News Genetics

A bacterial toxin enables the first mitochondrial gene editor

Researchers can now change DNA in a previously inaccessible organelle

mitochondria in cells

Scientists report a new gene-editing tool that can target DNA in mitochondria (red). Previous editors were only effective in nuclei (blue).

Tslil Ast/Mootha Lab

By Jack J. Lee

- More than 2 years ago

Bacterial weaponry has an unexpected use in human cells.

A protein secreted by bacteria to kill other microbes has been re-engineered to tweak DNA inaccessible to other gene editors, scientists report online July 8 in Nature.