Researchers discover new type of CRISPR gene scissors uni_wue nature
, serving as a"guide RNA," helps detect regions of a foreign genome, such as the DNA of a virus, for targeted cleavage. The CRISPR-associated nuclease directed by a crRNA can cut its target like a pair of scissors: a strategy of nature that humans have harnessed in many technologies.
"Considering how well different nucleases have been translated into new and improved technologies, any discovery in this field could bring new benefits to society," says Chase Beisel, describing a research motivation of his laboratory at the Würzburg Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research . The institute is a site of the Braunschweig Helmholtz Center for Infection Research in cooperation with the Julius-Maximilians-Universität in Würzburg.
Beisel initiated the current study on a specific set of CRISPR-Cas systems with Matthew Begemann at Benson Hill, Inc. and Ryan Jackson at Utah State University in the U.S. The results were published in the journaland were accompanied by detailed structural analysis from a second team, also led by Ryan Jackson, and by David Taylor at University of Texas.
The crucial difference lies in the mechanism of their defense action. When Cas12a2 recognizes invasive RNA, the nuclease cleaves it but can also damage other RNA and DNA inside the cell, impairing its growth and limiting the spread of the infection."In general, such defense strategies that abort the infection have been known in bacteria," says HIRI postdoc Oleg Dmytrenko."A few other CRISPR-Cas systems work in this way.
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