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Indian scientists have developed a glowing CRISPR protein that can be seen in action inside living cells, a breakthrough that could significantly advance cancer treatment and other gene-based therapies.
The Ministry of Science and Technology said on Wednesday that researchers at the Bose Institute in Kolkata engineered GlowCas9, a modified Cas9 enzyme that emits light while editing DNA.
CRISPR Cas9 is widely used to cut and correct DNA, but scientists have not been able to watch the enzyme at work in real time because traditional detection methods require breaking open or fixing cells.
GlowCas9 overcomes this challenge by lighting up during the editing process, allowing researchers to track gene correction inside living cells.
The Ministry said this real-time visibility could make CRISPR-based treatments safer and more effective. It also noted that gene therapy has long promised lasting cures for hereditary diseases and cancer, but developing reliable and affordable methods has been difficult.
The study was led by Dr Basudeb Maji of the Bose Institute. PhD researcher Arkadeep Karmakar designed GlowCas9 by fusing the Cas9 enzyme with a split nano luciferase derived from deep-sea shrimp proteins. The enzyme pieces reassemble only when Cas9 folds correctly, producing a glow similar to fireflies. The results were published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
The glowing protein allows scientists to track genome editing in living cells, tissues, and even plant leaves without harming them. The team reported that GlowCas9 is more stable than the conventional Cas9 enzyme and can function at higher temperatures, which can improve the success of gene therapy.
GlowCas9 also enhances homology-directed repair, a crucial DNA repair pathway used to fix mutations linked to cancer, sickle cell anaemia, and muscular dystrophy. The researchers said the protein can also be monitored in plant systems, offering possible non-transgenic applications in crop improvement.
