Bridge Editing of DNA
A recent study published in Nature by a team from Berkeley explored a novel mechanism involving IS110 elements that could be used for DNA editing like CRISPR. Another article in the same issue, by a team from Japan, revealed the cryo-electron microscopy structures of the IS110 recombinase complexed with bRNA, target DNA, and donor DNA and Showed the IS110 synaptic complex comprises two recombinase dimers, one for the target-binding loop (TBL) and the other for the donor-binding loop (DBL). Evolution has equipped organisms with a plethora of enzymes dedicated to rearranging and diversifying the genome. These enzymes play crucial roles in the emergence and specialization of new genes, the development of immunity, and the spread of viruses and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). MGEs, which include transposons, integrases, homing endonucleases, and recombinases, are prevalent across all domains of life. They typically mobilize by recognizing specific DNA sequences, with target specificit...