Anti-CRISPR protein applications: natural brakes for CRISPR-Cas technologies

Anti-CRISPR protein applications: natural brakes for CRISPR-Cas technologies

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Marino, N. D., Pinilla-Redondo, R. , Csorgo, B., Bondy-Denomy, J.,  Nature Methods,  2020.

Clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) genes, a diverse family of prokaryotic adaptive immune systems, have emerged as a biotechnological tool and therapeutic. The discovery of protein inhibitors of CRISPR-Cas systems, called anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins, enables the development of more controllable and precise CRISPR-Cas tools. Here we discuss applications of Acr proteins for post-translational control of CRISPR-Cas systems in prokaryotic and mammalian cells, organisms and ecosystems. This Review highlights recent discoveries and applications of anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins that enable the regulation of CRISPR-Cas technology.