chr15: 45003621-45003623, chr15: 45003642-45003644, chr15: 45003651-45003653, chr15: 45003677-45003679, chr15: 45003679-45003681, chr15: 45003698-45003700, chr15: 45003701-45003703, chr15: 45003703-45003705, chr15: 45003709-45003711, chr15: 45003735-45003737, chr15: 45003740-45003742, chr15: 45003750-45003752, chr15: 45003755-45003757, chr15: 45003773-45003775, chr15: 45003775-45003777, chr15: 45003810-45003812, chr15: 45003831-45003833, chr15: 45003851-45003853, chr15: 45003874-45003876, chr15: 45003887-45003889, chr15: 45003892-45003894, chr15: 45003927-45003929, chr15: 45003930-45003932, chr15: 45003956-45003958, chr15: 45003964-45003966, chr15: 45003967-45003969, chr15: 45003997-45003999, chr15: 45004003-45004005, chr15: 45004008-45004010, chr15: 45004010-45004012, chr15: 45004012-45004014, chr15: 45004028-45004030, chr15: 45004031-45004033, chr15: 45004058-45004060, chr15: 45004061-45004063, chr15: 45004064-45004066, chr15: 45004073-45004075, chr15: 45004090-45004092, chr15: 45004093-45004095, chr15: 45004100-45004102, chr15: 45004108-45004110, chr15: 45004111-45004113, chr15: 45004136-45004138, chr15: 45004144-45004146, chr15: 45004146-45004148, chr15: 45004167-45004169, chr15: 45004185-45004187, chr15: 45004195-45004197, chr15: 45004206-45004208, chr15: 45004208-45004210, chr15: 45004211-45004213, chr15: 45004227-45004229, chr15: 45004229-45004231, chr15: 45004239-45004241, chr15: 45004259-45004261, chr15: 45004262-45004264, chr15: 45004266-45004268, chr15: 45004285-45004287, chr15: 45004322-45004324, chr15: 45004330-45004332, chr15: 45004334-45004336, or chr15: 45004343-45004345.37.The method of claim 36, wherein the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 50-63.38.The method of claim 21, wherein the APM-related gene is TAP-1.39.The method of claim 38, wherein the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 32820849-32822370.40.The method of claim 39, wherein the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr6: 32820849-32820851, chr6: 32820856-32820858, chr6: 32820859-32820861, chr6: 32820861-32820863, chr6: 32820867-32820869, chr6: 32820889-32820891, chr6: 32820892-32820894, chr6: 32820911-32820913, chr6: 32820920-32820922, chr6: 32820923-32820925, chr6: 32820941-32820943, chr6: 32820965-32820967, chr6: 32820975-32820977, chr6: 32820992-32820994, chr6: 32820998-32821000, chr6: 32821038-32821040, chr6: 32821040-32821042, chr6: 32821046-32821048, chr6: 32821072-32821074, chr6: 32821089-32821091, chr6: 32821110-32821112, chr6: 32821154-32821156, chr6: 32821160-32821162, chr6: 32821176-32821178, chr6: 32821193-32821195, chr6: 32821214-32821216, chr6: 32821222-32821224, chr6: 32821236-32821238, chr6: 32821246-32821248, chr6: 32821260-32821262, chr6: 32821262-32821264, chr6: 32821288-32821290, chr6: 32821296-32821298, chr6: 32821298-32821300, chr6: 32821303-32821305, chr6: 32821319-32821321, chr6: 32821322-32821324, chr6: 32821352-32821354, chr6: 32821364-32821366, chr6: 32821375-32821377, chr6: 32821382-32821384, chr6: 32821384-32821386, chr6: 32821391-32821393, chr6: 32821420-32821422, chr6: 32821424-32821426, chr6: 32821427-32821429, chr6: 32821432-32821434, chr6: 32821438-32821440, chr6: 32821442-32821444, chr6: 32821458-32821460, chr6: 32821460-32821462, chr6: 32821465-32821467, chr6: 32821483-32821485, chr6: 32821490-32821492, chr6: 32821493-32821495, chr6: 32821511-32821513, chr6: 32821527-32821529, chr6: 32821533-32821535, chr6: 32821542-32821544, chr6: 32821571-32821573, chr6: 32821577-32821579, chr6: 32821604-32821606, chr6: 32821610-32821612, chr6: 32821616-32821618, chr6: 32821620-32821622, chr6: 32821638-32821640, chr6: 32821683-32821685, chr6: 32821707-32821709, chr6: 32821741-32821743, chr6: 32821754-32821756, chr6: 32821813-32821815, chr6: 32821824-32821826, chr6: 32821836-32821838, chr6: 32821858-32821860, chr6: 