{"title":"General and robust sample preparation strategies for cryo-EM studies of CRISPR-Cas9 and Cas12 enzymes.","authors":"Satoshi N Omura, Osamu Nureki","doi":"10.1016/bs.mie.2025.01.052","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cas9 and Cas12 are RNA-guided DNA endonucleases derived from prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems that have been repurposed as versatile genome-engineering tools. Computational mining of genomes and metagenomes has expanded the diversity of Cas9 and Cas12 enzymes that can be used to develop versatile, orthogonal molecular toolboxes. Structural information is pivotal to uncovering the precise molecular mechanisms of newly discovered Cas enzymes and providing a foundation for their application in genome editing. In this chapter, we describe detailed protocols for the preparation of Cas9 and Cas12 enzymes for cryo-electron microscopy. These methods will enable fast and robust structural determination of newly discovered Cas9 and Cas12 enzymes, which will enhance the understanding of diverse CRISPR-Cas effectors and provide a molecular framework for expanding CRISPR-based genome-editing technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18662,"journal":{"name":"Methods in enzymology","volume":"712 ","pages":"23-39"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Methods in enzymology","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mie.2025.01.052","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/2/19 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Cas9 and Cas12 are RNA-guided DNA endonucleases derived from prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems that have been repurposed as versatile genome-engineering tools. Computational mining of genomes and metagenomes has expanded the diversity of Cas9 and Cas12 enzymes that can be used to develop versatile, orthogonal molecular toolboxes. Structural information is pivotal to uncovering the precise molecular mechanisms of newly discovered Cas enzymes and providing a foundation for their application in genome editing. In this chapter, we describe detailed protocols for the preparation of Cas9 and Cas12 enzymes for cryo-electron microscopy. These methods will enable fast and robust structural determination of newly discovered Cas9 and Cas12 enzymes, which will enhance the understanding of diverse CRISPR-Cas effectors and provide a molecular framework for expanding CRISPR-based genome-editing technologies.
期刊介绍:
The critically acclaimed laboratory standard for almost 50 years, Methods in Enzymology is one of the most highly respected publications in the field of biochemistry. Each volume is eagerly awaited, frequently consulted, and praised by researchers and reviewers alike. Now with over 500 volumes the series contains much material still relevant today and is truly an essential publication for researchers in all fields of life sciences, including microbiology, biochemistry, cancer research and genetics-just to name a few. Five of the 2013 Nobel Laureates have edited or contributed to volumes of MIE.