Rapid Breakdown of Cellular Proteins with Optimized AID Technique
Researchers at the University of Helsinki, led by Academy Professor Elina Ikonen, have optimized the auxin-inducible degron, or AID, technique. This technique uses the signaling of the auxins, a class of plant hormones, to rapidly remove proteins from cells.
Ikonen’s group was able to increase the rate and optimize the hormone-dependency of the AID technique in human cell samples. The study, published in the Nature Methods journal, demonstrated successful degradation of targeted cellular proteins within minutes.
"The technique we have developed is useful primarily in research, but thanks to advances in gene technology it also has potential for novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods," Elina Ikonen states.