What is the epigenome?
The epigenome is a mechanism that controls the expression level of genes through DNA methylation and histone methylation/acetylation and does not alter the DNA sequence.
Abnormalities in the epigenome are thought to be deeply involved in diseases such as cancer, metabolic diseases, and immune diseases.
What is epigenome editing?
It has been possible to analyze the epigenome, but there hadn’t been any technologies for controlling it target specifically.
However, by using technologies such as CRISPR-Cas, which was originally invented as a genome editing technology, it has become possible to control a gene you want by introducing or removing epigenetic modifications in specific DNA regions.
Unlike conventional gene editing, it reduces the risk derived from DNA cleavage. It is attracting attention as a treatment for various diseases, including hereditary diseases, cancer, and neurological diseases, and there is potential for improving the condition of the disease by controlling the expression of specific genes. In addition, it is expected to be applied in a wide range of fields, including gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and aging research.
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