RNA-dependent RNA targeting by CRISPR-Cas9

Elife. 2018 Jan 5:7:e32724. doi: 10.7554/eLife.32724.

Abstract

Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) binding and cleavage by Cas9 is a hallmark of type II CRISPR-Cas bacterial adaptive immunity. All known Cas9 enzymes are thought to recognize DNA exclusively as a natural substrate, providing protection against DNA phage and plasmids. Here, we show that Cas9 enzymes from both subtypes II-A and II-C can recognize and cleave single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) by an RNA-guided mechanism that is independent of a protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) sequence in the target RNA. RNA-guided RNA cleavage is programmable and site-specific, and we find that this activity can be exploited to reduce infection by single-stranded RNA phage in vivo. We also demonstrate that Cas9 can direct PAM-independent repression of gene expression in bacteria. These results indicate that a subset of Cas9 enzymes have the ability to act on both DNA and RNA target sequences, and suggest the potential for use in programmable RNA targeting applications.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9; E. coli; RNA; biochemistry; programmable.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / metabolism*
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats*
  • Gene Editing / methods*
  • Gene Targeting / methods*
  • Hydrolysis
  • RNA / genetics*
  • RNA / metabolism*
  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems / metabolism
  • Recombination, Genetic*

Substances

  • RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • RNA
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9