Kevin M. Wasko

Amplified genome editing by in vivo editor production

This study demonstrates that in vivo delivery of genome editing enzymes can be amplified through cell-to-cell transfer, significantly increasing editing efficiency in mice.

Stepwise DNA unwinding gates TnpB genome-editing activity

Ymu1 TnpB unwinds DNA via a long-lived partially unwound intermediate before a rarely stable open state; the WFR triple variant stabilizes both, boosting plant editing.

Programming T cells for intercellular genome editing

This paper demonstrates T cells can deliver genome editing machinery to target cells via programmable intercellular interactions.

Spligation enables programmable chimeric RNA generation in living cells

This paper introduces spligation, a method using CRISPR-Csm complexes to generate chimeric RNA in living cells by enabling site-specific RNA cleavage and trans-ligation.

Directed evolution expands CRISPR-Cas12a genome editing capacity

The paper identifies CRISPR-Cas12a variants with expanded PAM recognition, enabling targeting of ~25% of the human genome.

Rapid two-step target capture ensures efficient CRISPR-Cas9-guided genome editing

This study identifies a trade-off between PAM recognition breadth and CRISPR-Cas9 editing efficiency, proposing a two-step target capture mechanism to improve genome editing.

Packaged delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins accelerates genome editing

This study compares electroporation and packaged RNP delivery for genome editing, finding that packaged delivery is significantly more efficient and faster.

A mitochondria-specific mutational signature of aging: increased rate of A>G substitutions on a heavy chain.

The paper identifies an AH>GH substitution signature in mtDNA linked to aging and TSSS, showing higher frequency in species with longer generation lengths.

Quasi-Mendelian Paternal Inheritance of mitochondrial DNA: A notorious artifact, or anticipated mtDNA behavior?

The paper challenges previous interpretations of biparental mtDNA inheritance, proposing a model where paternal mtDNA undergoes selective fixation due to initial low copy number and a selective advantage.