Genome editing technologies don’t work in cells that are no longer dividing – which include most neurons in the brain until now. Research Fellow Jun Nishiyama, M.D., Ph.D., Research Scientist, Takayasu Mikuni, M.D., Ph.D., and Scientific Director, Ryohei Yasuda, Ph.D. at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have developed a new tool that, for the first time, allows precise genome editing in mature nondividing neurons, opening up vast new possibilities in neuroscience research by combining CRISPR-Cas9 and Adeno-associated virus system (vSLENDR). In addition, they created a dual-viral system and applicated in an aged Alzheimer’s disease mouse model that had not been engineered to express Cas9.
These suggest the vSLENDR technique would contribute to accelerate both physiological and neuropathological studies and to the development of novel therapeutics for genetic neurological disease such as Rett syndrome in the future.
Program Information
JST PREST (http://www.jst.go.jp/kisoken/presto/en/index.html)
Research Area “Innovative technology platforms for integrated single cell analysis”
Research Theme “Comprehensive, single-cell analysis of the localization and dynamics of endogenous proteins in brain tissue”
Journal Information
Jun Nishiyama, Takayasu Mikuni and Ryohei Yasuda. “Virus-Mediated Genome Editing via Homology-Directed Repair in Mitotic and Postmitotic Cells in Mammalian Brain”, Neuron, published online October 19, 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.10.004.
Contact
[About Research]
Takayasu Mikuni, Research Scientist,
Neuronal Signal Transduction
Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience
E-mail: 
Ryouhei Yasuda, Research Group Leader/Scientific Director,
Neuronal Signal Transduction
Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience
E-mail: 
[About Program]
Kawaguchi Tetsu
Life Innovation Group, Department of Innovation Research, JST
E-mail: 