What is POiRT System?
Future of RNA-targeted drugs
“Molecularly targeted drugs” have attracted attention as drugs that efficiently attack proteins or genes of diseased cells (such as cancer cells).
It recognizes the unique characters of gene information.
POiRT systems’ mission is to establish a platform of RNA-targeted chemical compounds that no one has tried for decades.
RNA has 40-times more types of information compared to proteins, RNA-targeted drugs can open new worlds for drug discovery.
Hypothetically, RNA-targeted compounds can be created at 40K to 80K or higher; 20K proteins can be used for treating diseases with molecularly targeted drugs.
POiRT (Predominant Onco interactive RNA Target) system is an RNA-targeting recognition and combining sequence system known as a CRISPR-Cas13. In other words, guiding RNA harbouring the 28-nt (nucleotide) of the target sequence helps Cas (CRISPR-associated) proteins recognize and cut foreign pathogenic genes.
Our research paper shows the research result on Nature.com.
Structure-based design of gRNA for Cas13 (Guide RNA for CRISPR Cas13 enzyme)
Genes have profound effects on health, and thanks to advances in gene sequencing and bioinformatics technology, researchers have identified thousands of genes that affect our risk of disease.
POiRT systems’ first phase is to unravel lncRNA (Long non-coding RNA) function and adapt the CRISPR Cas13 system to facilitate cancer treatment.
When the bacterium detects the presence of virus crRNA (CRISPR RNA), and once Cas13 is activated by a 28-nt (nucleotide) of ssRNA (Single-Stranded RNA) sequence bearing complementarity to its crRNA’s target sequence, it unleashes a nonspecific RNase (Ribonuclease) activity. Once activated, Cas13 destroys all nearby RNA regardless of their sequence.
POiRT System can make it possible for Cancer Multi-omics data analytics to be more accessible and to support never before used RNA analysis.
And unlike previous methods, CRISPR-Cas13 can be used to target many genes at once, a significant advantage for studying complex human diseases that are caused not by a single mutation, but by many genes acting together.
These methods are being improved by our research rapidly and will have many applications in basic research, drug development, and even for presently untreatable diseases.