Cpf1 is a single RNA-guided endonuclease of a class 2 CRISPR-Cas system.

Cell
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

The microbial adaptive immune system CRISPR mediates defense against foreign genetic elements through two classes of RNA-guided nuclease effectors. Class 1 effectors utilize multi-protein complexes, whereas class 2 effectors rely on single-component effector proteins such as the well-characterized Cas9. Here, we report characterization of Cpf1, a putative class 2 CRISPR effector. We demonstrate that Cpf1 mediates robust DNA interference with features distinct from Cas9. Cpf1 is a single RNA-guided endonuclease lacking tracrRNA, and it utilizes a T-rich protospacer-adjacent motif. Moreover, Cpf1 cleaves DNA via a staggered DNA double-stranded break. Out of 16 Cpf1-family proteins, we identified two candidate enzymes from Acidaminococcus and Lachnospiraceae, with efficient genome-editing activity in human cells. Identifying this mechanism of interference broadens our understanding of CRISPR-Cas systems and advances their genome editing applications.

Year of Publication
2015
Journal
Cell
Volume
163
Issue
3
Pages
759-71
Date Published
2015 Oct 22
ISSN
1097-4172
URL
DOI
10.1016/j.cell.2015.09.038
PubMed ID
26422227
PubMed Central ID
PMC4638220
Links
Grant list
DP1 MH100706 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH110049 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
5DP1-MH100706 / DP / NCCDPHP CDC HHS / United States