PubReading [18] - Controlling and enhancing CRISPR systems - H. Shivram, B. Cress, G. Knott, J. Doudna

<p>Many bacterial and archaeal organisms use <strong>CRISPR-Cas </strong>(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated) systems to defend themselves from <strong>mobile genetic elements</strong>. These CRISPR-Cas systems are classified into six types based on their composition and mechanism. CRISPR-Cas enzymes are widely used for <strong>genome editing</strong> and offer immense therapeutic opportunity to treat genetic diseases. To realize their full potential, it is important to control the timing, duration, efficiency and specificity of CRISPR-Cas enzyme activities. In this review we discuss the mechanisms of natural CRISPR-Cas regulatory biomolecules that enhance or inhibit CRISPR-Cas immunity by altering enzyme function. We also discuss the potential applications of these <strong>CRISPR regulators</strong> and highlight unanswered questions about their evolution and purpose in nature. - doi:10.1038/s41589-020-00700-7 - 2021</p>