
Two Studies Reveal Retron's Function and its Genome-editing Potential
December 9, 2020 |
Two independent studies reveal that retrons, similar to CRISPR, are part of the bacterial immune arsenal, protecting the bacteria from viruses called phages.
Scientists from Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, reported in Cell how a particular retron defends bacteria through abortive infection. This process involves triggering newly infected cells to self-destruct so the virus can't replicate and spread to others. This is the first concrete evidence about the natural role of retrons.
The other study (still on preprint) conducted by researchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Germany, reached the same conclusion. They observed a gene for a protein toxic to Salmonellawas located next to the genes coding for a retron in a Salmonella bacterium. The team discovered the retron normally conceals the toxin then activates it in the presence of phage proteins.
With these findings, the researchers are excited about the potential of retrons, especially in combining them with CRISPR for genome editing.
Read more from Science.
|
You might also like:
- Scientists Optimize Prime Editing for Rice and Wheat
- Plant Breeding Innovation: CRISPR-Cas9
- Viruses Genetically Engineered to Kill Bacteria Rescue Girl with Antibiotic-Resistant Infection
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- International Study Decodes the Genome of 15 Wheat Varieties
- International Animal Biotech Webinars Wrap Up for 2020
- ISAAA Webinar: Global Status of Biotech Crops and the Philippine Adoption Experience
- Locust Genome Could Help Find Solutions to Pest's Swarming Behavior
- International Research Team Publishes Barley Pan-Genome
- Filipino Researchers Develop Motion Tracker for Eggplant's Most Vicious Pest
- Biotech Maize Area in Vietnam Expands to 92,000 Hectares
- Research Team Discovers Strategy to Make Plants More Salt Tolerant
-
Research Highlights
- Ectopic Expression of a Grape Nitrate Transporter Boosts Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Arabidopsis
- GM Birch Tree Study Shows Promising Results Against Insect Herbivores
-
Plant
- Two Studies Reveal Retron's Function and its Genome-editing Potential
-
Health
- COVID-19 Test Uses CRISPR and Smartphone Camera
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (February 12, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (February 12, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet