CRISPR-Cas13 allows selective modification of desired RNA in living cells

Originally published by The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), on June 10, 2025

edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan

 

Development of hyperactive variant eNAT10 through NAT10 protein engineering. By engineering the NAT10 protein, which performs RNA acetylation in human cells, based on its domain and structure, eNAT10 was developed, showing approximately a 3-fold increase in RNA acetylation activity compared to the wild-type enzyme. Credit: Nature Chemical Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41589-025-01922-3 RNA gene scissors (CRISPR-Cas13) are gaining significant attention as a next-generation gene therapy with fewer side effects. They can suppress infection by eliminating viral RNA, such as in coronaviruses, or regulate the expression of disease-causing genes.

KAIST researchers have developed the world's first technology that can precisely locate and acetylate (chemically modify) only the desired RNA among countless RNA molecules (molecules crucial for transmitting genetic information and producing proteins) within cells. This is expected to be a key technology that could open a new chapter in RNA-based therapies.

This research was published in Nature Chemical Biology.

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