CRISPR Variant ThermoCas9 Targets Tumor DNA, Promising Precision Cancer Therapy
Researchers from Wageningen University & Research and Van Andel Institute have developed a novel gene-editing approach using a CRISPR variant called ThermoCas9. This method exploits the chemical differences between tumor DNA and healthy DNA, specifically targeting and cleaving tumor DNA while sparing normal tissue. The key to this precision lies in DNA methylation, where methyl groups attach to DNA, regulating gene activity. In cancer cells, these methylation patterns become aberrant, providing a molecular fingerprint for targeting. ThermoCas9, discovered in bacteria, is sensitive to these methylation patterns, allowing it to distinguish between healthy and malignant DNA. The research demonstrated ThermoCas9's ability to selectively cleave tumor DNA in cultured human cells, marking a significant advance in precision medicine. 
