Cas9
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Biology
| Stands for | CRISPR-associated protein 9 |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
Cas9 stands for CRISPR-associated protein 9, a biology abbreviation.
DNA-cutting enzyme, originally from Streptococcus pyogenes, that a short guide RNA directs to a matching 20-letter DNA sequence, where it makes a double-strand break. The cell's repair of that break can disable a gene or, with a supplied template, insert a precise change.
Example: The guide RNA and Cas9 protein were delivered together as a ribonucleoprotein complex.
Usage notes
Cas9 cuts only next to a short motif called a PAM, which for the S. pyogenes enzyme is NGG. Engineered versions include "dead" Cas9, which binds without cutting to switch genes on or off, and base editors and prime editors, which change single letters without breaking both strands. Other enzymes such as Cas12 and Cas13 broaden the toolkit.
Related abbreviations
More biology abbreviations
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- DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid