Scientists discovered naturally existing DNA editing tool - Bridge Recombinase Mechanism

Posted 03 Jul 2024

2 min read

Bridge Recombinase Mechanism (BRM) utilizes mobile genetic elements or “jumping genes”, which cut and paste themselves into genomes, performing on-the-go DNA manipulation and are present in all forms of life.

Jumping Genes are small DNA segments with a recombinase enzyme along with extra DNA segments at the ends of the genes that binds and manipulates DNA.
Gene editing is alteration of genetic material of a living organism by inserting, replacing, or deleting a DNA sequence, with the aim of improving some characteristic of a plant/ animal or correcting a genetic disorder.

About BRM

Extra DNA at the ends of jumping genes gets joined together and converts the DNA double helix structure into a single-stranded RNA molecule.
This bridge RNA molecule can bind to two DNA segments (donor and target), allowing for flexible DNA modifications.
Donor and target loop can be programmed independently, offering great flexibility in inserting or recombining sequences to DNA.

Significance of BRM

It will allow researchers to rearrange, recombine, invert, duplicate, move, and perform other editing operations on very long DNA sequences.
It can lead to development of more advanced gene editing therapeutics and treatments for diseases.

Other Gene-editing technologies

CRISPR-Cas9: It is a customizable tool that lets scientists cut and insert small pieces of DNA at precise areas along a DNA strand.
TALE nucleases: Nucleases that cleave unique genomic sequences in living cells can be used for targeted gene editing.
Zinc-finger nucleases: Targeted to cleave a chosen genomic sequence and provokes cellular repair processes that in turn mediate efficient modification of the targeted location.
RNA interference (RNAi): Targets RNA molecules to block or activate gene expression.