title: RNA-guided genetic silencing systems in bacteria and archaea.
abstract: Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) are essential components of nucleic-acid-based adaptive immune systems that are widespread in bacteria and archaea. Similar to RNA interference (RNAi) pathways in eukaryotes, CRISPR-mediated immune systems rely on small RNAs for sequence-specific detection and silencing of foreign nucleic acids, including viruses and plasmids. However, the mechanism of RNA-based bacterial immunity is distinct from RNAi. Understanding how small RNAs are used to find and destroy foreign nucleic acids will provide new insights into the diverse mechanisms of RNA-controlled genetic silencing systems.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 4000 Jones Bridge Road, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815-6789, USA.
authors.forename: Blake
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiedenheft
authors.forename: Samuel H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Doudna
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000235:genetics*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D020868:Gene Silencing; D008958:Models, Molecular; D034622:RNA Interference; D019642:RNA, Archaeal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019642:RNA, Archaeal; D012329:RNA, Bacterial