Hongrui Zhao, Yan Sheng, Tenghua Zhang, Shujun Zhou, Yuqing Zhu, Feiyang Qian, Meiru Liu, Weixue Xu, Dengsong Zhang, Jiaming Hu
Simultaneous multi-target detection and multi-site gene editing are two key factors restricting the development of disease diagnostic and treatment technologies. Despite numerous explorations on the source, classification, functional features, crystal structure, applications and engineering of CRISPR-Cas13a, all reports use the contiguous target RNA activation paradigm that only enables single-target detection in vitro and one-site gene editing in vivo. Here we propose a noncontiguous target RNA activation paradigm of Cas13a and establish a CRISPR-Cas13a Gemini System composed of two Cas13a:crRNA binary complexes, which can provide rapid, simultaneous, highly specific and sensitive detection of two RNAs in a single readout, as well as parallel dual transgene knockdown...
April 4, 2024: Nature Communications