Project description DEENESFRITPL A novel genome-editing tool Discovery of the genome-editing ability of bacteria through the CRISPR-Cas system has revolutionised genome editing. However, limitations associated with off-target effects hamper the exploitation of CRISPR-Cas for medical applications. The EU-funded MIGHTY_RNA project is investigating the molecular mechanism of Tetrahymena thermophila DNA elimination as an alternative genome-editing approach. Researchers will determine how the eukaryotic RNA system (Twi1) that mediates this DNA elimination in ciliates recognises and cuts its target sequences. The MIGHTY_RNA study has the potential to create a new genome-editing tool that can outperform CRISPR-Cas in various applications. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Genome editing is an essential tool for life sciences. Recent ground-breaking discovery in microbiology drew our attention to the genome editing ability of bacteria (CRISPR). Since its discovery, CRISPR has revolutionized the way of editing a genome. Despite its wide use, CRISPR-genome editing has limitations, especially in the use for medical applications. Numerous studies have shown that it suffers from the off-target effect. Its use is also restricted by its particular sequence requirement and its poor accessibility to a structured genome. Furthermore, recent studies suggested that it might act as a virulence factor within human cells. These limitations demand new genome editing tools.This proposal sets out to understand the molecular mechanism of Tetrahymena DNA elimination. This naturally occuring genome editing is mediated by a eukaryotic RNA system (Twi1). This system uses an entirely different mechanism from CRISPR and has potential to perform more effectively. I will first investigate how small RNA-loaded Twi1 (“target searcher”) recognizes its target and whether its performance exceeds other target searchers including CRISPR/Cas9. I will use single-molecule fluorescence for high resolution observations and develop a high-throughput single-molecule method for transcriptome-wide understanding. Second, I aim to identify a Twi1-related DNA nuclease(s) that carries out DNA elimination. I will use cutting-edge tools of single-molecule pull-down and multi-color FRET together with mass spectrometry. The nanoscopic understanding of a searcher (Twi1) and the identification of a nuclease will help create a new genome editing tool (e.g. a fusion of Twi1 and the nuclease) that potentially perform better than Cas9. Thereby, this fundamental study on “mighty RNA” will make a long-term impact for applications in science and technology. To realize this ambitious project, I will utilize my experience of studying small RNAs (funded by ERC Starting Grant). Fields of science medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNAnatural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistrymass spectrometrynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2018-COG - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2018-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Host institution TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT Net EU contribution € 1 792 850,00 Address STEVINWEG 1 2628 CN Delft Netherlands See on map Region West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Delft en Westland Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 792 850,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT Netherlands Net EU contribution € 1 792 850,00 Address STEVINWEG 1 2628 CN Delft See on map Region West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Delft en Westland Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 792 850,00
