Programming synthetic molecular codes to turn genes ‘on’: Scientists developed a biomimetic epigenetic code that can activate genes on demand to treat disease

Junichi Taniguchi, the first author of the study, developed a molecular program that recruits a histone-acetylating enzyme to a specific part of a DNA strand. The program, called Bi-PIP, is formed of two components: a bromodomain inhibitor, which recruits a specific type of histone acetyltransferase enzyme; and a synthetic hairpin-shaped molecule that recognizes a specific DNA sequence. The code was successful in emulating the natural histone acetylation process and led to the activation of a specific gene associated with central nervous system inside living cells. However, the researchers note that further work is needed to improve Bi-PIP’s gene selectivity. This work adds to a library of small molecule genetic regulators that could form the basis for epigenomics and future gene therapies to treat multi-factorial neurodegenerative disorders.See it on Scoop.it, via Viruses, Immunology & Bioinformatics from Virology.uvic.ca
Programming synthetic molecular codes to turn genes 'on': Scientists developed a biomimetic epigenetic code that can activate genes on demand to treat disease
Source: Viral Bioinformatics