Mysterious ‘Retron’ DNA Helps Scientists Edit Human Genes
Deep in a bacterium’s gelatinous matrix dwell little “cellular machines” called retrons, which produce single strands of DNA to detect certain viral infections. Now for the first time, researchers have used these natural DNA scriptwriters to modify genes in human cells. A new study, published in Nature Chemical Biology, suggests this technique can enhance gene editing across diverse animal groups.
Shipman and his colleagues instead used retrons to manufacture that DNA inside the cell itself, where the CRISPR process can readily use it. Retrons carry an enzyme called reverse transcriptase that builds DNA strands based on RNA. They also feature “some strangely overlapping loops of RNA” that help them function, says Santiago Lopez, a graduate student at U.C.S.F. and lead author on the study.
Using this process, retrons produced from 10 to 100 times more template DNA in yeast cells than in human cells. The retrons also achieved better editing precision in yeast than in human cells, possibly because of the differing number of strands or the way each cell type repairs DNA. “But frankly, we are not that worried right now,” Shipman says, “since this is only a foot in the door.” He says more adjustments and optimization will likely yield highly accurate editing in human cells.
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