«Making cells ignore mutations could treat genetic diseases» in New Scientist

Citing Michael Le Page in «New Scientist»:

«In many diseases, including cancer, DNA mutations create a stop codon in the wrong place. A single mutation can truncate a protein that should be 100 amino acids long to one that is just 15 long, rendering it completely useless. These are known as nonsense mutations, and they cause about 10 per cent of all genetic diseases.

It’s possible to make artificial tRNAs that recognise a premature stop codon, and instead of terminating the protein-making process, add the amino acid required to make a useful protein.

In 2014, Carla Oliveira at the University of Porto in Portugal and her team restored the production of a healthy protein in cells carrying a mutation that leads to hereditary stomach and breast cancer. The only option currently available for people who have this mutation is to have their stomach or breasts removed.

Now Christopher Ahern at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and his team have used artificial tRNAs to restore some production of the protein that is usually missing or broken in people who have cystic fibrosis.»

You can read the whole article here: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2114332-making-cells-ignore-mutations-could-treat-genetic-diseases/