Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: We identified 4112 Cas12 Proteins and 6 new Cas12 subtypes, revealed their significant diversity in N-terminal regions, repeat sequences, and sequences motifs. We developed an AI-driven algorithm, Cas12fam, which allows precise annotation of 18 distinct domains in Cas12 proteins. Through detailed structural analysis, we identified two novel glycine residues in the RuvC-like nuclease domains (RuvC-I, RuvC-II), which were experimentally validated to play a critical role in the DNA-cleavage activity of Cas12. Our analyses revealed that Cas12 proteins are enriched in specific environments, with significant variation in their abundance across ecological niches.
Source: iMetaOmics.
DOI: 10.1002/imo2.70057
Authors: Meixia Yu, Zilong Zhao, Peiyang Li, Yunpeng Teng, Feng Xu, Zhimeng Li, Zhijia Yang, Hainan Zhao, Huanbin Zhou, Lanqin Xia, Jinsheng Lai, Beibei Xin
Institutions: China Agricultural University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, State Key Laboratory of Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Crop Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414920812