Abstract:

On Earth, it is estimated that there are over ten million species, from which we have greatly benefited due to the unique molecules found in these diverse organisms. For instance, the prokaryotic adaptive immune system CRISPR-Cas has revolutionized genome editing technologies, giving us the ability to rewrite the blueprint of life. While genome editing is powerful, challenges such as variations in efficiency among cell types and difficulties in delivering editing tools into the body limit its application in therapeutics.

 
To broaden the scope of genome editing applications, we are exploring novel biological systems related to CRISPR-Cas and mobile DNA, such as transposons. We are characterizing promising systems using biochemistry, molecular biology, and structural biology methods. Recently, we have identified RNA-guided CRISPR-associated transposons (Ref. 1, 2) and a novel transposon called Tsy (Ref. 3). Currently, we are investigating their potential applications in human genome editing. Furthermore, we have discovered that the eukaryotic protein Fanzor is a programmable RNA-guided DNA endonuclease (Ref. 4). This finding challenges the traditional concept that CRISPR-Cas-like enzymes are exclusive to prokaryotes.

 
In this seminar, I will provide an overview of these newly discovered systems, beginning with the fundamentals of genome editing.

 
References:
1. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aax9181
2. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00291-9
3. https://www.cell.com/molecular-cell/fulltext/S1097-2765(23)00367-2
4. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06356-2

Speaker: Dr. Makoto Saito (Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard)

Host: Naohiro Terasaka, ELSI.

Date: Wed. 14 Aug. 16:00-17:00 JST

Venue: Mishima Hall, ELSI (hybrid)