CUT&RUN

Cleavage Under Targets and Release Using Nuclease (CUT&RUN) is a technique used to study protein-DNA interactions in living cells. It involves making precise cuts in the genome at specific locations using a targeted endonuclease, and then isolating and analyzing the resulting DNA fragments.

Uses of CUT&RUN

The technique is particularly useful for studying transcriptional regulation, as it allows researchers to identify the specific DNA sequences that are bound by a particular protein or complex of proteins. It can also be used to study other types of DNA-protein interactions, such as chromatin modification and DNA repair.

Performing a CUT&RUN Experiment

To perform a CUT&RUN experiment, cells are first treated with the targeted endonuclease to cleave the DNA at specific sites. The resulting DNA fragments are then isolated and analyzed using techniques such as high-throughput sequencing or immunoprecipitation. This allows researchers to identify the specific DNA sequences that are bound by the protein of interest and to study how these interactions contribute to the regulation of gene expression and other cellular processes.

Advantages of CUT&RUN over Traditional ChIP

Compared with traditional ChIP, CUT&RUN offers improvements in: resolution, identifying specific binding sites for a protein with greater accuracy; and efficiency, generating more data in a shorter amount of time.