Biochemical analysis of engineered TAL effector nuclease at on and novel off target sites

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract
Genome editing is a process that entails precise manipulation of a DNA sequence. To achieve this, a define stretch of nucleotides is replaced by a new, exogenously provided, DNA template using the cellular DNA repair machinery as a mean to promote the exchange. By taking this approach, we not only can repair alterations that impede gene functions but we can also expand our knowledge of basic biological processes driven by genes. Different classes of site-specific hybrid nucleases have been engineered precisely for the purpose of deleting a DNA sequence in a targeted manner. There are three main supporting platforms, Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs), Transcription Activator Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs) and Cluster Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/Cas9 Nucleases (CRISPR/Cas9). Of these three, TALENs have the highest targeting range, the flexibility of modifying different genomes and cell types with the lowest off-target activity, features that promote TALENs as potential powerful therapeutic tools. To further characterize them, I have employed a biochemical approach that allowed me to determine their specificity, affinities and kinetics at both cognate and novel OFF target DNA binding sites. From this study it became apparent that TALENs' kinetic signature is the missing link that connects their in vitro behavior with in vivo activity.

Description

Type of resource text
Form electronic; electronic resource; remote
Extent 1 online resource.
Publication date 2015
Issuance monographic
Language English

Creators/Contributors

Associated with Pavel-Dinu, Mara
Associated with Stanford University, Department of Biology.
Primary advisor Porteus, Matthew H
Thesis advisor Porteus, Matthew H
Thesis advisor Gozani, Or Pinchas
Thesis advisor Greenleaf, William James
Thesis advisor Mudgett, Mary Beth, 1967-
Advisor Gozani, Or Pinchas
Advisor Greenleaf, William James
Advisor Mudgett, Mary Beth, 1967-

Subjects

Genre Theses

Bibliographic information

Statement of responsibility Mara Pavel-Dinu.
Note Submitted to the Department of Biology.
Thesis Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2015.
Location electronic resource

Access conditions

Copyright
© 2015 by Mara Pavel-Dinu
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).

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