Knock your genes off… I mean OUT!
What would you say is as exciting as offering a novel game-changing technology? Learning about that technology from the talented individual who helped to shape it! Sigma Life Science is fortunate enough to have Dr. Trevor Collingwood as a member of the team. Formerly of Sangamo Biosciences, Dr. Collingwood led the Enabling Technologies Group, focusing on development of the zinc finger nuclease platform for genome engineering.
If you are asking the question “What are zinc finger nucleases?” then you are in luck! Sigma Life Science has created a series of FREE, live online seminars to introduce you to the technology and to delve into specific applications of zinc finger nucleases.
If you missed the introductory webinar held on May 6, the recorded webinar Introduction to Zinc Finger Nuclease Technology will be available for you to experience at your convenience. We spent 30 minutes listening and this is just a taste of what we learned.
1. What are ZFNs?
ZFNs are engineered DNA-binding proteins that act as “genomic scissors” to create a highly targeted double strand break in genomic DNA at any specified locus. The double strand break is repaired by the cell, leading to gene knockout or gene modification only at the intended locus. This technology will knock your genes right off!
2. Design consideration
A two pronged approach of bioinformatics and protein engineering maximizes the specificity of ZFNs. A sophisticated algorithm is used to look for unique sites within the genome (target sequences that do not have homologous sequences even with 1-4 base pair mismatches) and avoid regions such as repeat elements, SNPs and splice variations. The Fok I nuclease is also engineered to function only when two different zinc finger nucleases come together, increasing specificity. Nothing like a clean break!
3. Using ZFNs
Dr. Collingwood will cover the various applications of Zinc finger nucleases for targeted gene knockout and target integration. The overall advantages for using zinc finger nuclease technology in both approaches include: modification of endogenous loci, ZFNs expressed transiently, no selection required (it is that specific!) and monoallelic or multi-allelic disruption/insertion.
Are you ready for more advanced topics in Zinc Finger Nuclease Applications? Of course you are.
May 27, 2010 - Gene Knockout in Cell Lines
Dr. Collingwood provides examples of both single and multiple gene knockouts drawing from work with transformed cell lines, primary human cells and multi-potent stem cells.
9 AM Central Time
4 PM Central Time
June 15, 2010 – Targeted Gene Integration
Join Dr. Collingwood for a discussion of various applications of gene integration including gene tagging (such as infusing GFP directly to the endogenous gene) and modification at the endogenous locus to recreate or correct disease-related mutations.
9 AM Central Time
4 PM Central Time
Register to attend the live webinars or check back at sigma.com/zfnwebinar for the recording to be posted. We hope to have the recording of the first webinar posted soon. Until then, check out this video on ZFNs.
CompoZr ZFN Technology for Targeted Genome Editing
