Summary
Recent breakthroughs in the field of genome editing provide a genuine opportunity to establish innovative
approaches to repair DNA mutations to replace, engineer or regenerate malfunctioning cells in vitro or in
vivo. However, most of the recently developed technologies introduce double-strand DNA breaks at a target
locus as the first step to gene correction. These breaks are subsequently repaired by one of the cell intrinsic
DNA repair pathways, typically inducing an abundance of insertions and deletions (indels). Ideally, for many
applications genome editing should, however, be efficient and specific, without the introduction of indels.
Site-specific recombinases (SSRs) allow precise genome editing without triggering endogenous DNA repair
pathways and possess the unique ability to fulfill both cleavage and immediate resealing of the processed
DNA in vivo. However, customizing the DNA binding specificity of SSRs is not straightforward. With this
project, we propose to solve this shortcoming. We have already demonstrated that by applying substrate-linked
directed evolution, SSRs can be generated that specifically recognize therapeutic targets. The
objective of this project is the development of a universal genome editing platform that allows flexible,
efficient and safe gene corrections in cells of any origin without triggering cell intrinsic DNA repair.
GenSurge aims to: i) sequence an unprecedented, comprehensive compendium of evolved SSRs to
understand the directed molecular evolution process at nucleotide resolution; ii) integrate the knowledge
obtained in i) to develop a unique SSR-based approach to correct genomic inversions; iii) develop a
universal SSR-based strategy that allows flawless, precise and safe genome editing to correct any gene defect
in human, animal or plant cells. The successful implementation of this project will deliver a comprehensive,
safe and efficient platform from which genome surgery-based cure strategies can be initiated.
approaches to repair DNA mutations to replace, engineer or regenerate malfunctioning cells in vitro or in
vivo. However, most of the recently developed technologies introduce double-strand DNA breaks at a target
locus as the first step to gene correction. These breaks are subsequently repaired by one of the cell intrinsic
DNA repair pathways, typically inducing an abundance of insertions and deletions (indels). Ideally, for many
applications genome editing should, however, be efficient and specific, without the introduction of indels.
Site-specific recombinases (SSRs) allow precise genome editing without triggering endogenous DNA repair
pathways and possess the unique ability to fulfill both cleavage and immediate resealing of the processed
DNA in vivo. However, customizing the DNA binding specificity of SSRs is not straightforward. With this
project, we propose to solve this shortcoming. We have already demonstrated that by applying substrate-linked
directed evolution, SSRs can be generated that specifically recognize therapeutic targets. The
objective of this project is the development of a universal genome editing platform that allows flexible,
efficient and safe gene corrections in cells of any origin without triggering cell intrinsic DNA repair.
GenSurge aims to: i) sequence an unprecedented, comprehensive compendium of evolved SSRs to
understand the directed molecular evolution process at nucleotide resolution; ii) integrate the knowledge
obtained in i) to develop a unique SSR-based approach to correct genomic inversions; iii) develop a
universal SSR-based strategy that allows flawless, precise and safe genome editing to correct any gene defect
in human, animal or plant cells. The successful implementation of this project will deliver a comprehensive,
safe and efficient platform from which genome surgery-based cure strategies can be initiated.
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More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/742133 |
| Start date: | 01-01-2018 |
| End date: | 30-06-2024 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 2 380 425,00 Euro - 2 380 425,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
Recent breakthroughs in the field of genome editing provide a genuine opportunity to establish innovativeapproaches to repair DNA mutations to replace, engineer or regenerate malfunctioning cells in vitro or in
vivo. However, most of the recently developed technologies introduce double-strand DNA breaks at a target
locus as the first step to gene correction. These breaks are subsequently repaired by one of the cell intrinsic
DNA repair pathways, typically inducing an abundance of insertions and deletions (indels). Ideally, for many
applications genome editing should, however, be efficient and specific, without the introduction of indels.
Site-specific recombinases (SSRs) allow precise genome editing without triggering endogenous DNA repair
pathways and possess the unique ability to fulfill both cleavage and immediate resealing of the processed
DNA in vivo. However, customizing the DNA binding specificity of SSRs is not straightforward. With this
project, we propose to solve this shortcoming. We have already demonstrated that by applying substrate-linked
directed evolution, SSRs can be generated that specifically recognize therapeutic targets. The
objective of this project is the development of a universal genome editing platform that allows flexible,
efficient and safe gene corrections in cells of any origin without triggering cell intrinsic DNA repair.
GenSurge aims to: i) sequence an unprecedented, comprehensive compendium of evolved SSRs to
understand the directed molecular evolution process at nucleotide resolution; ii) integrate the knowledge
obtained in i) to develop a unique SSR-based approach to correct genomic inversions; iii) develop a
universal SSR-based strategy that allows flawless, precise and safe genome editing to correct any gene defect
in human, animal or plant cells. The successful implementation of this project will deliver a comprehensive,
safe and efficient platform from which genome surgery-based cure strategies can be initiated.
Status
SIGNEDCall topic
ERC-2016-ADGUpdate Date
27-04-2024
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