TALEs

Transcription Activator Like Effector (TALE)s are naturally occurring proteins that bind to DNA. These proteins are found in Xanthomonas bacteria, a plant pathogen, and originally serve as a pathogenic factor. However recently we have discovered the modular property of TALEs which make them particularly amenable to genetic engineering and customization.

We have engineered a TALE that binds to the shiga toxin II gene in E. coli and other enterohemoraggic bacteria.