Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42094414›Full record

ArticlebioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2026

A Noncontiguous Code for RNA-Guided DNA Recognition Preceded CRISPR.

Peter H Yoon, Kenneth Loi, Zeyuan Zhang, Trevor A Docter, Santiago C Lopez, Conner J Langeberg, Muhammad Moezur-Rehman, Kamakshi Vohra, Zehan Zhou, Honglue Shi and 5 more

Abstract readPreprint
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Peter H YoonDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.
Kenneth LoiDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.ORCID 0009-0009-5508-6511
Zeyuan ZhangInnovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Trevor A DocterDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.
Santiago C LopezDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.
Conner J LangebergDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5609-3758
Muhammad Moezur-RehmanDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.
Kamakshi VohraDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.
Zehan ZhouDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.
Honglue ShiDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3847-1652
Ron BogerInnovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Peter Y WangInnovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Benjamin A AdlerInnovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7488-3040
Stephen G BrohawnDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6768-3406
Jennifer A DoudnaDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9161-999X

Funding

The dynamics, functions and evolution of a miniature RNA-guided enzymeK99GM160778 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · PI Honglue Shi · 2025 to 2026
$240k
NIGMS NIH HHS K99 GM160778
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

CRISPR-Cas systems use RNA-guided proteins for adaptive immunity through a mechanism whose origin is unknown. Here we report the discovery of Viral Interference Programmable Repeat (VIPR) systems consisting of a Vipr protein more ancient than CRISPR-Cas and vrRNAs comprising alternating GGY/NN motifs. Unlike canonical guide RNAs that base pair with nucleic acid targets using an uninterrupted sequence, vrRNAs recognize double-stranded DNA through a noncontiguous code in which the variable NNs of each repeat collectively specify a target that itself contains a gapped recognition sequence. Analysis of natural vrRNA targets suggests VIPR acts against competing phages. We demonstrate programmable phage defense by redirecting the complex for transcriptional repression. These results suggest that the roots of adaptive immunity lie in ancient warfare between viruses, and reveal a new logic for programmable genetic control.

Identifiers

PMID42094414
PMCPMC13142463

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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.