Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Jul 12;14(7):14518-31. doi: 10.3390/ijms140714518.
The discovery of biological concepts can often provide a framework for the development of novel molecular tools, which can help us to further understand and manipulate life. One recent example is the elucidation of the prokaryotic adaptive immune system, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) that protects bacteria and archaea against viruses or conjugative plasmids. The immunity is based on small RNA molecules that are incorporated into versatile multi-domain proteins or protein complexes and specifically target viral nucleic acids via base complementarity. CRISPR/Cas interference machines are utilized to develop novel genome editing tools for different organisms. Here, we will review the latest progress in the elucidation and application of prokaryotic CRISPR/Cas systems and discuss possible future approaches to exploit the potential of these interference machineries.
生物概念的发现通常可以为新型分子工具的开发提供框架，这有助于我们进一步理解和操纵生命。最近的一个例子是阐明原核适应性免疫系统，即规律成簇间隔短回文重复序列 (CRISPR)/CRISPR 相关 (Cas)，该系统保护细菌和古菌免受病毒或可转移质粒的侵害。这种免疫是基于小 RNA 分子，这些分子被整合到多功能多域蛋白或蛋白复合物中，并通过碱基互补特异性靶向病毒核酸。CRISPR/Cas 干扰机器被用于为不同的生物体开发新型基因组编辑工具。在这里，我们将回顾原核 CRISPR/Cas 系统的阐明和应用的最新进展，并讨论利用这些干扰机制的潜在未来方法。
