Cpf1 Is a Single RNA-Guided Endonuclease of a Class 2 CRISPR-Cas System
Bernd Zetsche, Jonathan S. Gootenberg, Feng Zhang · Zetsche et al.; Cpf1 is now known as Cas12a
Summary
This paper characterizes Cpf1 (later named Cas12a) as a single-RNA-guided DNA endonuclease of a class 2 CRISPR-Cas system, expanding the genome-editing toolbox beyond Cas9. Cpf1 requires only a single crRNA (no tracrRNA), recognizes a T-rich PAM, and produces staggered cuts with overhangs. The authors demonstrate Cpf1-mediated genome editing in human cells.
Key findings
- Cpf1 uses a single short crRNA without a tracrRNA, simplifying guide-RNA design compared with Cas9.
- Cpf1 recognizes a T-rich PAM (distinct from the G-rich PAM of SpCas9) and cuts DNA via a staggered double-strand break leaving 5' overhangs.
- Two Cpf1 orthologs (from Acidaminococcus and Lachnospiraceae) mediate robust genome editing in human cells.
Subjects & keywords
Cite this paper
Bernd Zetsche, Jonathan S. Gootenberg, & Feng Zhang [Zetsche et al.; Cpf1 is now known as Cas12a] (2015). Cpf1 Is a Single RNA-Guided Endonuclease of a Class 2 CRISPR-Cas System. Cell. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2015.09.038
@article{zetsche2015cpf1,
author = {Bernd Zetsche and Jonathan S. Gootenberg and Feng Zhang and {Zetsche et al.; Cpf1 is now known as Cas12a}},
title = {Cpf1 Is a Single RNA-Guided Endonuclease of a Class 2 CRISPR-Cas System},
journal = {Cell},
year = {2015},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2015.09.038},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2015.09.038}
}