Strategies for Precision Modulation of Gene Expression by Epigenome Editing: An Overview

Authors

Benjamin I. Laufer, Western UniversityFollow
Shiva M. Singh, Western University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2015

Journal

Epigenetics & Chromatin

Volume

8

URL with Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13072-015-0023-7

Abstract

Genome editing technology has evolved rather quickly and become accessible to most researchers. It has resulted in far reaching implications and a number of novel designer systems including epigenome editing. Epigenome editing utilizes a combination of nuclease-null genome editing systems and effector domains to modulate gene expression. In particular, Zinc Finger, Transcription-Activator-Like Effector, and CRISPR/Cas9 have emerged as modular systems that can be modified to allow for precision manipulation of epigenetic marks without altering underlying DNA sequence. This review contains a comprehensive catalog of effector domains that can be used with components of genome editing systems to achieve epigenome editing. Ultimately, the evidence-based design of epigenome editing offers a novel improvement to the limited attenuation strategies. There is much potential for editing and/or correcting gene expression in somatic cells toward a new era of functional genomics and personalized medicine.

Notes

e-Publication Number: 34

Western Libraries Open Access Fund recipient.