According to a new study by researchers at Northwestern University and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, a type of gene regulation that was previously only present in a small number of genes in fish, worms, and mice is common in the human and mouse genomes. This type of gene regulation, known as transcriptional adaptation, has never before been discovered in the human genome. When mutated, transcriptional adaptation-affected genes can activate associated genes to restore lost functions. The two researchers searched for studies that employed CRISPR-Cas9 engineering to "knock out," or totally disable, a particular gene in mouse or human cells. Researchers occasionally discover minimal biological change, despite the fact that such engineering should stop the gene's activity and interfere with the cell's ability to function. In 16 out of 74 genes with sufficient data, the researchers discovered that adjacent genes appeared to be activated to make up for the loss of the CRISPR-d gene by examining the activity of other genes.
This is a fascinating discovery! It highlights how adaptable the genome can be, even in the face of gene disruptions. The finding that nearby genes can compensate for a disabled gene shows a level of genetic resilience we’re only beginning to understand. This could have significant implications for gene therapy and CRISPR research, potentially explaining why some genetic "knockout" experiments show minimal effects. It raises exciting questions about how widespread this mechanism is and how we might leverage it to develop treatments for genetic disorders.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37932077/
https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/case-mutation-many-our-genes-have-backup-plan
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