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News Release 6-Jan-2021


DETECTING CRISPR/CAS GENE DOPING



American Chemical Society

Research News

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All athletes want to be at the top of their game when they compete, but some
resort to nefarious approaches to achieve peak muscle growth, speed and agility.
Recent developments in gene editing technology could tempt athletes to change
their DNA to get an edge. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Analytical
Chemistry demonstrate first steps toward detecting this type of doping both in
human plasma and in live mice.

The gene editing method called CRISPR/Cas is a popular way for scientists to
precisely change the DNA in many organisms, and it recently gained even more
attention when key developers of the method were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry. With this method, researchers add an RNA molecule and a protein into
cells. The RNA molecule guides the protein to the appropriate DNA sequence, and
then the protein cuts DNA, like a pair of scissors, to allow alterations.
Despite the ethical concerns that have been raised about the method's potential
application in humans, some athletes could ignore the risks and misuse it to
alter their genes. Because CRISPR/Cas changes DNA, it is considered "gene
doping" and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, an independent
international organization. A sufficient method to detect CRISPR/Cas gene
editing needs to be developed, however. So, Mario Thevis and colleagues wanted
to see whether they could identify the protein most likely to be used in this
type of doping, Cas9 from the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9), in human
plasma samples and in mouse models.

The team spiked the SpCas9 protein into human plasma, then isolated the protein
and cut it into pieces. When the pieces were analyzed by mass spectrometry, the
researchers found that they could successfully identify unique components of the
SpCas9 protein from the complex plasma matrix. In another experiment,
inactivated SpCas9, which can regulate gene expression without altering DNA, was
spiked into human plasma samples. With a slight modification, the method allowed
the team to purify and detect the inactive form. Finally, the team injected mice
with SpCas9 and showed that their concentrations peaked in circulating blood
after 2 hours and could be detected up to 8 hours after administration into
muscle tissue. The researchers say that although much work still needs to be
done, this is an initial step toward a test to pinpoint athletes trying to gain
an unfair advantage.

###

The authors acknowledge funding from the Manfred-Donike-Institute and the German
Sport University.

The abstract that accompanies this paper can be viewed here.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the
U.S. Congress. ACS' mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and
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As a specialist in scientific information solutions (including SciFinder® and
STN®), its CAS division powers global research, discovery and innovation. ACS'
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Media Contact

Katie Cottingham
k_cottingham@acs.org
301-775-8455

 @ACSpressroom

http://www.acs.org 

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MORE ON THIS NEWS RELEASE


DETECTING CRISPR/CAS GENE DOPING

American Chemical Society

Journal Analytical Chemistry

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KEYWORDS

   
 * CHEMISTRY/PHYSICS/MATERIALS SCIENCES
 * GENE THERAPY
 * GENES
 * GENETICS
 * SPORTS MEDICINE
 * SPORTS MEDICINE
 * SPORTS/RECREATION
 * SPORTS/RECREATION
   

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