RNAi: prokaryotes get in on the act

John van der Oost; Stan J J Brouns

doi:10.1016/j.cell.2009.11.018

RNAi: prokaryotes get in on the act

Cell. 2009 Nov 25;139(5):863-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.11.018.

Authors

John van der Oost¹, Stan J J Brouns

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, 6703 HB Wageningen, Netherlands. john.vanderoost@wur.nl

PMID: 19945373
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.11.018

Abstract

The small CRISPR-derived RNAs of bacteria and archaea provide adaptive immunity by targeting the DNA of invading viruses and plasmids. Hale et al. (2009) now report on a new variant CRISPR/Cas complex in the archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus that uses guide RNAs to specifically target and cleave RNA not DNA.

Publication types

Comment
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Pyrococcus furiosus / genetics*
Pyrococcus furiosus / immunology*
Pyrococcus furiosus / virology
RNA Interference*
RNA, Archaeal / genetics
RNA, Archaeal / immunology*
RNA, Guide / genetics
RNA, Guide / immunology*
RNA, Viral / immunology

Substances

RNA, Archaeal
RNA, Guide
RNA, Viral