eCas12f1

eCas12f1 (enhanced Cas12f1) is an engineered, miniature CRISPR-based genome editing system derived from the Un1Cas12f1 protein. Developed by researchers at Korea University, it is approximately 2.6-fold smaller than SpCas9, which facilitates more efficient cellular delivery via size-constrained viral vectors such as adeno-associated virus (AAV). The system was optimized through a multilayered engineering approach that introduced specific protein mutations (D143R, T147R, K330R, G181R, and S426G) to strengthen nucleic acid interactions within the DNA-binding pocket and incorporated a modified sgRNA with a stable UUCG RNA hairpin to improve structural stability. eCas12f1 demonstrates robust genome editing activity comparable to larger nucleases like SpCas9 and AsCpf1 and is compatible with advanced applications including base editing (adenine and cytosine base editors) and transcriptional regulation, making it a versatile platform for next-generation therapeutic genome engineering.

Other names

enhanced Cas12f1enhanced miniature CRISPR Cas12f1