Evolution of CRISPR/Cas Systems for Precise Genome Editing

Magdalena Hryhorowicz; Daniel Lipiński; Joanna Zeyland

doi:10.3390/ijms241814233

Evolution of CRISPR/Cas Systems for Precise Genome Editing

Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Sep 18;24(18):14233. doi: 10.3390/ijms241814233.

Authors

Magdalena Hryhorowicz¹, Daniel Lipiński¹, Joanna Zeyland¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632 Poznań, Poland.

Abstract

The bacteria-derived CRISPR/Cas (an acronym for regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein) system is currently the most widely used, versatile, and convenient tool for genome engineering. CRISPR/Cas-based technologies have been applied to disease modeling, gene therapies, transcriptional modulation, and diagnostics. Nevertheless, some challenges remain, such as the risk of immunological reactions or off-target effects. To overcome these problems, many new methods and CRISPR/Cas-based tools have been developed. In this review, we describe the current classification of CRISPR systems and new precise genome-editing technologies, summarize the latest applications of this technique in several fields of research, and, finally, discuss CRISPR/Cas system limitations, ethical issues, and challenges.

Keywords: CRISPR classification; CRISPR/Cas9 system; Cas12a nuclease; Cas13a nuclease; Cas9 nuclease; base editors; genome editing; prime editors.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

CRISPR-Cas Systems* / genetics
Gene Editing*
Genetic Therapy
Technology

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Research and High Education Research Capacity Grants for Poznań University of Life Sciences, No. 506.181.01.00. Publication was cofinanced within the framework of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education’s “Regional Excellence Initiative” program in the years 2019–2023 (No. 005/RID/2018/19)”, financing amount PLN 12 000 000,00 PLN.