Peptide Assisted Gene Editing (PAGE)
“In the study, researchers [at the University of Pennsylvania] explored the use of small, virus-derived protein fragments, called peptides, to pilot CRISPR-Cas molecules more efficiently through the outer membranes of primary human cells and into their nuclei. Notably, researchers found that a fused combination of two modified peptides—one found in HIV and one in influenza viruses—could be mixed with CRISPR-Cas molecules to get them into primary human or mouse cells and their nuclei with efficiencies of up to nearly 100 percent, depending on the cell type—with almost no toxicity or gene-expression changes. The team demonstrated the approach, which they call PAGE (peptide-assisted genome editing), for several types of envisioned cell therapy including CAR T cell therapies.” MORE
Image Credit: Penn Medicine News