Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALEN) are potential tools for precise genome engineering of laboratory animals. We report the first targeted genomic integration in the rat using TALENs (Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases) by homology-derived recombination (HDR). We assembled TALENs and designed a linear donor insert targeting a pA476T mutation in the rat Glucocort...

Targeted nucleases are influential instruments for intervening in genome revision with great accuracy. RNA-guided Cas9 nucleases produced from clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems have noticeably altered the means to modify the genomes of distinct organisms. They can be notably used to facilitate effective genome manipulation in eukaryotic cells by clea...

Genome integration is a powerful tool in both basic and applied biological research. However, traditional genome integration, which is typically mediated by homologous recombination, has been constrained by low efficiencies and limited host range. In recent years, the emergence of homing endonucleases and programmable nucleases has greatly enhanced integration efficiencies and allowed alternati...

An effective approach to HIV cure will almost certainly require a combination of strategies, including some means of reducing the latent HIV reservoir. Because the integrated HIV provirus represents the major source of viral persistence and reactivation, one attractive approach is the direct targeting of provirus for disruption or excision using targeted endonucleases, such as CRISPR/Cas9, zinc...

Gene targeting by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells is extensively used to generate specific mouse mutants. However, most mammalian species lack tools for targeted gene manipulation. Since double-strand breaks strongly increase the rate of homologous recombination at genomic loci, we explored whether gene targeting can be directly performed in zygotes by the use of zinc-finger nu...

The CRISPR-Cas system has emerged as a fascinating and important genome editing tool. It is now widely used in biology, biotechnology, and biomedical research in both academic and industrial settings. To improve the specificity and efficiency of Cas nucleases and to extend the applications of these systems for other areas of research, an understanding of their precise working mechanisms is cruc...