Pac-Man-like CRISPR enzymes have potential for disease diagnostics

Pac-Man-like CRISPR enzymes have potential for disease diagnostics 05/09/2017 02:18 PM EDT University of California, Berkeley, researchers have found 10 new variants of the Cas13a enzyme, the Pac-Man of the CRISPR world, that hold promise for disease diagnostics. Seven of these are like the known Cas13a enzyme, which binds RNA and once activated, indiscriminately chews up all RNA. Three, however, bind and cut at different RNA nucleotides and could be used in combination with the known Cas13a enzyme to simultaneously detect 2 types of viral RNA for multiplexed diagnostics. Full story at http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/05/04/pac-man-like-crispr-enzymes-have-potential-for-disease-diagnostics/ Source University of California, Berkeley This is an NSF News From the Field item.   Follow NSF:  This email was sent using GovDelivery, on behalf of: National Science Foundation Update · 4201 Wilson Boulevard · Arlington, VA 22230 · 703-292-5111