Genetic Engineering Publications - GEG Tech top picks

In vivo screening of the CRISPR genome identifies the transcriptional modulator CITED2 as an essential factor in the progression of prostate cancer to bone metastases. The discovery not only improves understanding of the molecular basis of the disease, but also opens up new avenues for targeted therapies, potentially revolutionizing treatment paradigms for patients battling advanced prostate cancer. The study meticulously engineered non-metastatic human prostate cancer cell lines to activate or inhibit gene expression using CRISPRa or CRISPRi technology. Modified cancer cells were then implanted into the prostate of nude mice, and following tumor development and emergence of metastases, primary and metastatic tumors were harvested for analysis. In vivo CRISPR screening identified CITED2 as an important promoter of bone metastasis, standing out among various genes for its substantial impact. Subsequent functional validation experiments, including innovative organ-on-a-chip assays, reinforced CITED2's role in promoting bone invasion, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. The research also looked at CITED2-driven transcriptional profiles, revealing distinct patterns of primary and metastatic cancer, which could inform the development of precision medicine approaches. 

CRISPR genome editing has served as a powerful tool to delete or modify DNA sequences and study the resulting effect. Now, researchers at the Gladstone Institutes and UC San Francisco (UCSF) have co-opted the CRISPR-Cas9 system to forcibly turn on genes rather than edit them in human immune cells. The method, known as CRISPRa, allowed them to discover genes that play a role in immune cell biology more thoroughly and quickly than before. The study, published in the journal Science, is the first to successfully use CRISPRa on a large scale in primary human cells, which are cells isolated directly from a person. In the new work, Marson, Steinhart and co-first author Ralf Schmidt, MD, worked with their colleagues to adapt CRISPRa and CRISPRi to work at high efficiency in primary T cells, something never done before. Improving the efficiency of delivery of the CRISPRa or CRISPRi machinery into cells was essential to enable genome-wide experiments and accelerate discovery. Marson's lab is currently studying some of the individual genes identified in their screen, and working to further leverage CRISPRa and CRISPRi to discover genes that control other critical traits in human immune cells.