Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
14:49
Application of CRISPR Interference CRISPRi for Gene Silencing in Pathogenic Species of Leptospira
Published on: August 14, 2021
5.7K
Targeting dCas9-SunTag to a Susceptibility Gene Promoter Is Sufficient for CRISPR Interference
Zuh-Jyh Daniel Lin1, Gabriela L Hernandez1, Myia K Stanton1
1Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Saint Louis Missouri USA.
Plant Direct
|February 9, 2026
Summary
Epigenetic modification using DNA methylation targeted Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) resistance. Researchers successfully reduced viral gene expression by targeting host susceptibility factors, offering a new strategy for disease management in cassava.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Epigenetics
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) significantly impacts sub-Saharan African agriculture.
- Pathogen infection often relies on host susceptibility factors.
- Previous work demonstrated DNA methylation's potential to reduce disease by targeting susceptibility genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate targeted DNA methylation as a strategy to confer resistance to CBSD in cassava.
- To target the promoters of essential host factors for ipomovirus infection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a dCas9-DRMcd-SunTag system for simultaneous promoter targeting and DNA methylation.
- Focused on two key eIF4E family genes (nCBP-1 and nCBP-2) crucial for ipomovirus infection.
- Assessed gene expression reduction and potential CRISPR interference effects.
Main Results:
- Successfully achieved simultaneous promoter targeting and methylation of both nCBP-1 and nCBP-2.
- Observed reduction in gene expression, with controls indicating CRISPR interference also contributed.
- Established lines for future research to segregate methylation reagents and assess heritability.
Conclusions:
- Targeted DNA methylation, alongside CRISPR interference, can reduce expression of essential viral host factors.
- Further research is needed to confirm the heritability and sole efficacy of DNA methylation for CBSD resistance.
Related Concept Videos
01:59CRISPR
58.0K
Genome editing technologies allow scientists to modify an organism’s DNA via the addition, removal, or rearrangement of genetic material at specific genomic locations. These types of techniques could potentially be used to cure genetic disorders such as hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. One popular and widely used DNA-editing research tool that could lead to safe and effective cures for genetic disorders is the CRISPR-Cas9 system. CRISPR-Cas9 stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced...
58.0K
02:53CRISPR and crRNAs
19.2K
Bacteria and archaea are susceptible to viral infections just like eukaryotes; therefore, they have developed a unique adaptive immune system to protect themselves. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) are present in more than 45% of known bacteria and 90% of known archaea.
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
19.2K
01:23RNA Interference
28.2K
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
28.2K
02:18Interference and Diffraction
52.5K
Interference is a characteristic phenomenon exhibited by waves. When two electromagnetic waves interact with their peaks and troughs coinciding, a resulting wave with enhanced amplitude is produced. This is known as constructive interference. In this case, the two waves interacting are in phase with each other.
52.5K
02:40The Eukaryotic Promoter Region
18.9K
The eukaryotic promoter region is a segment of DNA located upstream of a gene. It contains an RNA polymerase binding site, a transcription start site, and several cis-regulatory sequences. The proximal promoter region is located in the vicinity of the gene and has cis-regulatory sequences and the core promoter. The core promoter is the binding site for RNA polymerase and is usually located between -35 and +35 nucleotides from the transcription start site. The distal promoter regions are...
18.9K
01:31Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability
2.4K
In linear magnetic materials, like paramagnets and diamagnets, magnetization is proportional to the magnetic field intensity. The constant of proportionality, a dimensionless number, is called magnetic susceptibility. The value of the susceptibility depends on the type of material.
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
2.4K