title: Exploiting CRISPR/Cas: interference mechanisms and applications.
abstract: The discovery of biological concepts can often provide a framework for the development of novel molecular tools, which can help us to further understand and manipulate life. One recent example is the elucidation of the prokaryotic adaptive immune system, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) that protects bacteria and archaea against viruses or conjugative plasmids. The immunity is based on small RNA molecules that are incorporated into versatile multi-domain proteins or protein complexes and specifically target viral nucleic acids via base complementarity. CRISPR/Cas interference machines are utilized to develop novel genome editing tools for different organisms. Here, we will review the latest progress in the elucidation and application of prokaryotic CRISPR/Cas systems and discuss possible future approaches to exploit the potential of these interference machineries.
authors.affiliation: Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany. hagen.richter@mpi-marburg.mpg.de
authors.forename: Hagen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Randau
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plagens
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D064130:CRISPR-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D064112:Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D020745:Genome, Archaeal; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014780:Viruses / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064130:CRISPR-Associated Proteins