Seminar by Dr. Basudeb Maji (Faculty Candidate), PDF, Harvard Medical School, on "Synthetic Small Molecule Mediated Precision Control of CRISPR/Cas9 and Beta-Cell-specific Drug Delivery"

18 Sep 2019
Seminar Room #350
Talk Title : "Synthetic Small Molecule Mediated Precision Control of CRISPR/Cas9 and Beta-Cell-specific Drug Delivery"
Abstract
Cas9 is a programmable RNA-guided DNA endonuclease that has allowed the facile introduction of genomic alterations. Cas9-based methods have transformed gene-editing and the interrogation of gene functions, but controlling such enzyme across numerous dimensions—including dose, time, and specificity remained the limiting factors for its therapeutic intervention. I have developed methods to chemically modulate Cas9 enzyme activity on demand. I will discuss how just by using synthetic small molecules I was able to precisely regulate Cas9 functions. I will share my experience on how I was able to explore the potential of synthetic organic chemistry in controlling complex biological events of CRISPR/Cas9. In a separate context, I will present my chemical approach in building a metal ion sensor-based insulin-producing beta-cell-specific drug delivery. I will discuss how simple chemistry of metal-organic complexation has helped us in addressing drug delivery problems for diabetes therapy.