Cpf1: A New Member of the CRISPR Family

     The subject of genome editing has been an increasingly important one in recent years. The possibility of editing the genomes of organisms provides scientists and genetic engineers seemingly endless opportunities.  By using enzymes to cut DNA, remove potentially harmful genes, and insert new ones, scientists have the ability to edit genomes at a whim. With the constant discovery of new systems there are more and more possibilities every day.

     The recent discovery of a new system, CRISPR Cpf1, that is far superior to many previously known methods of editing, promises even more advances.

     Applying this technology to embryos has shown promise that in the future we may be able to delete harmful genes in organisms. Any change in the genome of early cells in an embryo carries over to all later cells produced by the altered ones, and an alteration of regulatory genes may prevent potential issues during embryonic development by silencing defective genes. CRISPR systems are perhaps one of the most promising of these new methods of genomic editing.

     CRISPR associated proteins are found in bacteria, as a defense against viral attack. They cut DNA, rendering the virus ineffective. The most well-known CRISPR system, Cas9, was discovered several years ago, and has advanced genomic editing by leaps and bounds. It is relatively easy to work with, and it cuts DNA extremely effectively. The CRISPR proteins are guided to a sequence on the DNA by an RNA guide, where it then cuts the DNA. If used properly specific genes can be excised, or even added in theory. Since its discovery, the Cas9 system has been deemed as one of the best ways to edit genes. That is, until the recent discovery of another CRISPR system; Cpf1.

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     The activity of Cpf1 was discovered by a team that consisted of the same scientist who led the team that discovered Cas9 a few years ago. Feng Zhang and his team plans on making their research easily obtainable for any other labs that wish to further study this new system, with the hope that more labs will help to advance this new technology.

     Cpf1 works in basically the same way as Cas9, but since it is a different protein it does differ in several ways. Like Cas9, Cpf1 requires an RNA guide to direct it to the point which it can cut the DNA. However, the guide for Cpf1 is much simpler than that of Cas9, meaning that it is easier to work with in the lab. Cpf1 also differs from Cas9 in that it cuts the DNA in a way that leaves staggered “sticky ends” that allow for easy joining of DNA after the excision. Cas9 simply cuts straight across DNA, leaving blunt ends that are prone to mutation.

     While both of these CRISPR systems are bacterial defenses, tests have proven that they are both effective in mammalian cells to some degree. Testing on human embryonic kidney cells shows that while not all proteins in the Cpf1 family are effective there, several of them are, at least more than the Cas9 family.

     Imagine a world where disorders and developmental problems could be turned off at the embryonic stage. That is the world that we may be heading toward as research in genomic editing continues forward. At the moment it is editing human genes is, for the most part, still distant science fiction, but with every new system discovered the potential for that kind of future grows nearer.

     Going forward, the possibilities are endless. Cpf1 promises to provide as large a revolution as its predecessor, Cas9, did in the earlier 2010’s. It gives scientists much more flexibility as to where they can cut the DNA, and what they can do with it after. By no means is Cpf1 the last system of genomic editing that will be discovered either. More and more research is focusing on this field, and there will almost definitely be more advances in the years to come.

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