What is Cas9 protein that often features in news? The CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology generated by Zhang and colleagues has drawn a lot of attentions all over the world. The technique is based on a system that bacteria use to defend against viruses. It will allow researchers to make precise changes in DNA, and it is much easier than previous approaches.
What Is Cas9 Protein That Is Often Mentioned in News?
Cas9 protein is a material that naturally exists inside bacterial cells, which are often called bacteria. Bacteria, like human beings, are living things. Cas9 protein is the main material of the gene editing mechanism that bacteria use to protect themselves from viruses and other external harmful materials.
Gene editing is a method of correcting and modifying the genes of an organism. In other words, “gene editing” is the process of reading and fixing errors in DNA. The technique used to edit genes is called CRISPR-Cas9. It was developed from a unique immune system found in certain strains of bacteria.
When a virus infects a bacterium, it inserts its genetic material into the bacterial genome. This genetic material forms part of what’s known as the CRISPR region (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats). The next time that virus attacks, the bacterium uses this stored genetic information to identify and destroy it.
Cas9 is an enzyme that cuts DNA at specific locations, making it possible to easily edit genomes by removing, adding or altering sections of the DNA sequence. As a result, scientists have discovered how to use this mechanism for gene editing in human cells in recent years.
How Does It Work?
When Cas9 protein is combined with a single guide RNA (sgRNA), a complex is formed that can locate specific DNA sequences. This complex consists of the Cas9 protein and two RNAs: the tracrRNA and the crRNA. The sgRNA combines these two RNAs, which are usually transcribed separately. The sgRNA acts like a GPS system, guiding Cas9 to the target DNA sequence.
The sgRNA has two parts:
1) A 20 nucleotide “seed” sequence that is complementary to the target DNA sequence
2) A scaffold sequence that interacts with the Cas9 proteinThe function of the tracrRNA is to form an interaction with the crRNA and to interact with Cas9. The tracrRNA is necessary for this interaction because it carries out base pairing between the crRNA and itself, which creates a long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). This dsRNA complex then recruits and activates Cas9.
What Is CRISPR-Cas9 and Where Did It Come from?
CRISPR is short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. They are segments of DNA found in the genomes of bacteria and archaea, which are two types of microorganisms.
CRISPRs is a genetic defense system that bacteria use to protect against viruses by destroying their DNA or RNA. Since viruses can’t replicate without taking over the cellular machinery of a host cells, CRISPR-Cas9 system functions as an immune system in bacteria that allows them to “remember” viruses for the future.
CRISPRs have been adapted from its natural form and used as a genome editing tool. Genome editing tools based on CRISPR-Cas9 technology have been developed to target specific stretches of genetic code and replace them with new stretches of genetic code that could alter what a gene does, essentially correcting certain genetic defects.
The Cas9 enzyme is often mentioned in news articles about this technology because it’s responsible for cutting the DNA at a precise location. Scientists can then introduce new pieces of DNA that can repair defective genes or disable genes associated with diseases like cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy.
The Growing Use of CRISPR in The Medical Field
In a professional tone: CRISPR is a gene-editing tool that has the power to alter DNA and potentially cure genetic diseases. It has taken the medical world by storm, and there’s no doubt that it will play a key role in the future of medicine. But what exactly is it? Here are some basic things you need to know about CRISPR.
CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, and it is a method of editing genomes. The Cas9 protein (also called “CRISPR-associated”) is an enzyme that acts like molecular scissors and can cut strands of DNA. The guide RNA (gRNA) tells Cas9 where to cut the DNA in order to edit it.
The gRNA contains two parts: the crRNA (CRISPR RNA), which recognizes specific sequences of DNA, and the tracrRNA, which helps guide the crRNA to the DNA target. Together, the Cas9 protein and the gRNA are known as “the complex.”
As for how it works: The gRNA recognizes specific sequences of DNA and directs Cas9 to those sequences. When Cas9 recognizes its sequence, it makes a cut in both strands of the DNA double.
Last Words
The Cas9 protein is the protein that has first been successfully used in 2013 in order to reduce the mutated cells. It is actually employed in several experiments conducted around the world. Such experiments are quite considered as extremely significant because they play a role in identifying the exact mechanism of human diseases. The Cas9 is often used to find out and also alter various genetic codes of various organisms including humans.