The advancement, made possible by tiny photonic implants, could lead to new treatments for cancer, mental disorders
It seems like everything is going wireless these days. That now includes efforts to reprogram the human genome.
A new University at Buffalo-led study describes how researchers wirelessly controlled FGFR1 — a gene that plays a key role in how humans grow from embryos to adults — in lab-grown brain tissue.
The ability to manipulate the gene, the study’s authors say, could lead to new cancer treatments, and ways to prevent and treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia.
The work — spearheaded by UB researchers Josep M. Jornet, Michal K. Stachowiak, Yongho Bae and Ewa K. Stachowiak — was reported in the June edition of the Proceedings of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
It represents a step forward toward genetic manipulation technology that could upend the treatment of cancer, as well as the prevention and treatment of schizophrenia and other neurological illnesses. It centers on the creation of a new subfield of research the study’s authors are calling “optogenomics,” or controlling the human genome through laser light and nanotechnology.
“The potential of optogenomic interfaces is enormous,” says co-author Josep M. Jornet, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering in the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “It could drastically reduce the need for medicinal drugs and other therapies for certain illnesses. It could also change how humans interact with machines.”
From “optogenetics” to “optogenomics”
For the past 20 years, scientists have been combining optics and genetics — the field of optogenetics — with a goal of employing light to control how cells interact with each other.
By doing this, one could potentially develop new treatments for diseases by correcting the miscommunications that occur between cells. While promising, this research does not directly address malfunctions in genetic blueprints that guide human growth and underlie many diseases.
The new research begins to tackle this issue because FGFR1 — it stands for Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 — holds sway over roughly 4,500 other genes, about one-fifth of the human genome, as estimated by the Human Genome Project, says study co-author Michal K. Stachowiak.
“In some respects, it’s like a boss gene,” says Stachowiak, PhD, professor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB. “By controlling FGFR1, one can theoretically prevent widespread gene dysregulations in schizophrenia or in breast cancer and other types of cancer.”
Light-activated toggle switches
The research team was able to manipulate FGFR1 by creating tiny photonic brain implants. These wireless devices include nano-lasers and nano-antennas and, in the future, nano-detectors.
Researchers inserted the implants into the brain tissue, which was grown from induced pluripotent stem cells and enhanced with light-activated molecular toggle switches. They then triggered different laser lights — common blue laser, red laser and far-red laser — onto the tissue.
The interaction allowed researchers to activate and deactivate FGFR1 and its associated cellular functions — essentially hacking the gene. The work may eventually enable doctors to manipulate patients’ genomic structure, providing a way to prevent and correct gene abnormalities, says Stachowiak, who also holds an appointment in UB’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint program between the Jacobs School and UB’s engineering school.
Next steps
The development is far from entering the doctor’s office or hospital, but the research team is excited about next steps, which include testing in 3D “mini-brains” and cancerous tissue.
Learn more: Researchers wirelessly hack ‘boss’ gene, a step toward reprogramming the human genome
The Latest on: Reprogramming the human genome
[google_news title=”” keyword=”reprogramming the human genome” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Reprogramming the human genome
- DNA Analysis Redirects the Cradle of Indo-Europeans, Sheds Light on Proto-Greekson April 26, 2024 at 4:30 am
New DNA study of 777 genomes found across southern Europe and west Asia redirects the cradle of Indo-Europeans, sheds light on Proto-Greeks.
- Everything You Need to Know About Cassandra Nova, Deadpool & Wolverine’s Surprising X-Villainon April 25, 2024 at 11:45 am
Deadpool & Wolverine’s new trailer yesterday didn’t really give fresh details on what the film’s going to be about, beyond the vague threat of multiversal shenanigans and Wade and Logan’s team-up. But ...
- Advancing crop breeding through targeted genome modificationon April 25, 2024 at 6:36 am
Modern crop breeding is entering a new era of genome design, led by genome editing technologies as mainstream tools for targeted genome modification. In a review published in Nature Reviews Genetics, ...
- Seamless Therapeutics Announces New CEO and Board Chairman to Support US Expansion of Programmable Recombinase Gene Editing Technology Platformon April 23, 2024 at 4:00 am
Seamless Therapeutics today announced the appointments of Albert Seymour, Ph.D., as its new President and Chief Executive Officer and Adam Rosenberg as Independent Chairman of the company’s Board of ...
- Profluent Successfully Edits Human Genome with OpenCRISPR-1, the World’s First AI-Created and Open-Source Gene Editoron April 22, 2024 at 9:30 am
With this launch, Profluent demonstrates the first successful precision editing of the human genome with customizable gene editors designed from scratch with AI. OpenCRISPR-1 is an AI-created gene ...
- A small factor makes a big impact on genome editingon April 22, 2024 at 8:52 am
Through years of engineering gene-editing systems, researchers have developed a suite of tools that enable the modification of genomes in living cells, akin to "genome surgery." These tools, including ...
- Breakthrough in Bioinformatics: AI Predicts Cell Type Transformationson April 22, 2024 at 3:35 am
AI analyzes accessible data to pinpoint genetic modifications that alter cellular activity. Advances in gene sequencing technology and computing power have significantly increased the availability of ...
- Massive Genetic Study Uncovers 95 Regions of the Genome Linked to PTSDon April 21, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Results from the most extensive genetic study on PTSD so far may shed light on why the condition affects only certain individuals following traumatic experiences. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ...
- Harvard and the Effort to Bring Back the Wooly Mammothon April 19, 2024 at 9:05 am
Harvard Medical School professor George M. Church didn’t think that by the end of his breakfast in Harvard Square, he would have $100,000 to bring back the wooly mammoth.
- Scientists uncover 95 regions of the genome linked to PTSDon April 18, 2024 at 2:01 am
In post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intrusive thoughts, changes in mood, and other symptoms after exposure to trauma can greatly impact a person's quality of life. About 6% of people who ...
via Bing News