Genetic manipulation of genomes with rare-cutting endonucleases.
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) pose a threat to the genomic integrity of a cell. The failure to heal a break or the inappropriate repair of a break can result in the loss of genetic information and other potentially deleterious consequences, such as chromosomal translocations. Recent developments using rare-cutting endonucleases have allowed investigators to introduce one or a few DSBs into complex genomes. Such studies have begun to elucidate the complex mechanisms of nonhomologous and homologous repair used by mammalian cells to repair these lesions. A key finding is that gene targeting is stimulated two to three orders of magnitude by a DSB at the target locus. Thus, the use of rare-cutting endonucleases and the co-opting of cellular repair mechanisms might provide scientists with another tool for engineering changes into genomes.
Jasin
M
M
Cell Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute and Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, NY 10021, USA. m-jasin@mskcc.org
D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004260:DNA Repair; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
D004247:DNA; D004720:Endonucleases