Background Research:
CRISPR is a family of DNA sequences found in bacteria and archaea. The sequences contain snippets of DNA from viruses that have attacked the bacterium or archaean. These are used to detect and destroy DNA from similar viruses during subsequent attacks. These sequences play a key role in the antiviral defense system of these organisms.
Gene scissors are a term often used to refer to CRISPR Cas9, which is an RNA-guided endonuclease enzyme associated with the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats), i.e., it can cut strands of DNA.
The Bonn researchers‘ finding involves understanding how these gene scissors ‘self-regulate’ after they have defended against a virus attack, allowing cells to recover.
FAQs:
1. What are CRISPR gene scissors?
– The term „gene scissors“ refers to techniques like CRISPR Cas9 that allow scientists to cut out specific sections of DNA much like we would cut out sections of paper with scissors.
2. How do gene scissors help defend against virus attacks?
– Gene-scissors are part of an ancient bacterial immune system called CRISPR where pieces from viral infections past are stored inside the body for future immunity response towards same type viral infections.
3. Why does the cell need recovery after successfully overcoming a virus attack?
– Even though successful in defeating an invading virus, such immune responses can stress or damage cells hosting this defense mechanism often as collateral damage or sometimes even due to overactive response by defense system itself.
4. What does it mean that there’s an integrated timer into this system?
– This ‚timer‘ refers to built-in self-regulation mechanism allowing these defensive genes carpenters tools i.e., highly efficient & precise molecular biology toll calledRCrispr / Cas 9 referred here as ‘scissors’ colloquially meaning this unique system has an inherent mechanism to switch itself of this function after certain period post a successful defense maneuver allowing cells some time to recover & recuperating back before restarting its regular functions again.
5. Where can I find more information about the study?
– You can find additional details and context in the full article published in the journal „Nucleic Acids Research“, which is available online.
Originamitteilung:
Bonn researchers clarify self-regulation of the immune response in the CRISPR bacterial defense system: CRISPR gene scissors, as new tools of molecular biology, have their origin in an ancient bacterial immune system. But once a virus attack has been successfully overcome, the cell has to recover. Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn, in cooperation with researchers from the Institut Pasteur in France, have discovered a timer integrated into the gene scissors that enables the gene scissors to switch themselves off. The results of the study have been published in the renowned journal „Nucleic Acids Research“.