CRISPRCac

CRISPRCac is a CRISPR-based genome editing platform that utilizes a CRISPR-associated nuclease referred to as Cac. The system is programmed with a guide RNA that matches a target DNA sequence, directing Cac to a site adjacent to a PAM motif recognized by the nuclease. This programmable targeting enables sequence-specific modification of the genome.

When the Cac nuclease binds to its target, it creates a double-strand break in the DNA. The cell then repairs the break through non-homologous end joining, which often disrupts the gene, or through homology-directed repair, which can incorporate a supplied DNA template for precise edits. Variants of CRISPRCac may include nickases or catalytically dead forms that bind DNA without cutting, enabling transcriptional regulation or genome imaging without inducing breaks.

CRISPRCac is part of the broader CRISPR-Cas toolbox and has been described in scientific literature as a resource for expanding editing capabilities, including potential differences in PAM requirements and nuclease size that can influence delivery and specificity. Its utility spans basic research, functional genomics, and biotechnological applications, with demonstrations in cell culture and model systems showing gene disruption, correction of mutations, or tagging of genomic loci.

Delivery of CRISPRCac components relies on methods such as viral vectors or non-viral systems, with considerations for efficiency and safety. As with other genome editing technologies, challenges include off-target activity, mosaicism in multicellular organisms, and potential immune responses, alongside broader ethical and regulatory considerations governing gene modification.