🔬TODAY’S BREAKTHROUGH
CRISPR has changed medicine, but what if you could control genes without ever touching your DNA?
The Discovery:
A team from the Whitehead Institute and MIT has developed a CRISPR-based system called RENDER that allows precise, long-lasting gene silencing or activation, without cutting, mutating, or integrating into the genome. Instead of editing DNA, RENDER uses epigenome editors delivered as ribonucleoprotein complexes to reprogram gene expression in human cells. This creates durable molecular changes with minimal toxicity, making it a potential game-changer for aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease therapies.
The Science:
RENDER stands for RNP-based Epigenetic Reprogramming via Non-integrating Delivery of Effector RNPs
It uses virus-like particles (VLPs) to deliver CRISPR-based epigenetic editors into human cells as protein-RNA complexes
Unlike standard CRISPR, there’s no DNA cutting, no viral vectors, and no risk of genomic instability
Editors target genes by modifying DNA methylation or chromatin accessibility, not sequence
RENDER was tested in primary human T cells, iPSC-derived neurons, and multiple cancer cell lines
It achieved stable gene repression for 30+ days after a single treatment, 63% reduction in MAPT (Tau) gene expression in Alzheimer’s-linked neurons, and multiplexed gene silencing with minimal off-target effects, confirmed by RNA-seq and DNA methylation profiling
The effect was also reversible using activator constructs (e.g. dCas9-TET1)
Crucially, the system maintains high viability in fragile cells, such as neurons and T cells, often a major limitation in gene therapy
Your Action:
While RENDER is still preclinical, it signals the future of non-invasive, programmable gene therapy. Until then, your gene expression is still powerfully influenced by environment. Support healthy epigenetic regulation through:
Sleep regularity, which impacts chromatin remodeling
Stress reduction, lowering cortisol-related gene silencing
Polyphenol-rich foods (e.g., berries, green tea), which modulate histone acetylation
Exercise, shown to influence methylation across age-related pathways
Bottom Line:
This study introduces a CRISPR breakthrough that can reprogram gene activity without DNA editing, paving the way for safer therapies targeting aging, inflammation, and neurodegeneration.
Source:
Programmable epigenome editing by transient delivery of CRISPR epigenome editor ribonucleoproteins, Nature Communications, Xu et al., Whitehead Institute
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63167-x
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Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen.