The Interfaces of Genetic Conflict Are Hot Spots for Innovation

Joshua Carter; Connor Hoffman; Blake Wiedenheft

doi:10.1016/j.cell.2016.12.007

The Interfaces of Genetic Conflict Are Hot Spots for Innovation

Cell. 2017 Jan 12;168(1-2):9-11. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.12.007. Epub 2017 Jan 12.

Authors

Joshua Carter¹, Connor Hoffman¹, Blake Wiedenheft²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

RNA-guided Cas9 endonucleases protect bacteria from viral infection and have been creatively repurposed as programmable molecular scalpels for surgical manipulation of DNA. Now, two papers in Cell (Pawluk et al. and Rauch et al.) identify viral proteins that suppress Cas9 and may function like molecular sheaths for the Cas9 scalpel.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

Bacteria / genetics
CRISPR-Cas Systems
DNA / genetics
Endonucleases / genetics*
Genetic Engineering
RNA*

Substances

RNA
DNA
Endonucleases

Grants and funding

R01 GM110270/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States