Biologic research is experiencing a transformation brought about by the ability of programmable nucleases to manipulate the genome. In the recently developed CRISPR/Cas system, short RNA sequences guide the endonuclease Cas9 to any location in the genome, causing a DNA double-strand break (DSB). Repair of DSBs allows the introduction of targeted genetic manipulations with high precision. Cas9-mediated gene editing is simple, scalable, and rapid, and it can be applied to virtually any organism. Here, we summarize the development of modern gene editing techniques and the biology of DSB repair on which these techniques are based. We discuss technical points in applying this technology and review its use in model organisms. Finally, we describe prospects for the use of gene editing to treat human genetic diseases. This technology offers tremendous promise for equipping the nephrology research community to better model and ultimately, treat kidney diseases.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5042678PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2016020146DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

gene editing
16
dsb repair
8
gene
4
editing powerful
4
powerful tools
4
tools nephrology
4
nephrology therapy
4
therapy biologic
4
biologic experiencing
4
experiencing transformation
4

Similar Publications

Bone Tissue Engineering: From Biomaterials to Clinical Trials.

Adv Exp Med Biol

January 2025

Department of Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, D Y Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), Kolhapur, India.

Bone tissue engineering is a promising field that aims to rebuild the bone tissue using biomaterials, cells, and signaling molecules. Materials like natural and synthetic polymers, inorganic materials, and composite materials are used to create scaffolds that mimic the hierarchical microstructure of bone. Stem cells, particularly mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), play a crucial role in bone tissue engineering by promoting tissue regeneration and modulating the immune response.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Loss-of-function mutations induced by CRISPR-Cas9 in the TaGS3 gene homoeologs show non-additive dosage-dependent effects on grain size and weight and have potential utility for increasing grain yield in wheat. The grain size in cereals is one of the component traits contributing to yield. Previous studies showed that loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in GS3, encoding Gγ subunit of the multimeric G protein complex, increase grain size and weight in rice.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Blood transfusion plays a vital role in modern medicine, but frequent shortages occur. Ex vivo manufacturing of red blood cells (RBCs) from universal donor cells offers a potential solution, yet the high cost of recombinant cytokines remains a barrier. Erythropoietin (EPO) signaling is crucial for RBC development, and EPO is among the most expensive media components.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cas12a Is Competitive for Gene Editing in the Malaria parasites.

Microb Pathog

January 2025

Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

Malaria, caused by the Plasmodium parasites, has always been one of the worst infectious diseases that threaten human health, making it necessary for us to study the genetic function and physiological mechanisms of Plasmodium parasites from the molecular level to find more effective ways of addressing the increasingly pressing threat. The CRISPR (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated protein) is an RNA-guided adaptive immune system, which has been extensively developed and used as a genome editing tool in many organisms, including Plasmodium parasites. However, due to the physiological characteristics and special genomic characteristics of Plasmodium parasites, most of the tools currently used for genome editing of Plasmodium parasites have not met expectations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Prenatal gene editing for neurodevelopmental diseases: Ethical considerations.

Am J Hum Genet

January 2025

Department of Social Medicine and Center for Bioethics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Neurodevelopmental diseases (NDDs) are notoriously difficult to treat because clinical symptoms stem from developmental processes that begin before birth. Prenatal gene editing could fill the treatment gap for NDDs by targeting and permanently correcting the genetic variants that underlie these pathogenic developmental processes. At the same time, there is a risk of unintended edits to the fetus or the pregnant person that could result in serious adverse consequences that are difficult, if not impossible, to undo.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!