A new study published in Nature Biotechnology on May 18, 2026, describes a DNA-guided CRISPR-Cas12 system that targets RNA, expanding the platform's capabilities beyond traditional gene editing. The research, led by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, demonstrates that Cas12 can be programmed with short DNA molecules to bind and cleave specific RNA sequences in human cells.
Unlike conventional CRISPR systems that use RNA guides to target DNA, this approach uses DNA guides to target RNA, offering improved stability and scalability. The system, called 'DNA-guided CRISPR–Cas12 for cellular RNA targeting,' achieved up to 90% knockdown efficiency of target transcripts in cell lines, according to the study's data.
The researchers showed that the DNA guides are more resistant to degradation than RNA guides, potentially enabling longer-lasting effects in cells. This could be particularly useful for diagnostic applications, where stable reagents are critical, and for therapeutic interventions that require sustained RNA modulation.
Senior author Dr. Feng Zhang stated, 'This work opens new avenues for RNA detection and control, with potential applications in diagnostics, transcriptome engineering, and future therapeutic research.' The team also demonstrated the system's ability to detect viral RNA sequences, including SARS-CoV-2, with high sensitivity.
The findings represent a significant step forward in CRISPR technology, offering a complementary tool to existing RNA-targeting methods like Cas13. Further studies are needed to evaluate safety and efficacy in animal models before clinical translation.
