Decoding retrons: Breakthroughs in RT-DNA production and genome editing

Wenqian Liu; Yingjia Pan; Yu Zhang; Chang Dong; Lei Huang; Jiazhang Lian

doi:10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.10.011

Decoding retrons: Breakthroughs in RT-DNA production and genome editing

Cell Chem Biol. 2024 Nov 21;31(11):1869-1871. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.10.011.

Authors

Wenqian Liu¹, Yingjia Pan², Yu Zhang¹, Chang Dong², Lei Huang², Jiazhang Lian³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & State Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; BGI Research, Hangzhou 310030, China.
² Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & State Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & State Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China. Electronic address: jzlian@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 39577396
DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.10.011

Abstract

Retrons are notable for their anti-phage defense functions and genome engineering applications. However, only a few retrons have been well characterized. In the August issue of Nature Biotechnology, Khan et al.¹ present hundreds of experimentally studied retrons, which are critical for bacterial immunity research and retron-based genome engineering technologies.

MeSH terms

DNA / metabolism
Gene Editing / methods
Genetic Engineering*

Substances

DNA