Gene expression is the process by which a gene is transcribed into mRNA, and then subsequently translated into a functional protein. Transcription factors are proteins that directly bind DNA to turn gene expression on or off. One transcription factor can regulate hundreds – or even thousands – of different genes, making these proteins master regulators of normal cellular physiology. But when these proteins are mutated or dysregulated they can then contribute to the development of disease, making them attractive therapeutic targets.
Here, Nobel Laureate David Baker from University of Washington describes a method for designing novel DNA-binding proteins, and shows that they can activate and inhibit gene expression in a DNA-sequence-specific manner. This approach enables customizable control over gene expression in a cell, and the potential implications of this strategy are immense, from reprogramming cells into another cell type, to giving cells novel beneficial functions, to transforming diseased cells into normal cells.
