title: The Interfaces of Genetic Conflict Are Hot Spots for Innovation.
abstract: RNA-guided Cas9 endonucleases protect bacteria from viral infection and have been creatively repurposed as programmable molecular scalpels for surgical manipulation of DNA. Now, two papers in Cell (Pawluk et al. and Rauch et al.) identify viral proteins that suppress Cas9 and may function like molecular sheaths for the Cas9 scalpel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
authors.forename: Connor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. Electronic address: bwiedenheft@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Blake
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiedenheft
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D064113:CRISPR-Cas Systems; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000235:genetics*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D012313:RNA
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D004720:Endonucleases