Revised CRISPR method aimed at RNA editing and manipulation
Researchers from MIT, the Broad Institute, Harvard, the National Institutes of Health, Rutgers University, and Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology have discovered a novel CRISPR system that targets RNA instead of DNA. This breakthrough could open a new avenue in cellular manipulation with substantial benefits over traditional DNA-editing methods.
The newly characterized CRISPR system, called C2c2, is an RNA-guided enzyme that can target and degrade RNA. Unlike DNA editing, which permanently alters the genome of a cell, the new approach allows for temporary changes that can be adjusted and fine-tuned more effectively than existing RNA interference techniques.
The findings were published in Science today, with Feng Zhang and associates from the Broad Institute and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, as well as co-authors from the NIH, Rutgers University, and Skoltech, leading the study.
The potential applications of RNA-targeting CRISPR systems are vast. They could revolutionize antiviral therapeutics by directly targeting viral RNA genomes or intermediates in viruses with both RNA and DNA genomes. Additionally, these systems could enable programmable RNA editing for therapeutic purposes, improve molecular diagnostics, and serve as crucial research tools for studying and manipulating RNA molecules in cells without permanent genome alteration.
The advantages of RNA-targeting CRISPR systems include transient regulation without DNA alteration, reduced risk of genomic off-target effects, broader range against RNA viruses, rapid adaptability, and clinical feasibility. These features make RNA-targeting CRISPR systems a safer and potentially more effective alternative or complement to DNA editing technologies.
In summary, the newly discovered CRISPR system holds great promise for diverse applications in antiviral therapy, RNA therapeutics, diagnostics, and gene regulation. Its advantages in specificity, reversibility, and clinical readiness make it an exciting development in the field of genetic engineering.
- The newly discovered CRISPR system, named C2c2, offers a novel approach in health-and-wellness, as it can temporarily change cells without altering their genome, unlike traditional DNA-editing methods.
- This RNA-guided enzyme, a breakthrough in science technology, presents significant benefits over existing RNA interference techniques, paving the way for better therapies-and-treatments.
- The potential applications of RNA-targeting CRISPR systems are extensive, including revolutionizing antiviral therapeutics and enabling programmable RNA editing for therapeutic purposes.
- The findings regarding the new CRISPR system have been published in a report titled "C2c2: A versatile RNA-targeting CRISPR system" in the journal Science.
