The emergence of COMET technology regulates every human cell

In the context of CRISPR gene editing technology suspected to be inadequate and safe for use in medicine, US scientists have developed a new platform called COMET that allows discovering and changing functions. basic abilities of the cell, as well as creating new methods to treat the disease, including cancer.

According to Phys.org , the CRISPR genome editing technology could be replaced with an entirely new technology to repair cell-level malfunctions in the body of mammals, including humans. The new platform, called COMET, enables the discovery and alteration of basic cellular functions, as well as the creation of new ways to treat diseases, including cancer.

COMET is an entirely new technology to repair cellular-level malfunctions in the body of mammals, including humans - (Image: Northwestern University).

Thanks to advances in synthetic biology, scientists can reprogram bacterial cells to perform new activities and create new compounds. However, mammalian cells are much more complicated, so modifying them requires a lot of effort. Genetic editing tools, including CRISPR, allow 'rewrite' of individual genes, but not the entire molecular network. Experts from Northwestern University (USA) have proposed a new approach for this issue. They developed a platform called COMET, the first set of tools to reconfigure mammalian cells.

The team's primary goal was to develop cellular therapies, such as reprogramming immune cells to fight cancer. However, the researchers quickly realized that they needed a new tool to provide new functional cells.

The first step is to create a library of boosting and transcription factors that regulate gene expression. Based on the data obtained, a mathematical model has been developed to explain the interactions of genes within cells. It is this mathematical model that is the basis of COMET. The platform is composed of synthetic compounds, so that it can control the activity of genes at a level previously unavailable.

Currently, the team is working on practical application of the COMET tool. Specifically, they plan to use it to reprogram cells to deliver drugs directly to tumors. To do this, scientists need to teach cells to distinguish healthy tissue from cancer. The authors also want to make the new technology accessible to other scientific groups. This not only helps develop new medical and biotechnology methods, but also promotes research on immunity, reproduction, and other basic biological processes.

Although the CRISPR gene-editing technology is widespread, many researchers still believe it is not accurate enough and safe to use in medicine. This stimulates the search for alternative ways to make changes in the genome. In 2019, several such tools were introduced at the same time - both CRISPR versions and completely new technologies.