CRISPR/Cas技术的研究展望

Research Progress of CRISPR/Cas Technology

CRISPR/Cas系统是多数细菌及古菌在环境胁迫下长期进化形成的由RNA引导降解入侵病毒或噬菌体DNA的适应性免疫系统,包括Cas蛋白与单链引导RNAs (Single guide RNAs, sgRNAs)两个核心元件。近些年来,由CRISPR/Cas系统发展形成的新型基因编辑技术(CRISPR/Cas技术)广泛应用于动物、植物、微生物的基因组编辑和调控,其原理是Cas蛋白受sgRNA指引将靶向DNA进行基因改造,进而定向引导基因突变并通过测序技术筛选有效的基因突变。CRISPR/Cas技术能同时对多个位点进行编辑,对靶向DNA有相当高的亲和力和特异性,具有耗时短、编辑高效等优点。本文综述了CRISPR/Cas技术在临床治疗、植物基因编辑、微生物基因改造等多个领域的应用进展,并对CRISPR/Cas技术目前存在的问题进行了深入讨论及展望,为今后探究CRISPR/Cas技术在生态环境领域的应用提供了科学思路与研究方向。

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) in many bacteria and archaea evolves into adaptive immune system under environmental stress in the long term. Actually, CRISPR is guided by RNA to degrade viruses or phage DNA invading host bacteria and archaea. The core elements of CRISPR/Cas system include Cas protein and single guide RNAs (sgRNAs). In recent years, CRISPR/Cas technology as the novel gene editing technology developed by CRISPR/Cas system has been widely used in editing and regulating genomes in animals, plants and microorganisms. The principle of CRISPR/Cas technology is that Cas protein is guided by sgRNA, genetically modified to target DNA, and then guide to target gene mutation so as to screen effective gene mutation by sequencing technology. CRISPR/Cas technology can edit multiple sites at the same time, which has high affinity and specificity for targeted DNA from animals, plants and microorganisms. It has the advantages of short time and high editing efficiency. This paper reviewed the application progress of CRISPR/Cas technology in clinical treatment, plant gene edition, microbial gene modification and other fields. Meanwhile, this study discussed and prospected the present problems of CRISPR/Cas technology. This paper can help readers to understand CRISPR/Cas technology in depth. It provides scientific ideas and research directions for exploring the application of CRISPR/Cas technology in the field of ecological environment in future.