Type V CRISPR–Cas12a systems are an attractive Cas9-alternative nuclease platform for specific genome-editing applications. However, previous studies demonstrate that there is a gap in overall activity between Cas12a and Cas9 in primary cells. Here we describe optimization to the nuclear localization signal (NLS) composition and architecture of Cas12a to facilitate highly efficient targeted mutagenesis in human transformed cell lines (HEK293T, Jurkat, and K562 cells) and primary cells (natural killer [NK] cells and CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells [HSPCs]), regardless of Cas12a ortholog. Our 3xNLS Cas12a architecture resulted in the most robust editing platform. The improved editing activity of Cas12a in both NK cells and CD34+ HSPCs resulted in pronounced phenotypic changes associated with target gene editing. Lastly, we demonstrated that optimization of the NLS composition and architecture of Cas12a did not increase editing at potential off-target sites in HEK293T or CD34+ HSPCs. Our new Cas12a NLS variant provides an improved nuclease platform for therapeutic genome editing.
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