The epigenetic edition is a technique that aims to alter the expression of genes without modifying the DNA sequence. It is a crucial evolutionary tool that has played a fundamental role in the differentiation of various types of cells from the same genetic material.
Recently, The scientific community has discovered and developed new epigenetic editing techniquesthus deciphering layers of complexity never before unknown.
They discover a new type of epigenetic genetic control
In a study recently published in the scientific journal Cell they revealed New findings about an act of equilibrium in epigeneticswho works in DNA and RNA.
Cells that control gene expression can involve structural characteristics that are linked to proteins that organize chemical DNA such as methyl labels that adorn DNA. Nevertheless, Scientists have also learned about how epigenetics affects RNA.
When the genes express themselves, they are transcribed in Messenger RNA molecules (MNA). Then, The cell can translate those MRNA molecules into proteinswhich perform various functions. The scientists in charge of the study managed to identify an epigenetic mechanism that apparently balances gene expression.
One side of the mechanism can promote the transcription and organization of the genes, while the other makes RNM transcripts lose stability, and can adjust the way in which these transcripts are used. This study helped to demonstrate that DNA epigenetics and RNA may be more closely linked to what was believed.
An epigenetic mechanism of precise control
The scientists who carried out the study, They ensure that this mechanism allows a very precise control of gene activitywhich can be crucial in times of development, and cell coordination.
The 5-methylcitosine epigenetics (5MC) can have an impact on DNA and increase gene transcription. In turn, another marker called N6-methyladenosin (M6A) affects RNM transcripts, causing them to lose stability. When both markers are working on a gene, The gene can be activated more effectivelyand when one of the markers is working incorrectly, the activity of the gene is reduced.
The researchers pointed out that this new mechanism in gene regulation It could contribute to the understanding of some diseases, including some types of cancer. For example, there is the possibility of developing therapies based on epigenetic markers and more adapted to a specific patient.
For now, various study authors They are investigating how this information can be applied at the clinic.
New epigenetic editing technique that decreases cholesterol in mice
At the end of the previous year, another team of Italian researchers managed to silence the PCSK9 gene in mice applying a new epigenetic edition techniquethus reducing cholesterol levels by half in one year. The results of the study, which were published in the journal Nature, are very similar to those that have been achieved with genetic edition by the Verve Therapeutics company.
In this study, the gene was deactivated effectively without even changing a genome base. One of the most interesting findings of this study is that these changes of gene expression Not only are they maintained quite over time, but they “inherit” after a liver regeneration.
According to the authors of the study, there are still many studies that allow closely to follow all types of toxicity and efficiency, but the results presented so far “I could lay the foundations for the development of this type of therapies.”
Applications in Medicine
The implications of the epigenetic edition are vast. In the field of medicine, treatments for diseases are being explored such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic diseases. For example, it has been shown that the reactivation of certain tumor suppressor genes by epigenetic edition can inhibit tumor growth in animal models.
In addition, in the treatment of genetic diseases, where DNA mutation cannot be corrected, the epigenetic edition offers a viable alternative to the allow the defective gene to be expressed in a controlled manner.
Ethical and technical challenges
Despite the advances, The epigenetic edition faces several challenges. One of the main ones is specificity: Ensure that modifications are made exactly where they are desired without affecting other genes. This is essential to avoid unwanted side effects.
From the ethical point of view, the implications of manipulating gene expression in humans are subject to intense debate. The possibility of “improving” human characteristics raises questions about justice and the accessibility of these technologies.
The future of the epigenetic edition
The future of the epigenetic edition is promising. As new tools and techniques develop, the ability to modulate gene expression precisely and safely becomes an increasingly close reality. With applications that range from personalized medicine to crop improvement, the epigenetic edition promises to transform our understanding and manipulation of biology.
