"Enhancing Cancer-Fighting Cells with MEGA-CRISPR"

A new CRISPR-based system called MEGA (multiplexed effector guide arrays) targets a cell’s short-lived messenger RNA instead of DNA, providing a more precise and reversible way of designing cell therapies. This system, developed by researchers at Stanford University, uses an RNA-cutting enzyme called Cas13d to shut down the production of multiple proteins, effectively turning off up to ten genes at a time. By targeting mRNA molecules involved in T-cell exhaustion, the system rejuvenates exhausted CAR T cells, making them more effective at shrinking tumors in mice. The ability to tune gene expression with MEGA allows scientists to vary the levels of a wide array of mRNAs, revealing how different combinations of genes work together to carry out cellular functions.