CRISPR activation

CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) is a type of CRISPR tool that uses modified versions of CRISPR effectors without endonuclease activity, with added transcriptional activators on dCas9 or the guide RNAs (gRNAs).^[1]

Like for CRISPR interference, the CRISPR effector is guided to the target by a complementary guide RNA. However, CRISPR activation systems are fused to transcriptional activators to increase expression of genes of interest. Such systems are usable for many purposes including but not limited to, genetic screens and overexpression of proteins of interest. The most commonly-used effector is based on Cas9 (from Type II systems), but other effectors like Cas12a (Type V) have been used as well.^[2]

^ Cite error: The named reference pmid34407984 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Breinig M, Schweitzer AY, Herianto AM, Revia S, Schaefer L, Wendler L, et al. (January 2019). "Multiplexed orthogonal genome editing and transcriptional activation by Cas12a". Nat Methods. 16 (1): 51–54. doi:10.1038/s41592-018-0262-1. PMID 30559432. S2CID 56174507.

[pmid34407984-1] Cite error: The named reference pmid34407984 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[pmid30559432-2] Breinig M, Schweitzer AY, Herianto AM, Revia S, Schaefer L, Wendler L, et al. (January 2019). "Multiplexed orthogonal genome editing and transcriptional activation by Cas12a". Nat Methods. 16 (1): 51–54. doi:10.1038/s41592-018-0262-1. PMID 30559432. S2CID 56174507.

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