Prokaryotic Argonautes for in vivo biotechnology and molecular diagnostics

Brett A Graver; Namrata Chakravarty; Kevin V Solomon

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.06.010

Prokaryotic Argonautes for in vivo biotechnology and molecular diagnostics

Trends Biotechnol. 2024 Jan;42(1):61-73. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.06.010. Epub 2023 Jul 12.

Authors

Brett A Graver¹, Namrata Chakravarty², Kevin V Solomon³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
² Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
³ Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. Electronic address: kvs@udel.edu.

PMID: 37451948
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.06.010

Abstract

Prokaryotic Argonautes (pAgos) are an emerging class of programmable endonucleases that are believed to be more flexible than existing CRISPR-Cas systems and have significant potential for biotechnology. Current applications of pAgos include a myriad of molecular diagnostics and in vitro DNA assembly tools. However, efforts have historically been centered on thermophilic pAgo variants. To enable in vivo biotechnological applications such as gene editing, focus has shifted to pAgos from mesophilic organisms. We discuss what is known of pAgos, how they are being developed for various applications, and strategies to overcome current challenges to in vivo applications in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Keywords: gene editing; mesophile; molecular diagnostics; prokaryotic Argonaute.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biotechnology
CRISPR-Cas Systems
DNA
Gene Editing
Pathology, Molecular*
Prokaryotic Cells*

Substances

DNA