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Elaine Wu

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research

Publishes on HIV Research and Treatment, Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms, CRISPR and Genetic Engineering. 2 papers and 98 citations.

2Publications
98Total Citations

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Top publicationsby citations

Brainwide silencing of prion protein by AAV-mediated delivery of an engineered compact epigenetic editor
Cited by 98Open Access

Prion disease is caused by misfolding of the prion protein (PrP) into pathogenic self-propagating conformations, leading to rapid-onset dementia and death. However, elimination of endogenous PrP halts prion disease progression. In this study, we describe Coupled Histone tail for Autoinhibition Release of Methyltransferase (CHARM), a compact, enzyme-free epigenetic editor capable of silencing transcription through programmable DNA methylation. Using a histone H3 tail-Dnmt3l fusion, CHARM recruits and activates endogenous DNA methyltransferases, thereby reducing transgene size and cytotoxicity. When delivered to the mouse brain by systemic injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV), Prnp -targeted CHARM ablates PrP expression across the brain. Furthermore, we have temporally limited editor expression by implementing a kinetically tuned self-silencing approach. CHARM potentially represents a broadly applicable strategy to suppress pathogenic proteins, including those implicated in other neurodegenerative diseases.