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CRISPR: A Bacterial Immunity System Based on Small RNAs

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From Nucleic Acids Sequences to Molecular Medicine

Part of the book series: RNA Technologies ((RNATECHN))

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Abstract

CRISPR is the acronym for a recently discovered defense system against the invasion of foreign genetic elements, such as transposons, phages, or plasmids. Originally observed during genome sequencing of bacteria and archaea, the CRISPR system has been proven to confer adaptive and inheritable immunity against foreign nucleic acid. Although quite different in the components and mechanisms involved, it resembles the RNA interference phenomenon of eukaryotes (RNAi), an important control and defense tool with widespread applications in research and medical developments. The CRISPR system consists of genomic clusters of short repeat sequences flanking unique spacer sequences of similar length (CRISPR = Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats). The spacer sequences derive from the DNA of previous invaders and are taken up in the bacterial CRISPR array by mechanisms not yet solved. In case of a new infection, CRISPR arrays are transcribed and the RNA is processed and assembled into ribonucleoprotein complexes, which target the DNA of the invader through base pair complementarity. The targeted DNA is then inactivated by hydrolytic destruction.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Biology of Prokaryotes, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Rolf Wagner & Ümit Pul

Authors
  1. Rolf Wagner
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  2. Ümit Pul
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Correspondence to Rolf Wagner .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry/Biochemistry, Free University Berlin, Thielallee 63, Berlin, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    Volker A. Erdmann

  2. Inst. Bioorganic Chemistry, PAN Poznan, ul. Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, Poznan, 61-704, Poland

    Jan Barciszewski

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Wagner, R., Pul, Ü. (2012). CRISPR: A Bacterial Immunity System Based on Small RNAs. In: Erdmann, V., Barciszewski, J. (eds) From Nucleic Acids Sequences to Molecular Medicine. RNA Technologies. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27426-8_6

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