32821864-32821866, chr6: 32821867-32821869, chr6: 32821869-32821871, chr6: 32821871-32821873, chr6: 32821884-32821886, chr6: 32821897-32821899, chr6: 32821907-32821909, chr6: 32821910-32821912, chr6: 32821913-32821915, chr6: 32821915-32821917, chr6: 32821923-32821925, chr6: 32821932-32821934, chr6: 32821938-32821940, chr6: 32821940-32821942, chr6: 32821947-32821949, chr6: 32821979-32821981, chr6: 32821982-32821984, chr6: 32821991-32821993, chr6: 32822012-32822014, chr6: 32822016-32822018, chr6: 32822029-32822031, chr6: 32822042-32822044, chr6: 32822046-32822048, chr6: 32822062-32822064, chr6: 32822114-32822116, chr6: 32822134-32822136, chr6: 32822136-32822138, chr6: 32822138-32822140, chr6: 32822140-32822142, chr6: 32822164-32822166, chr6: 32822170-32822172, chr6: 32822181-32822183, chr6: 32822197-32822199, chr6: 32822208-32822210, chr6: 32822245-32822247, chr6: 32822258-32822260, chr6: 32822275-32822277, chr6: 32822277-32822279, chr6: 32822295-32822297, chr6: 32822321-32822323, chr6: 32822327-32822329, chr6: 32822345-32822347, chr6: 32822351-32822353, chr6: 32822368-32822370.41.The method of claim 40, wherein the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 64-103.42.The method of claim 21, wherein the APM-related gene is TAP-2.43.The method of claim 42, wherein the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 32806284-32806669.44.The method of claim 43, wherein the methylation site is located at a CpG site at any of chr6: 32806284-32806286, chr6: 32806291-32806293, chr6: 32806293-32806295, chr6: 32806296-32806298, chr6: 32806310-32806312, chr6: 32806317-32806319, chr6: 32806330-32806332, chr6: 32806333-32806335, chr6: 32806361-32806363, chr6: 32806387-32806389, chr6: 32806399-32806401, chr6: 32806416-32806418, chr6: 32806433-32806435, chr6: 32806435-32806437, chr6: 32806438-32806440, chr6: 32806447-32806449, chr6: 32806455-32806457, chr6: 32806473-32806475, chr6: 32806483-32806485, chr6: 32806488-32806490, chr6: 32806503-32806505, chr6: 32806509-32806511, chr6: 32806520-32806522, chr6: 32806529-32806531, chr6: 32806533-32806535, chr6: 32806542-32806544, chr6: 32806546-32806548, chr6: 32806556-32806558, chr6: 32806567-32806569, chr6: 32806573-32806575, chr6: 32806609-32806611, chr6: 32806612-32806614, chr6: 32806622-32806624, chr6: 32806624-32806626, chr6: 32806626-32806628, chr6: 32806633-32806635, chr6: 32806642-32806644, chr6: 32806655-32806657, or chr6: 32806667-32806669.45.The method of claim 44, wherein the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 112-119.46.The method of claim 21, wherein the APM-related gene is PSMB9 (LMP2) .47.The method of claim 46, wherein the methylation site is located at a CpG site at chr6: 32820849-32822370.48.The method of claim 47, wherein the methylation site is located in CGI region at any of chr6: 32820849-32820851, chr6: 32820856-32820858, chr6: 32820859-32820861, chr6: 32820861-32820863, chr6: 32820867-32820869, chr6: 32820889-32820891, chr6: 32820892-32820894, chr6: 32820911-32820913, chr6: 32820920-32820922, chr6: 32820923-32820925, chr6: 32820941-32820943, chr6: 32820965-32820967, chr6: 32820975-32820977, chr6: 32820992-32820994, chr6: 32820998-32821000, chr6: 32821038-32821040, chr6: 32821040-32821042, chr6: 32821046-32821048, chr6: 32821072-32821074, chr6: 32821089-32821091, chr6: 32821110-32821112, chr6: 32821154-32821156, chr6: 32821160-32821162, chr6: 32821176-32821178, chr6: 32821193-32821195, chr6: 32821214-32821216, chr6: 32821222-32821224, chr6: 32821236-32821238, chr6: 32821246-32821248, chr6: 32821260-32821262, chr6: 32821262-32821264, chr6: 32821288-32821290, chr6: 32821296-32821298, chr6: 32821298-32821300, chr6: 32821303-32821305, chr6: 32821319-32821321, chr6: 32821322-32821324, chr6: 32821352-32821354, chr6: 32821364-32821366, chr6: 32821375-32821377, chr6: 