The aim of this program is to develop the tools to engineer a large number of rodent genes, for functional genomic purposes. Since meganuclease-induced recombination represents an extremely powerful tool for gene alteration, we will focus on the generation of four kinds of results:
A large collection of novel meganucleases. This collection of novel proteins should greatly enhance the repertoire of natural meganucleases, and thus, allow for the targeting of a large number of genes in organisms whose genome has been sequenced, with a strong focus on rodent genomes.
The means to exponentially increase this collection. The collection of novel meganucleases should provide a unique database of characterized DNA binder. Structural and statistical studies should reveal the laws governing these interactions, and these data could in turn be used in a predictive way, for the design of novel meganucleases.
The methods, procedures and quality standards to make these meganucleases widely usable as research tools.
A refined method to use these meganucleases in cells. The focus will be on mouse cells for functional genomics, providing a direct validation.
