Benjamin Oakes Scribe Therapeutics is developing specialized Crispr proteins for multiple diseases–and it’s got deals with Big Pharma potentially worth over $4 billion
First identified in the genome of gut bacteria in 1987, CRISPR-Cas9 is a naturally occurring but unusual group of genes with a potential for cutting DNA sequences in other types of cells that was realized 25 years later. Its value in genetic engineering programmable gene alteration in living cells, including human cells was rapidly appreciated, and its widespread use as a genome editor in thousands of laboratories worldwide was recognized in the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year to its American and French co-developers. From an immunity perspective, bacteria need to ramp up CRISPR-Cas9 activity to identify and rid the cell of threats, but they also need to dial it down to avoid autoimmunity when the immune system mistakenly attacks components of the bacteria themselves.
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IMAGE: Left - a schematic of the long form of the tracrRNA used by the CRISPR-Cas9 system in bacteria; Right - the standard guide RNA used by many scientists as part. view more
Credit: Joshua Modell, Rachael Workman and Johns Hopkins Medicine
In a series of experiments with laboratory-cultured bacteria, Johns Hopkins scientists have found evidence that there is a second role for the widely used gene-cutting system CRISPR-Cas9 as a genetic dimmer switch for CRISPR-Cas9 genes. Its role of dialing down or dimming CRISPR-Cas9 activity may help scientists develop new ways to genetically engineer cells for research purposes.
Gene-cutting system may play second role as a genetic dimmer switch
In a series of experiments with laboratory-cultured bacteria, Johns Hopkins scientists have found evidence that there is a second role for the widely used gene-cutting system CRISPR-Cas9 as a genetic dimmer switch for CRISPR-Cas9 genes. Its role of dialing down or dimming CRISPR-Cas9 activity may help scientists develop new ways to genetically engineer cells for research purposes.
A summary of the findings was published Jan. 8 in
Cell.
First identified in the genome of gut bacteria in 1987, CRISPR-Cas9 is a naturally occurring but unusual group of genes with a potential for cutting DNA sequences in other types of cells that was realized 25 years later. Its value in genetic engineering programmable gene alteration in living cells, including human cells was rapidly appreciated, and its widespread use as a genome editor in thousands of laboratories worldwide was recognized in the awarding of the Nobel Prize