Speaker
Description
Gene regulation is a complex web across biological levels, and its intricacy often complicates precise interventions, with off-target effects being a major hurdle. To transform this, we here propose a photoactivatable microRNA-based circuit that enables unmatched accuracy in gene targeting, potentially reducing off-target effects. Our approach leverages the concept of microRNAs (miRNAs) as frequency decoders, interpreting signal frequencies—such as oscillatory pulses—to regulate vital cellular processes. We’ve recently shown that periodically expressed miRNAs can selectively repress targets within specific frequency ranges, creating bell-shaped response curves typical of true frequency decoders. Our model highlights the importance of miRNA-target interaction dynamics in frequency-dependent repression, adding an orthogonal layer of specificity beyond mere sequence pairing. After introducing our theoretical results, we present a simple yet powerful circuit in which a photoactivatable miRNA, whose expression can be periodically controlled by light, enables dynamic gene expression modulation in single cells.
| Role | Professor/PI |
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