Category: Biotechnology/Medical

Good overview of CRISPR-Cas9 System (there are several parts to this series):

Primer Definitions:

• A bacteriophage is a virus that infects and replicates within a bacterium.
• dsDNA: Double stranded DNA
• CRISPR: Clustered, regularly interspersed short palindromic repeat locus

Companies Offering CRISPR Kits

• GenScript
  • Download: CRISPR Handbook 
• Clontech is a Takara Bio Company
• DNA 2.0 DNA2.0’s single nickase vector co-expresses two gRNAs using dual U6 promoters, thus removing the need for co-transfection. The NickaseNinja vector can also include a fluorescent reporter protein for easy visualization.
• Add Gene
• Dharmacon Edit-R CRISPR-Cas9 platform from GE Life Sciences
• OriGene

Definitions:

• Guide RNAs (aka gRNA) are the RNAs that guide the insertion or deletion of uridine residues into mitochondrial mRNAs in kinetoplastid protists in a process known as RNA editing.
• Plasmid:  A genetic structure in a cell that can replicate independently of the chromosomes, typically a small circular DNA strand in the cytoplasm of a bacterium or protozoan. Plasmids are much used in the laboratory manipulation of genes.

According to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3902221/

“The average rate of successful translation from animal models to clinical cancer trials is less than 8%. Animal models are limited in their ability to mimic the extremely complex process of human carcinogenesis, physiology and progression. Therefore the safety and efficacy identified in animal studies is generally not translated to human trials.”

“The most promising treatment right now is a mysterious drug called Rapamycin.

Dr. Dean Kellogg, a UT Medicine and Barshop Institute researcher and clinical doctor working at the San Antonio Veterans Affairs, says he’s been testing the drug on eight people in the San Antonio area.”

“I never really thought I would see a pharmacological agent that can alter the aging process,” said Kellogg. “Rapamycin appears to slow the aging process.”

“Kellogg says the pill works by mimicking the effects of a low-calorie diet, tricking a cellular mechanism that regulates cell growth and consumption of nutrients. It forces cells into a conservative state, preventing the tiny factories from overworking and causing wear and tear.”

Article source: http://www.khou.com/story/news/health/2015/07/27/fountain-of-youth-texas-scientists-testing-breakthrough-aging-drug/30723181/