Korean
scientists succeeded in cutting a damaged strand of DNA with engineered
nuclease technology, or a “molecular scissors,” without generating mutation.
The
progress in gene editing is expected to help increase the effectiveness of gene
therapy which in most cases fails to achieve intended results, said Kim
Jin-soo, a chemistry professor at Seoul National University, who led the
research.
His team
was able to prevent mutation with a new DNA-cutting enzyme that cuts only one
DNA strand entwined with another strand.
So far,
engineered nuclease technology has cut both strands or acted at an unintended
spot, which eventually caused mutation.
“The
engineered nuclease technology is a new method that draws attention from
scientists as it can regenerate DNA sequence and restore reversed DNA. I expect
the new method could be potentially used to cure incurable diseases such as
AIDS and hemophilia,” said Kim.
DNA
segments carrying genetic information are cut or rearranged due to radiation
and other causes. It is usually a cause of incurable disease if a damaged part
is not recovered.
The
research findings are published in the online version of Genome Research, a
renowned journal on genetics.
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