32821382-32821384, chr6: 32821384-32821386, chr6: 32821391-32821393, chr6: 32821420-32821422, chr6: 32821424-32821426, chr6: 32821427-32821429, chr6: 32821432-32821434, chr6: 32821438-32821440, chr6: 32821442-32821444, chr6: 32821458-32821460, chr6: 32821460-32821462, chr6: 32821465-32821467, chr6: 32821483-32821485, chr6: 32821490-32821492, chr6: 32821493-32821495, chr6: 32821511-32821513, chr6: 32821527-32821529, chr6: 32821533-32821535, chr6: 32821542-32821544, chr6: 32821571-32821573, chr6: 32821577-32821579, chr6: 32821604-32821606, chr6: 32821610-32821612, chr6: 32821616-32821618, chr6: 32821620-32821622, chr6: 32821638-32821640, chr6: 32821683-32821685, chr6: 32821707-32821709, chr6: 32821741-32821743, chr6: 32821754-32821756, chr6: 32821813-32821815, chr6: 32821824-32821826, chr6: 32821836-32821838, chr6: 32821858-32821860, chr6: 32821864-32821866, chr6: 32821867-32821869, chr6: 32821869-32821871, chr6: 32821871-32821873, chr6: 32821884-32821886, chr6: 32821897-32821899, chr6: 32821907-32821909, chr6: 32821910-32821912, chr6: 32821913-32821915, chr6: 32821915-32821917, chr6: 32821923-32821925, chr6: 32821932-32821934, chr6: 32821938-32821940, chr6: 32821940-32821942, chr6: 32821947-32821949, chr6: 32821979-32821981, chr6: 32821982-32821984, chr6: 32821991-32821993, chr6: 32822012-32822014, chr6: 32822016-32822018, chr6: 32822029-32822031, chr6: 32822042-32822044, chr6: 32822046-32822048, chr6: 32822062-32822064, chr6: 32822114-32822116, chr6: 32822134-32822136, chr6: 32822136-32822138, chr6: 32822138-32822140, chr6: 32822140-32822142, chr6: 32822164-32822166, chr6: 32822170-32822172, chr6: 32822181-32822183, chr6: 32822197-32822199, chr6: 32822208-32822210, chr6: 32822245-32822247, chr6: 32822258-32822260, chr6: 32822275-32822277, chr6: 32822277-32822279, chr6: 32822295-32822297, chr6: 32822321-32822323, chr6: 32822327-32822329, chr6: 32822345-32822347, chr6: 32822351-32822353, chr6: 32822368-32822370.49.The method of claim 488, wherein the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 64-103.50.The method of claim 21, wherein the APM-related gene is PSMB8 (LMP7) .51.The method of claim 50, wherein the methylation site is located in CGI region at chr6: 32811494-32811839.52.The method of claim 51, wherein the methylation site is located in CGI region at any of chr6: 32811494-32811496, chr6: 32811501-32811503, chr6: 32811520-32811522, chr6: 32811533-32811535, chr6: 32811535-32811537, chr6: 32811541-32811543, chr6: 32811547-32811549, chr6: 32811564-32811566, chr6: 32811582-32811584, chr6: 32811586-32811588, chr6: 32811622-32811624, chr6: 32811636-32811638, chr6: 32811646-32811648, chr6: 32811660-32811662, chr6: 32811689-32811691, chr6: 32811693-32811695, chr6: 32811696-32811698, chr6: 32811700-32811702, chr6: 32811707-32811709, chr6: 32811713-32811715, chr6: 32811722-32811724, chr6: 32811728-32811730, chr6: 32811732-32811734, chr6: 32811741-32811743, chr6: 32811751-32811753, chr6: 32811767-32811769, chr6: 32811776-32811778, chr6: 32811799-32811801, chr6: 32811805-32811807, chr6: 32811823-32811825, or chr6: 32811837-32811839.53.The method of claim 52, wherein the gRNA comprises a nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 104-111.54.The method of any one of claims 1-53, wherein the effector domain comprises a demethylase selected from the group consisting of Tet1, Tet2, Tet3, an AID / APOBEC family enzyme, or base excision repair glycosylase family enzyme, or a functional fragment thereof.55.The method of any one of claims 1-54, wherein the site-specific demethylation system further comprises an activator domain.56.The method of claim 55, wherein the activator domain is selected from the group consisting of MS2, VP64, SunTag, or a fragment thereof.57.The method of any one of claims 1-56, wherein the site-specific demethylation system further