Abstract:
CRISPR-Cas systems include Cas proteins, which are involved in the acquisition, targeting and
cleavage of foreign DNA or RNA, and a guide RNA(s), which includes a segment that binds Cas proteins and a segment that binds to a target nucleic acid. For example, Class 2 CRISPR-Cas systems comprise a single Cas protein bound to a guide RNA, where the Cas protein binds to and cleaves a targeted nucleic acid. The programmable nature of these systems has facilitated their use as a versatile technology for use in the modification of target nucleic acid.
UC Berkeley researchers have discovered a novel family of proteins (CasVariPhi) that utilize a guide RNA to perform RNA-directed cleavage of nucleic acids. Viral and microbial (cellular) genomes were assembled from a variety of environmental and animal microbiome sources, and variants of a novel and previously unknown Cas protein family were uncovered from the sequences decoded.
Potential Applications:
- gene editing of bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic cells
- transcription repression of specific genes using inactivated CasVariPhi
- targeting of proteins bound to CasVariPhi to a specific locus of a genome
- diagnostic applications via trans-cleavage activity
Contact Information:
Name: Terri Sale
Title :
Department :
Email: terri.sale@berkeley.edu
Phone: 510-643-4219
Address :