This invention provides biosensors, cell models, and methods of their use for monitoring ionic or voltage responses to contact with bioactive agents. Biosensors can include targeting domains, sensing domains and reporting domains. Biosensors can be introduced into cells reprogrammed to represent experimental or pathologic cells of interest. Model cells expressing the biosensors can be contacted with putative bioactive agents to determine possible activities.

The present disclosure provides zinc finger domain-containing proteins comprising optimized -, -, and linker motifs, and fusion proteins comprising said zinc finger domain-containing proteins fused to an effector domain. The present disclosure also provides double-stranded DNA deaminase A (DddA) variants and fusion proteins comprising said DddA variants fused to a programmable DNA binding protein (e.g., any of the zinc finger domain-containing proteins disclosed herein, a TALE protein, or a CRISPR/Cas9 protein). Methods for editing DNA (including genomic DNA and mitochondrial DNA) using the fusion proteins described herein are also provided by the present disclosure. The present disclosure further provides polynucleotides, vectors, cells, kits, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the zinc finger domain-containing proteins, DddA variants, and fusion proteins described herein.

The present disclosure provides a fusion protein useful for treating a non-nuclear organelle associated disorder, such as a genetic disorder, e.g., Friedrich's Ataxia. The fusion protein may comprise a protein of interest to be delivered to a non-nuclear organelle; an organelle targeting sequence (OTS); a cell penetrating peptide (CPP); and a target enhancing sequence (TES); wherein the CPP is capable of interference with delivery of the protein of interest to the non-nuclear organelle; and wherein the TES prevents said interference by the CPP. The fusion protein may also comprise a protein of interest to be delivered to a non-nuclear organelle; a CPP and a TES. The present disclosure also provides methods for treating a non-nuclear organelle associated disorder by administering the fusion protein to a subject in need thereof.

This invention provides biosensors, cell models, and methods of their use for monitoring heme, oxygen or ATP. Biosensors can include targeting domains, sensing domains and reporting domains. Biosensors can be introduced into cells reprogrammed to represent experimental or pathologic cells of interest. Model cells expressing the biosensors can be contacted with putative bioactive agents to determine possible activities.

A genome-editing complex for modifying a target polynucleotide comprising a recombinant helical protein linked to either one or more molecules of a genome-editing system or a plasmid encoding for one or more molecules of a genome-editing system, wherein the helical protein length is in the range of from 5 nm to 25 nm, and width is in the range of from 1 nm to 5 nm.

The present disclosure provides a fusion protein useful for treating a non-nuclear organelle associated disorder, such as a genetic disorder, e.g., Friedrich's Ataxia. The fusion protein may comprise a protein of interest to be delivered to a non-nuclear organelle; an organelle targeting sequence (OTS); a cell penetrating peptide (CPP); and a target enhancing sequence (TES); wherein the CPP is capable of interference with delivery of the protein of interest to the non-nuclear organelle; and wherein the TES prevents interference by the CPP. The fusion protein may also comprise a protein of interest to be delivered to a non-nuclear organelle; a CPP and a TES. The present disclosure also provides methods for treating a non-nuclear organelle associated disorder by administering the fusion protein to a subject in need thereof.

A fusion protein comprises (1) a first moiety that targets and orients the fusion protein to mitochondria inner membrane and (2) a second moiety that provides light-activated proton pump function when integrated into the mitochondria inner membrane. The fusion protein can be used for modulating hypoxia signaling in a subject, treating neurodegenerative diseases, protecting against stress, ameliorating symptoms of metabolic disorders and treating cancer.

Described herein are compositions and methods for generating oxygen in living eukaryotic cells, e.g., animal cells, by expressing a Cld enzyme (i.e., chlorite dismutase, chlorite O.sub.2-lyase, chlorite:O2 lyase), optionally in combination with a transporter, in the cells.

The present invention relates to methods and means for producing nitrogenase polypeptides in the mitochondria of plant cells.

With supporting experimental data, this disclosure teaches that IF1 protein activity is a molecular determinant of lifespan, therein explaining why different species have different maximal lifespans, and it teaches a IF1 protein/fragment (or sequence variant thereof), or a fusion protein thereof, optionally a fusion protein comprising a Cell Penetrating Peptide (CPP) sequence, as an agent to slow/delay/reduce aging in a subject, optionally as a component of a cosmetic, optionally to treat an age-correlated disease/disorder. Moreover it teaches other inhibitors of F1F0 ATP hydrolysis, including small molecules, of a number of different scaffolds, for this purpose. Furthermore, with supporting experimental data, it teaches that compounds that slow the ATP-hydrolysing mode of ATP synthase are useful for treating various diseases and disorders, including cancer, particularly cancers that utilise the Warburg effect.