CRISPR/Cas Technologies Applied to Pseudogenes

Pseudogenes have been considered as nonfunctional copies of their parental genes for a long time. Indeed, they have been often defined "junk DNA" or "transcriptional noise." However, with the identification of their involvement in several biological processes, the necessity of their study is inevitably growing up. The manipulation of pseudogene expression is complicated by their high homology with parental genes and by the fact that most of them work at the transcriptional level as noncoding RNAs. With the advent of CRISPR/Cas technology, these problems can be overcome. Particularly, as we describe in this chapter, it is possible: To perform genome editing, obtaining the complete elimination of the pseudogene genomic sequence (knock-out), preventing pseudogene transcription, introducing specific mutations in the pseudogene sequence, or introducing a specific sequence (knock-in). To positively or negatively manipulate pseudogene transcription. To target pseudogene RNA and negatively regulate its expression. To edit pseudogene DNA and RNA and alter a specific sequence. Moreover, CRISPR/Cas technology can be used as an RNA Binding Protein system for molecular biology techniques (such as RNA immunoprecipitation and pull-down), as well as for transcript tracking and live imaging.