Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The genome serves as the blueprint for life, functioning as an instruction manual that orchestrates the behaviour of each living organism. Single-letter changes in DNA, known as point mutations, can affect a protein's function, which, in turn, often compromise cellular integrity. On the other hand, point mutations give rise to new functions in proteins that can impart novel traits, which can be used to improve industrially important processes such as agricultural crop breeding. To facilitate the study of these mutations and the new traits that arise from them, we need molecular tools capable of generating these mutations on demand. Therefore, the proposed research program aims to develop methods of introducing mutations into cell systems. This will be achieved by engineering various DNA-interacting proteins and integrating them with the Nobel-prize-winning CRISPR genome editing platforms. Iterative tool development will be conducted both in test tubes and in human cell culture systems to optimize their function. These molecular tools represent a novel method of modifying DNA that creates new types of genetic variations previously impossible to achieve. The main outcome of this research program will be a collection of molecular machines that specialize in generating point mutations for various applications in natural sciences. Along the way, we will bolster our fundamental mechanistic understanding of the protein components, improving their value for future bioengineering endeavours. The resulting tools can be utilized by researchers in Canada and worldwide to gain insights into how cell systems are affected by genetic changes and apply them in impactful applications such as developing more robust crops that withstand the effects of climate change. These tools will be commercialized by licensing the patents describing the technologies to companies in the biotechnology sector including pharmaceutical companies and agricultural businesses, prioritizing Canadian entities.