Sigma-Aldrich partners with Ingex on targeted gene disruption technology

Sigma-Aldrich Corporation has partnered with Ingex to provide a revolutionary gene disruption technology.

The technology, called TargeTron, offers a novel solution to drawbacks of current siRNA and transposon-based methods. The system provides a simple, streamlined method that allows the researcher to re-target the TargeTron group II intron for precise insertion into a host genome. Insertion results in permanent knockout of the target gene.

Key advantages of TargeTron include:

• First method for precise targeted disruption of sequences within a host genome

• Permanent knockout or disruption of target gene >90% successful targeted insertion into a variety of prokaryotic genomes

• Potentially the most widely applicable technology across a broad range of organisms

• Simple, streamlined procedure

The first system will be developed for the creation of permanent gene knockouts across a broad range of prokaryotes and is anticipated to have a variety of applications in prokaryotic genetic engineering and functional genomics.

Such applications include the identification of novel drug targets and probiotics and systems biology approaches to study metabolic pathways. Future systems are planned for targeted plant and mammalian gene disruption.

'The Sigma r&d team is collaborating with the inventors to continue to refine and further develop the TargeTron technology,' said Keith Jolliff, global marketing manager of molecular biology at Sigma-Aldrich. 'We believe this is a winning combination for the functional genomics and systems biology research community.'