AsianScientist (Mar. 3, 2015) – By combining two of the hottest research fields—gene editing and optogenetics—researchers have developed a new technology to control gene expression with light. Their findings have been published in the journal Chemistry & Biology.
Various technologies have been developed for gene regulation. However, these conventional technologies require significant experimental labor and/or know-how, greatly restricting the study of gene functions. In contrast to these conventional technologies, a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Moritoshi Sato at the University of Tokyo have developed an easy-to-use, general method for gene control.
By pairing a light sensitive protein (CRY2) and the catalytically inactive Cas9 protein (dCas9), the researchers devised a method that allows optical control of any gene that can be targeted by designing the first 20 nucleotides of guide RNA. In addition, the research group has demonstrated the simultaneous control of multiple endogenous genes with light.
This new technology could contribute to understanding endogenous gene functions and is expected to lead to the development of new methods to control cellular functions with light.
The article can be found at: Nihongaki et al. (2015) CRISPR-Cas9-based Photoactivatable Transcription System.
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Source: University of Tokyo.
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