By manipulating the shape of DNA itself, we can practice a new way to limit the spread of cancer cells. We are attempting to regulate gene expression by activation or deactivation of histones resulting in the inability of the RNA polymerase to transcribe the gene of interest. In order to test if our technique works, we will use the lin-15 gene to determine if activation can suppress transcription by making the lin-15 area heterochromatic (condensed). We are first working with lin-15, a gene only found in Caenorhabditis Elegans (C. elegans) on the X chromosome, and using siRNA to activate their histones. We will then utilize the same histone location but on the BRCA-2 gene while transitioning from utilizing siRNA to CRISPR-Cas9. Our ultimate goal is to regulate the mutations of a BRCA2 cancer cell with the intentions of having a controlled cell cycle versus the mutated one of oncogenes.