comprises a nuclear localization sequence.58.The method of any one of claims 1-57, wherein the site-specific DNA binding domain and the effector domain, and optionally the activator domain, are connected by one or more linker sequences.59.The method of claim 58, wherein the linker sequence is about 10-100 amino acids long.60.The method of any one of claims 1-59, the target site is upstream of the methylation site.61.The method of claims 1-60, wherein the target site is about 1-100 bp upstream, about 5-50 bp upstream, about 10-30 bp upstream, or about 20 bp upstream from the methylation site.62.The method of any one of claims 1-59, the target site is downstream of the methylation site.63.The method of claim 62, wherein the target site is about 1-100 bp downstream, about 5-50 bp downstream, about 10-30 bp downstream, or about 20 bp downstream from the methylation site.64.The method of any one of claims 1-63, the target site is on the same strand of dsDNA as the methylation site.65.The method of any one of claims 1-63, the target site is on the opposite strand of dsDNA as the methylation site.66.The method of any one of claims 1-65, wherein the fusion protein further comprises a histone acetyltransferase domain.67.The method of claim 66, wherein recruitment of the fusion protein to the target site further results in acetylation of a histone adjacent to the target site.68.The method of any one of claims 1-67, wherein the method further comprises introducing into the cancer cell a site-specific histone acetyltransferase system, wherein the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system comprises a second fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the second fusion protein, wherein the second fusion protein comprises:1) a site-specific DNA binding domain, and2) a histone acetyltransferase or a fragment thereof, wherein recruitment of the site-specific histone acetyltransferase system to a second target site results in acetylation of a histone adjacent to the second target site.69.The method of claim 68, wherein the site-specific DNA binding domain comprises a catalytically inactive site-specific DNA binding protein or a functional fragment thereof.70.The method of any one of claims 66-69, wherein the histone acetyltransferase domain comprises P300.71.The method of any one of claims 1-70, wherein the method comprises introduction of the site-specific demethylation fusion protein, or a nucleic acid encoding the same, and optionally the gRNA into the cell.72.The method of claim 71, wherein the site-specific demethylation system and the gRNA are introduced into the cell separately.73.The method of claim 72, wherein the site-specific demethylation system and the gRNA are introduced into the cell simultaneously.74.The method of any one of claims 71-73, wherein the site-specific demethylation fusion protein, or a nucleic acid encoding the same, and / or the gRNA are introduced via lipid nanoparticles.75.The method of any one of claims 1-70, wherein the method comprises introduction of a nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation system and / or a nucleic acid comprising the gRNA.76.The method of claim 75, wherein the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation system and the nucleic acid comprising the gRNA are introduced into the cell separately.77.The method of claim 75, wherein the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation system and the nucleic acid comprising the gRNA are introduced into the cell simultaneously.78.The method of any one of claims 75-77, wherein the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation fusion protein, or a nucleic acid encoding the same, and / or the nucleic acid comprising the gRNA are introduced in lipid nanoparticles.79.The method of any one of claims 75-77, wherein