Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) have made an exciting breakthrough with a novel genetic approach designed to elevate the production of unique pharmacological compounds from bacteria.
Although microorganisms possess a natural ability to produce numerous beneficial substances that can fight infections and even cancer, many of the genetic pathways that lead to these valuable compounds remain dormant when grown in the lab.
Innovative Technique: ACTIMOT
The innovative technique, called “ACTIMOT” (Advanced Cas9-mediaTed In vivo MObilization and mulTiplication of BGCs), leverages a natural bacterial process for transferring genetic information.
By employing cutting-edge CRISPR-Cas9 technology, this method enables researchers to make precise modifications to bacterial genomes, significantly improving the visibility and replication of biosynthetic gene clusters.
In traditional laboratory settings, these clusters often lie inactive; however, ACTIMOT empowers scientists to extract them and integrate them into mobile genetic elements for further replication by the bacteria.
Identification of New Natural Products
In applying ACTIMOT, the team successfully identified 39 new natural products spanning four previously unrecognized classes.
This exciting result strengthens their confidence that the ACTIMOT approach could significantly accelerate the search for new therapeutic agents.
Expanding Pathways for Future Research
While the initial implementation of ACTIMOT concentrated on Streptomyces bacteria, there are plans for the technique to be extended to various other bacterial strains that might also possess hidden reservoirs of natural products.
The researchers anticipate that ACTIMOT could not only facilitate the large-scale production of essential natural compounds but also enable exploration of uncharted genetic pathways.
Rolf Müller, who leads the department at HIPS, emphasized that this groundbreaking technology has the potential to reveal the untapped strengths of microbial biosynthesis, ultimately aiding in the creation of critical active pharmaceutical ingredients that are in high demand.
Source: ScienceDaily