Engineered Tool Could Advance Genetics and Crop Research

By Blake Jackson

Scientists have developed a new engineered gene-editing system that has been demonstrated in bacteria and could eventually have applications in plants, animals, and humans.

According to Krishna Ramanujan of Cornell Chronicle, the technology is designed to overcome some limitations of existing gene-editing tools and could support research, crop improvement, and potential treatments for genetic diseases.

Gene editing uses technologies adapted from bacteria, including CRISPR-Cas systems, to modify, remove, or disable targeted sections of DNA or RNA. The new research, published October 1 in Molecular Cell, describes an alternative approach that combines bacterial components that do not normally work together.

Researchers engineered an RNA-guided transposition system by combining two proteins. TldR identifies the specific location where a DNA payload should be placed, while TniQ helps the machinery insert that payload at the intended site and in a consistent orientation. The team believes the approach could provide greater control over the placement of large DNA sequences.

The technology addresses a growing need in gene editing. Earlier approaches such as base editing can modify individual DNA bases, while prime editing can make changes involving several bases. The new system is designed to insert much larger stretches of genetic material, potentially allowing researchers to address disorders involving larger sections of DNA.

“You can program it to put in a huge block of DNA in a new location, and that’s got the field very excited,” said Joe Peters, professor of microbiology at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the study’s senior author. “There’s a huge amount of competition and other strategies all focused onthis idea of delivering a big payload.”

The researchers have applied for a patent covering the RNA-guided transposition system. They are also examining related proteins to identify versions that may function effectively in plant or human cells.

Another potential benefit is the system’s smaller size compared with CRISPR-Cas tools. Because gene-editing systems are often delivered using viruses with limited cargo capacity, a smaller system could make delivery easier.

Researchers also say its compact design may provide greater flexibility for adding components needed to make bacterial-derived editing technology work in other types of cells.

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