RNAi: Prokaryotes Get in on the Act

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2009.11.018 Byline: John van der Oost (1), Stan J.J. Brouns (1) Abstract: The small CRISPR-derived RNAs of bacteria and archaea provide adaptive immunity by targeting the DNA of invading viruses and plasmids. now report on a new variant CRISPR/Cas complex in the archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus that uses guide RNAs to specifically target and cleave RNA not DNA. Author Affiliation: (1) Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, 6703 HB Wageningen, Netherlands