Engineers at MIT have developed a new system that allows precise control of synthetic gene expression within cells. The innovation could improve the consistency and customization of gene therapy treatments, according to Massachusetts Institute of Technology News.
Led by MIT’s Katie Galloway, the research team created a control mechanism that adjusts protein levels in synthetic gene circuits. The system, known as DIAL, works by changing the distance between a gene and its promoter region. Longer DNA spacers reduce gene expression, while shorter ones increase it through enzyme-based editing.
The DIAL system enables uniform protein levels in cell populations, addressing a long-standing challenge in synthetic biology. Using DIAL, researchers improved the conversion of mouse embryonic fibroblasts into motor neurons and showed it could be combined with another MIT-developed system, ComMAND, to prevent gene overexpression.
The research was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the National Science Foundation, and the Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies.
