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dCas9-Tet1 to the Rescue: Maintained DNA Demethylation of Fragile X Syndrome Neurons

February 26, 2018

The call for a rescue operation often makes humanity turn to its latest and greatest tools and equipment. Whether it’s firefighters with water jetpacks or cutting-edge epigenetic editing technology, threats to human kind don’t have it easy these days. In their latest report, the epigenetic emergency response team from the labs of Rudolf Jaenisch and […]

Epigenetic Editing Misses the Mark: dCas9-DNMT3A Causes Off-Target Genome-Wide DNA Hypermethylation

February 12, 2018

While we’ve been captivated by the powerful applications of precision epigenetic editing via deactivated Cas9 (dCas9), we’ve also been mesmerized by the fact that epigenetic editing doesn’t always work as expected. Building on our need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, new findings from the lab of Alexander Meissner at […]

Hit-and-Run Epigenetic Editing Helps Breast Cells Evade Cycle Arrest

December 11, 2017

While a hit-and-run typically leads to an arrest, in the world of epigenetic editing it turns out to be the key to evading cell cycle arrest (senescence) and promoting the transformation of a law-abiding cell into a cancerous criminal! The hypermethylation of promoters at the wrong time and wrong place is a trademark of cancer, […]

Visualizing CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing: Seeing is Believing!

November 22, 2017

Many studies have put their faith in CRISPR-Cas9 as a means to edit genes in human embryos, to fight HIV, and to explore epigenetic regulation. However, if you are someone who really needs to see CRISPR-Cas9 in action to believe it, an epic new study has you covered! So, cast away those doubts and qualms, […]

dCas9 Shoots Down Microsatellite Repeat Expansion

November 22, 2017

Dealing with microsatellite disorders has been as difficult as shooting down actual satellites, but thanks to dCas9 its gotten a lot easier. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has proven to be much more than just a pair of scissors. For instance, CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) uses deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) to create site-specific steric hinderance to perturb gene expression. […]

Gimme Shelterin! – TRF1 Gene Therapy Promotes Healthy Aging

October 3, 2017

One of the eternal anthems by The Rolling Stones proclaims “Gimme Shelter”, but given the band members apparent immunity to aging combined with a new article from the lab of Maria A. Blasco (CNIO, Madrid, Spain), should the song now proclaim, “Gimme shelterin”? The shelterin complex regulates telomerase activity and protects the telomeric regions at […]

CRISPR-Cas9 Embryo Editing…….Of Mice and Men!

September 27, 2017

Presumably after a day spent in a local tavern instead of writing and editing verse, the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns noted that “The best laid schemes of mice and men, Often go awry”. However, a new study of genome editing in the embryos of mice and men led by Kathy K. Niakan (Francis Crick […]

dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A Causes a Total Methylation Eclipse

September 26, 2017

While it’s never a great idea to stare directly into the sun, a DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) eclipse brought to you by the SunTag system may just steal your eyes during its totality. This designer epigenome editing system comes to you from the labs of Margaret A. Goodell and Wei Li at Baylor College of Medicine […]

Targeted and Reversible Chromatin Conformations Crafted by CLOuD9

August 27, 2017

Imagine a world where you could create chromatin loops where and when you want. You’d feel like you’re on cloud nine. Well, get your head out of the clouds, because you’ve got to thank the lab of Kevin Wang at Stanford for targeted and reversible chromatin loop reorganization using deactivated Cas9 (CLOuD9). The CLOuD9 system […]

dCas9 Epigenome Editing Toolbox Smashes Histone Methylation Dogma

August 14, 2017

Tools are great for building, but sometimes it’s more fun using them to break things down. While we’ve applied deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) tools to build our knowledge of DNA methylation, this time it takes an entire toolbox to break the connection between histone methylation and gene repression. This constructive deconstruction comes at you from the […]

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