Sequence-directed gel degradation

MIT bioengineers have “created a system for making DNA-containing gels that are capable of responding to nearly any DNA cue simply by providing the CRISPR system’s Cas12a nuclease and a guide RNA (gRNA) that matches the desired DNA trigger. The team exploited a feature of Cas12a called collateral cleavage, in which the enzyme, after cutting its target double-stranded (ds) DNA, nonspecifically chops up surrounding single-stranded (ss) DNAs. The hydrogels are thus fabricated with ssDNAs that are cleaved by Cas12a when, and only when, a given gRNA and dsDNA combination is present.” MORE

 Image Credit: George Retseck, MIT