MOSCOW, September 12. The results and prospects of research related to genome editing of higher organisms are discussed in Novosibirsk by scientists from 11 countries at the International Scientific Congress CRISPR-2023, the organizers reported.
As Sergei Medvedev, leading researcher at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, emphasized in his speech, with the help of CRISPR/Cas9 technology it has become much easier for scientists to obtain a sufficient number of cells with rare mutations for research; now these mutations can be introduced into cell cultures already available in their collections.
According to him, one of the areas of research in their laboratory is focused on identifying the genetic mechanisms of the occurrence and development of Parkinson’s disease.
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“It is known that in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, hydrogen peroxide accumulates in cells, which ultimately leads to cell death. We have created designs for the production of a sensor protein that allows us to measure its concentration in living cells in real time. And then, using CRISPR/Cas9, these constructs were introduced into the genomes of cells that model the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. And we got the opportunity to study the quantitative parameters of this accumulation, and under different scenarios of the course of the disease,” said Medvedev.
Congress participants also noted that currently cell technologies make it possible to recreate in the laboratory not only two-dimensional cultures or individual neurons, but also three-dimensional tissue samples of various organs of the patient, the so-called organoids.
Such studies on human brain organoids are carried out by employees of the sector of genomic mechanisms of ontogenesis of the Institute of Genetic Genetics SB RAS. For a number of years, they have been studying the gene encoding the synthesis of the Contactin-6 protein, mutations in which are associated with the risks of developing various forms of mental retardation.
“We recently managed to discover two DNA fragments in this genetic locus, which in themselves are not responsible for the synthesis of any proteins, but there is an assumption that they act as some kind of “regulators”, influencing the efficiency of neighboring genes. Their location in the same locus with Contactin-6 allows us to take a fresh look at the causes of the associated pathology of brain development,” noted Tatyana Schneider, junior researcher at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS in her report.
She added that scientists studying oncolytic viruses that kill glioma cells (a tumor that affects cells of the brain and spinal cord) became interested in their organoids. According to them, conducting such studies on organoids is easier and more convenient than on laboratory animals.
The organizing committee of the congress noted that in total, over three days of work, more than 90 reports will be given, a significant part of which were prepared by young scientists.
“Such a number of presentations and a variety of topics suggests that, despite all the difficulties of recent years, Russian science in this area does not stand still, but has moved forward noticeably. Moreover, this applies not only to genome editing, but also to research in the field of translational and regenerative medicine, which play a big role in modern healthcare,” commented Irina Zakharova, deputy chairman of the organizing committee, senior researcher at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics (ICG) SB RAS, commenting on the first results of the congress.
The second international congress CRISPR-2023 is taking place on September 11–13 in Novosibirsk. More than 250 scientists from 11 countries take part in it. The forum is dedicated to the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in Russia, which allows making changes to the genome of higher organisms, including humans.