Student Wiki on methodology

This Wiki is intended to collectively make the point on methodologies employed in research papers we analyze during the course. "Writers" are students who wish to contribute to a specific subject. Before contributing, please add your name in the "Writers group choice". When initiating a contribution, please indicate your name in brackets.


PLEASE:  DO NOT change the INDEX page !!!
This page contains the links to the nine official subjects, which are the same in the Choice.

To contribute, go to the correct page by clicking on the description here in the index, then click EDIT and contribute. At the end, please save.

 IMPORTANT !!!

Please do not make extensive cut-and-paste: it s useless, anybody can go to the source you use and read it.  Read the texts, digest, and make a short résumé. If you wih you can include link(s) to the source(s).

Other contributors can revise, add, erase, modify...   Please do not repeat the same text as well. 


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TALEN technology

GeneArt TALs or TALEN technology is derived from TAL proteins.

Transcription Activator–Like (TAL) effector proteins are produced by Xanthomonas bacteria, a genus of plant pathogens.

TAL naturally binds to specific sequences of the host DNA, altering the gene expression. TAL proteins have two distinct domains: an effector domain and an extraordinarily specific DNA-binding domain.

The DNA-binding domain consists of a variable number of amino acid repeats. Each repeat contains 33–35 amino acids. The amino acids number 12 and 13, called Repeat-Variable Di-residues (RVDs), are responsible for the specific recognition of a single DNA base pair.

The DNA-binding domain repeats can be assembled modularly, and the RVDs can be varied to create a TAL protein that specifically targets any locus in the genome.

The DNA-binding domain can then be linked to a custom Effector domain (e.g., a nuclease, or a transcription activator or repressor) to create a chimeric protein to precisely manipulate DNA.

This technology is known to function in bacteria, yeast, plants, insects, zebrafish, and mammals.

The TAL effector can:                                   

  • Knock out a gene
  • Correct a gene
  • Insert a DNA sequence
  • Activate a gene transcription
  • Repress a gene transcription
  • Any other function of your choice

 TALEN technology can be used to:

  • Elucidating gene function and regulation
  • Metabolic pathways study
  • Embryonic stem cell research
  • Disease models research

 

To better understand, watch this video made by Thermo Fisher: 

How TALEN works


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