Cas12a

DNA-editing technology

Cas12a is a subtype of Cas12 proteins and an RNA-guided endonuclease that forms part of the CRISPR system in some bacteria and archaea. In CRISPR systems, Cas12a serves to destroy the genetic material of viruses and other foreign DNA, thereby protecting the cell from infection. Like other Cas enzymes, Cas12a binds to an RNA to target nucleic acid in a specific and programmable matter. In the host organism, the crRNA contains a constant region that is recognized by the Cas12a protein and a spacer region that is complementary to a piece of foreign nucleic acid that previously infected the cell.

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