Open AccessRecent advances in structural studies of the CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome editing tools
Author(s) -
Yuwei Zhu,
Zhiwei Huang
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
national science review/national science review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.433
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 2095-5138
pISSN - 2053-714X
DOI - 10.1093/nsr/nwy150
Subject(s) - crispr , genome editing , computational biology , biology , genome , computer science , genetics , gene
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and accompanying CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins provide RNA-guided adaptive immunity for prokaryotes to defend themselves against viruses. The CRISPR-Cas systems have attracted much attention in recent years for their power in aiding the development of genome editing tools. Based on the composition of the CRISPR RNA-effector complex, the CRISPR-Cas systems can be divided into two classes and six types. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the structural biology of the CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome editing tools, which helps us to understand the mechanism of how the guide RNAs assemble with diverse Cas proteins to cleave target nucleic acids.