Light-inducible base editing enable precise gene regulation

The padCas13 editor can effectively edit A-to-I and C-to-U RNA bases, targeting disease-relevant transcripts. Photoactivatable base editing represents a significant advancement in CRISPR technology, as it allows for fine-tuning gene expression and post-translational modifications without permanent changes to the genome. This method is particularly relevant for diseases where transient gene expression modulation can have therapeutic benefits.

A crucial part of padCas13 is the Magnet system that comprises a positively and a negatively charged Magnet protein. These proteins are designed to quickly heterodimerize in response to light, thereby activating the Cas13 nuclease.

The study was conducted by Won Do Heo and co-workers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Their article titled "Programmable RNA base editing with photoactivatable CRISPR-Cas13" was published yesterday in Nature Communications, and you can read it here.