Team:Penn/Project2

From 2013.igem.org

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         but the tools don’t exist to easily manipulate epigenetic patterns.  We are developing a novel
         but the tools don’t exist to easily manipulate epigenetic patterns.  We are developing a novel
         fusion protein that enables site-specific methylation, which can repress promoter activity with
         fusion protein that enables site-specific methylation, which can repress promoter activity with
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         high precision.  <div class="figure-wrap" style="float: center;"><img src="https://googledrive.com/host/0B4ZBZOYYKBzEdmZMalozd0pkSjg" style="height: 75px;"/>
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         high precision.  <div class="figure-wrap" style="float: center;"><img src="https://googledrive.com/host/0B4ZBZOYYKBzEdmZMalozd0pkSjg" style="height: 75px; float: left;"/>
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         <img src="https://googledrive.com/host/0B4ZBZOYYKBzEdlExOEgtVlZYYUU" style="height: 75px; float: right;"/></div>In coming years, this fusion protein could become a powerful tool for epigenetics
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         <img src="https://googledrive.com/host/0B4ZBZOYYKBzEdlExOEgtVlZYYUU" style="height: 75px; float: left;"/></div>In coming years, this fusion protein could become a powerful tool for epigenetics
         researchers looking to perform on/off studies in the vein of classical genetics, as well as an
         researchers looking to perform on/off studies in the vein of classical genetics, as well as an
         orthogonal mode of repressing constitutive promoters for bacterial synthetic biologists.
         orthogonal mode of repressing constitutive promoters for bacterial synthetic biologists.
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         levels in many insofar-untreatable epigenetic diseases.</p>
         levels in many insofar-untreatable epigenetic diseases.</p>
         <img src="https://googledrive.com/host/0B4ZBZOYYKBzEMzM5dWpRQWNvb1k" style="height: 60px; display: inline; float: right;"/>
         <img src="https://googledrive.com/host/0B4ZBZOYYKBzEMzM5dWpRQWNvb1k" style="height: 60px; display: inline; float: right;"/>
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         <img src="https://googledrive.com/host/0B4ZBZOYYKBzEek95VVUyMkltSHc" style="height: 60px; "/>
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         <img src="https://googledrive.com/host/0B4ZBZOYYKBzEek95VVUyMkltSHc" style="height: 60px; float: right;"/>
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Revision as of 00:29, 11 August 2013

Project

Abstract

The code of life is much more than a sequence of A's, G's, C's and T's; a suite of epigenetic mechanisms, ranging from chromatin remodeling to non-coding RNAs, affect gene expression and cellular function.

In particular, DNA methylation has been shown to alter transcriptional activity in a powerful, heritable manner. Abnormal methylation patterns are associated with diseases including immunodeficiency syndromes, neurodevelopmental disorders, and many types of cancer. Comprehensive understanding and control of DNA methylation could be invaluable to researchers studying these diseases.

Synthetic biologists and geneticists are accustomed to turning genes on and off at will, but the tools don’t exist to easily manipulate epigenetic patterns. We are developing a novel fusion protein that enables site-specific methylation, which can repress promoter activity with high precision.

In coming years, this fusion protein could become a powerful tool for epigenetics researchers looking to perform on/off studies in the vein of classical genetics, as well as an orthogonal mode of repressing constitutive promoters for bacterial synthetic biologists. Eventually, it could even give clinical researchers the means to restore healthy methylation levels in many insofar-untreatable epigenetic diseases.

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