CRISPR-Cas9 guided RNA based model for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A progressive neurodegenerative disorder

  • Muhammad Naveed Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore Pakistan
  • Muhammad Aqib Shabbir Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore Pakistan
  • Tariq Aziz Department of Agriculture University of Ioannina Arta 47100 Greece
  • Hafiz Muhammad Hurraira Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore Pakistan
  • Sayyeda Fatima Zaidi Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore Pakistan
  • Ramsha Athar Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore Pakistan
  • Hassan Anwer Chattha Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore Pakistan
  • Metab Alharbi Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
  • Abdulrahman Alshammari Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
  • Abdullah F. Alasmari Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to the degeneration of motor neurons and the weakening of muscles. Despite extensive research efforts, there is currently no cure for ALS and existing treatments only address its symptoms. To address this unmet medical need, genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9, have emerged as a promising solution for the development of new treatments for ALS. Studies have shown that CRISPR-Cas9-guided RNAs have the potential to provide accurate and effective silencing in the genetic disease of ALS. Results have demonstrated a 67% on-target score and a 98% off-target score with GC content within the range of 40–60%. This is further validated by the correlation between the gRNA’s structural accuracy and the minimum free energy. The use of CRISPR-Cas9 provides a unique opportunity to target this disease at the molecular level, offering hope for the development of a more effective treatment. In silico and computational therapeutic approaches for ALS suggest that the CRISPR-Cas9 protein holds promise as a future treatment candidate. The CRISPR mechanism and the specificity of gRNA provide a novel therapeutic approach for this genetic disease, offering new hope to those affected by ALS. This study highlights the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 as a promising solution for the development of new treatments for ALS. Further research is required to validate these findings in preclinical and clinical trials and to establish the safety and efficacy of this approach in the treatment of ALS.

Published
2023-09-06
Section
Articles