Therapeutic applications and specificity of action of designer nucleases for precision genome engineering / Didigu, Chukwuka Anthony.

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Didigu, Chukwuka Anthony, author.

Contributor:

Wherry, John E., degree supervisor.

Doms, Robert W., degree supervisor.

Roth, David B., degree committee member.

June, Carl H., degree committee member.

Hahn, B. (Beatrice), degree committee member.

University of Pennsylvania. Cell and Molecular Biology, degree granting institution.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biology.

Microbiology.

Biomedical engineering.

Cell and Molecular Biology--Penn dissertations.

Penn dissertations--Cell and Molecular Biology.

Local Subjects:

Biology.

Microbiology.

Biomedical engineering.

Cell and Molecular Biology--Penn dissertations.

Penn dissertations--Cell and Molecular Biology.

Genre:

Academic theses.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (100 pages)

Contained In:

Dissertation Abstracts International 76-11B(E).

Place of Publication:

[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]: University of Pennsylvania ; Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2015.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

text file

Summary:

Designer nucleases allow for the precise modification of a given DNA sequence by the introduction of a sequence-specific double strand break. This targeted genetic engineering confers the ability to modify genomes of complex organisms, and has far-reaching applications in human medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. As these nucleases act in a sequence specific manner, understanding their specificity is of paramount importance to prevent potentially genotoxic side effects. In this thesis, I assessed the ability of a class of designer nucleases (ZFNs)---zinc finger nucleases---to simultaneously inactivate two genes encoding entry factors required for HIV infection in human CD4 T cells. Additionally, I sought to develop a high-throughput means of identifying sites of designer nuclease off-target activity across the genome, in an effort to better understand the factors governing designer nuclease specificity. This work demonstrates the ability of ZFNs to simultaneously modify two distinct genetic loci in primary human CD4 T cells---the main target of HIV infection. These genemodified cells are protected from HIV infection and represent a novel means of treating---and potentially curing HIV infection. This work also demonstrates that DNA double-strand breaks introduced by a single designer nuclease at on- and off-target loci can result in the formation of genomic rearrangements. Taken together, this work advances in the field of genome engineering on two fronts---a novel therapeutic application of designer nucleases and a novel means of detecting off-target genomic modification.

Notes:

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 76-11(E), Section: B.

Advisors: Robert W. Doms; John E. Wherry; Committee members: Beatrice Hahn; Carl H. June; David B. Roth.

Department: Cell and Molecular Biology.

Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 2015.

Local Notes:

School code: 0175

ISBN:

9781321850765

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.