Cell Rep: RNA damage repair helps with the treatment of neurological disorders.

16, 2020 /--- In a recent study, scientists successfully edited RNA in living animals so that repaired RNA can correct mutations in proteins, improving neurodegenerative symptoms caused by Rett syndromeThe results were published in the latest journal Cell ReportsDr Gail Mandel, senior scientist at the OHSU Vollum Institute, said: "This is the first example of the use of RNA editing to repair genes in mouse models of neurological diseasesThis gives us an attractive approach"Rett syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes nervous breakdown and is caused by a genetic mutation in the coded protein MeCP2, which occurs almost exclusively in girls(Photo source:Mandel and co-authors, led by postdoctoral researcher DrJohn Sinnamon, have been working on a method for repairing a mutated MeCP2 protein at RNA or RNA levels, which act as messengers to deliver synthesis of PROTEINs from DNA-controlled proteinsOther scientists have used programmable RNA editing repair techniques to target muscular dystrophy and even hearing loss in genetically engineered miceHowever, the nervous system challenges this technique more than other organ diseases, such as muscles or liversThe new study targets and repairs the MeCP2 protein in a variety of cell types"We repaired the MeCP2 protein in three different groups of neurons," Mandel saidSo, assuming we can provide the editing component extensively, it is likely to work throughout the brainA previous landmark study, led by Dr Adrian Bird of the University of Edinburgh, suggests that it is possible to reverse rett-like symptoms in mice, suggesting that it may also be possible in humansOHSU's research suggests RNA repair is expected to serve as a proof of concept, and Mandel stresses that more research is needed to test whether it can reverse rett-like behavior in mice and improve the efficiency and specificity of repair(Bioon.com) Source: RNA Repair Show Promise in reversing dating dywedodd a ac a ac disorder original source: John RSinnamon et al, In Vivo Repair of a Protein Under Llayling a Disorder by Programmable RNA Editing, Cell Reports (2020)DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107878.