New molecular scissors act like a GPS to improve genome editing

Ana Hernando

A scientific team from in the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (NNF-CPR), at the University of Copenhagen, has succeeded in visualizing and describing how a new system for genome editing, known as Cpf1, works. This protein belongs to the Cas family and enables the cleavage of double stranded DNA, thus allowing the initiation of the genome modification process. The results of the study have been published in the journal Nature.

Guillermo Montoya, a researcher in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology who led the study, explains that the new molecular scissors "will enable us to more safely modify and edit the instructions written in the genome, due to the utmost precision of the target DNA sequence recognition."

The CRISPR Cas9 system for cutting and paste genome sequences is already being used to modify animal and plant genomes. Also to treat illnesses, such as cancer and retinal diseases, in humans and its applications are growing very fast.

X-Ray Crystallography Technique

Researchers across the world are trying to perfect this genome editing technique with the aim of making it yet more precise and efficient. To achieve this, they have also focused on other proteins that specifically cut DNA, such as Cpf1, whose manipulation can direct them to specific locations in the genome. Montoya's team has achieved this using an X-ray Crystallography to decipher the molecular mechanisms controlling this process.

"We radiated the crystals of the Cpf1 protein using X-rays to be able to observe its structure at atomic resolution, enabling us to see all its components," points out the co-author of this study. "X-ray diffraction is one of the main biophysical techniques used to elucidate biomolecular structures," he continues.

In his opinion, "the main advantage of Cpf1 lies in its high specificity and the cleaving mode of the DNA, since it is possible to create staggered ends with the new molecular scissors, instead of blunt-ended breaks as is the case with Cas9, which facilitates the insertion of a DNA sequence."

"The high precision of this protein recognising the DNA sequence on which it is going to act functions like a GPS, directing the Cpf1 system within the intricate map of the genome to identify its destination. In comparison with other proteins used for this purpose, it is also very versatile and easy to be reprogrammed," Montoya adds.

Genetic diseases and tumours

These properties make this system "particularly suitable for its use in the treatment of genetic diseases and tumours," he affirms.

The team has previously worked with the French biotechnology company Celletics on the use of meganucleases -other proteins that can be redesigned to cut the genome in a specific location- to treat certain types of leukemia.

The new technology "can also be used to modify microorganisms, with the aim of synthesising the metabolites required in the production of drugs and biofuels," adds Montoya.

This researcher, from Getxo (Biscay, Spain), says that there are many companies interested in this new technology. They are mostly from the biotechnology sector in the field of microorganism manipulation, but cannot be named due to confidentiality agreements.