CasMINI (8H6-A8) Mouse mAb #53413

CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins) are RNA-guided nuclease effectors that are utilized for precise genome editing in mammalian systems (1). Cpf1/Cas12a (CRISPR from Prevotella and Francisella) proteins are members of the Class 2 CRISPR system (2). Class 2 CRISPR systems, such as the well characterized Cas9, rely on single-component effector proteins to mediate DNA interference (3). Cpf1/Cas12a and Class 2 CRISPR endonucleases permit efficient and specific genome editing that may be used as gene therapies for genetic diseases. However, virus-based vehicles used for in vivo delivery, like adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors, have a limited packaging capacity. CasMINI was engineered from the naturally occurring type V-F Cas12f (Cas14) system. CasMINI is 529 amino acids, which is significantly smaller than Cpf1/Cas12a and Cas9 proteins (62% and 57% smaller, respectively), making CasMINI more suitable for virus-based packaging for in vivo delivery (4).