Scientists reveal functional RNA splitting mechanism behind origin of type V CRISPR systems

Scientists reveal functional RNA splitting mechanism behind origin of type V CRISPR systems

CRISPR-Cas systems are adaptive immune systems found in prokaryotes that defend against invading nucleic acids through CRISPR RNA-guided cleavage. Type V CRISPR-Cas (Cas12) systems, in particular, serve as one of today's most powerful tools for genome editing, especially in basic research, medicine, and agriculture.

CRISPR’s Origin Story: RNA Splitting Sparked Rise of Type V Systems

CRISPR powers everything from gene editing to rapid diagnostics, but how did one of its most versatile branches arise? A new Cell study, “Functional RNA splitting drove the evolutionary emergence of type V CRISPR-Cas systems from transposons,” shows that an RNA-splitting event transformed transposons into Type V Cas12 immune systems. Long before CRISPR became a clinical staple, it was a routine tool for microbiologists—workhorse enough to slip i…

Research Unlocks RNA Splitting Mechanism Essential to the Origin of Type V

CRISPR-Cas systems represent a groundbreaking advancement in the field of genetic engineering, allowing for targeted modifications of genomes across various organisms. These adaptive immune systems, initially discovered in prokaryotes, defend against viral infections by employing RNA-guided endonucleases for the precise cleavage of invasive nucleic acids. Among these systems, Type V CRISPR-Cas systems, particularly the Cas12 variant, have emerge…