the nucleic acid encoding the site-specific demethylation system is on a vector.80.The method of claim 79, wherein the vector is a viral vector.81.The method of any one of claims 10-80, wherein the gRNA is about 10 to about 200 base pairs in length.82.The method of claim 81, wherein the spacer sequence is about 10 to about 25 base pairs long.83.The method of any one of claims 10-82, wherein the gRNA is modified.84.The method of any one of claims 1-83, comprising introducing into the cell two or more gRNAs capable of binding to two or more target sites.85.The method of claim 84, wherein recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to the two or more target sites results in modulation of methylation of two or more APM-related genes.86.A method of treating cancer in an individual, comprising modulating methylation at a methylation site in an APM-related gene in a cancer cell in the individual according to the method of any one of claims 1-85.87.A method of treating cancer in an individual, comprising introducing into a cancer cell of the individual a site-specific demethylation system,wherein the site-specific demethylation system comprises a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein,wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a nuclease domain comprising a catalytically inactive site-specific nuclease or a functional fragment thereof, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity.88.The method of claim 87, wherein introducing into the cell of the individual a site-specific demethylation system results in increased expression of an APM-related gene in the cancer cell.89.The method of claim 87 or claim 88, further comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of an immunotherapeutic agent.90.The method of claim 89, wherein the immunotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of: an immune checkpoint inhibitor, a cancer vaccine, a TIL, or a CAR-T.91.The method of claim 90, wherein the immune checkpoint inhibitor is a PD-1 inhibitor, a PD-L1 inhibitor, or a CTLA-4 inhibitor.92.The method of claim 91, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, liver cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, lung squamous cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, colon cancer, and rectal cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and bladder cancer.93.The method of any one of claims 87-92, further comprising determining methylation state of the methylation site in the cell of the individual prior to the treatment.94.The method of claim 93, wherein determining methylation state of the methylation site comprises obtaining a methylation profile of the APM-related gene in the cancer cell in the individual.95.The method of claim 93 or claim 94, wherein the individual is selected by determining methylation state of the methylation site.96.A site-specific demethylation system for upregulating an APM-related gene in a cancer cell, comprising a fusion protein or a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein,wherein the fusion protein comprises: 1) a site-specific DNA binding domain or a functional fragment thereof, and 2) an effector domain having demethylation activity, wherein recruitment of the site-specific demethylation system to a target site results in demethylation at the methylation site.97.The system of claim 96, wherein the site-specific DNA binding domain is a catalytically inactive Cas protein.98.A kit comprising:a) the site-specific demethylation system of claim 96 or claim 97, and,b) one or more gRNAs, each comprising a spacer sequence capable of hybridizing to a target site adjacent to a methylation site.99.The kit of claim 98, wherein the methylation site is in an APM gene in a cancer cell.
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