Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41062469›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Tailoring Cas12a functionality with a user-friendly and versatile crRNA variant toolbox.

Jing Han, Yuan Min, Lan Hu, Jie-Jie Chen, Shu-Xia Zhang, Xiao-Fan Li, Zhou-Hua Cheng, Dong-Feng Liu, Han-Qing Yu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  5. Article
  6. CRISPR-epigenetic crosstalk: From bidirectional regulation to therapeutic potential.Computational and structural biotechnology journal · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jing HanState Key Laboratory of Advanced Environmental Technology, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Yuan MinState Key Laboratory of Advanced Environmental Technology, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Lan HuSchool of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Jie-Jie ChenState Key Laboratory of Advanced Environmental Technology, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2539-8305
Shu-Xia ZhangFujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory on Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
Xiao-Fan LiFujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory on Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6460-7210
Zhou-Hua ChengState Key Laboratory of Advanced Environmental Technology, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China. zhc121@ustc.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7122-2661
Dong-Feng LiuState Key Laboratory of Advanced Environmental Technology, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China. dfl@ustc.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5954-6476
Han-Qing YuState Key Laboratory of Advanced Environmental Technology, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China. hqyu@ustc.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5247-6244

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 52322002
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cas12a, with its unique targeting and cleavage activity towards DNA, has been widely applied in gene editing and molecular diagnostics. However, there currently lacks an activity regulation strategy that combines flexibility and simplicity to adapt Cas12a to different demands across various application scenarios. In this study, we present a simple yet effective strategy, wherein we systematically mutate the crRNA direct repeat (DR) sequence to uncover a range of distinct crRNA mutants, which are then compiled into a crRNA toolbox to enable flexible regulation of Cas12a activity. By harnessing the complementarity and synergy between these mutants, we successfully enhance Cas12a performance across various application scenarios. Our crRNA toolbox enables fine-tuned control over expression levels, improves base editing accuracy, enhances transformation and editing efficiency in prokaryote homologous recombination-mediated gene editing, and facilitates rapid, accurate, one-pot, semi-quantitative nucleic acid diagnostics. In summary, the DR sequence mutation strategy provides simple, flexible, and diverse options for Cas12a activity regulation and functional optimization.

Indexed as

Bacterial ProteinsCRISPR-Associated ProteinsCRISPR-Cas SystemsEndodeoxyribonucleasesGene EditingEscherichia coliMutationRNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas SystemsBacterial ProteinsCas12a proteinCRISPR-Associated ProteinsEndodeoxyribonucleasesRNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems

Identifiers

PMID41062469
PMCPMC12508434

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.