Cpf1


In molecular biology, CRISPR-associated endonuclease in Prevotella and Francisella 1 or Cpf1 is a single RNA-guided endonuclease lacking a small trans-encoded RNA. Instead, Cpf1 uses a T-rich protospacer-adjacent motif consisting a of 2-6 base pair DNA sequence immediately following the DNA sequence targeted by the Cas9 nuclease in the CRISPR bacterial adaptive immune system. It recognizes a T-rich PAM, TTTN, but on the 5' side of the guide. Cpf1 cleaves DNA via a staggered DNA double-stranded break.

Genome editing

Out of 16 Cpf1-family proteins, scientists identified two candidate enzymes from Acidaminococcus and Lachnospiraceae, with efficient genome-editing activity in human cells. Cpf1 was introduced with features that SpCas9 is lacking. Cpf1 requires only a 42-nt short CRISPR RNA to find its target, instead of the ~100-nt guide RNA for SpCas9, and it recognizes a protospacer-adjacent motif that is 5′ instead of 3′ of the target site.

Cas9 vs. Cpf1