RNA Ribozyme Nucleic Acid Cleavage Without Cas Protein Burden

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current CRISPR-Cas gene editing technologies face issues such as off-target effects, large protein sizes affecting transfection efficiency, and potential immune responses due to bacterial origins, limiting their application in nucleic acid manipulation.

Innovation Solution

An RNA ribozyme-based DEAR nucleic acid manipulation system derived from bacterial Group IIC introns, comprising domains I-VI, with a target recognition site for sequence-specific targeting and catalytic activity, enabling targeted cleavage of DNA and RNA.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If CRISPR-Cas protein-based system is used for nucleic acid manipulation, then gene editing capability is achieved, but protein size exceeds 1300 amino acids causing poor transfection efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegene editing capabilityVSAvoidtransfection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the protein-based CRISPR-Cas system with an RNA-based ribozyme system. The ribozyme is an RNA molecule that performs catalytic cleavage of nucleic acids without requiring large protein structures, thereby eliminating the transfection efficiency problem associated with large proteins while maintaining gene editing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental molecular parameter from protein (amino acid-based) to RNA (nucleotide-based). This parameter change reduces the molecular size and improves transfection efficiency while preserving the ability to perform sequence-specific nucleic acid cleavage and gene editing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If CRISPR-Cas system is used for nucleic acid manipulation, then targeting capability is achieved, but off-target effects cause uncontrollable deleterious variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetargeting capabilityVSAvoidoff-target effects
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the protein-based CRISPR-Cas targeting mechanism with an RNA ribozyme system that uses base-pairing complementarity for target recognition. This substitution provides more precise targeting through RNA-DNA hybridization, reducing off-target effects and deleterious variations while maintaining sequencing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If CRISPR-Cas system is used for nucleic acid manipulation, then editing function is achieved, but large molecular weight affects transfection efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveediting functionVSAvoidmolecular weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the high molecular weight protein-based CRISPR-Cas system with an RNA-based ribozyme system. The ribozyme has significantly lower molecular weight than the Cas proteins, improving transfection efficiency while maintaining the editing function through RNA-catalyzed nucleic acid cleavage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If CRISPR-Cas system is used for nucleic acid manipulation, then gene editing capability is achieved, but immune responses are triggered due to bacterial origins

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegene editing capabilityVSAvoidimmune responses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the bacterial protein-based CRISPR-Cas system with an RNA ribozyme system. The ribozyme is derived from bacterial Group IIC introns but functions as an RNA catalyst rather than a protein, reducing immunogenicity while maintaining gene editing capability through RNA-mediated nucleic acid cleavage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The DEAR system overcomes the limitations of CRISPR-Cas by providing efficient and specific nucleic acid cleavage in both E. coli and mammalian cells without triggering immune responses, while avoiding the size and efficiency issues of protein-based systems.

Implementation Method 1

the RNA molecule comprises a target recognition site that hybridizes to a target sequence in a target nucleic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHybridization:

Implementation Method 2

RNA ribozyme-based DEAR nucleic acid manipulation system... with catalytic activity, enabling targeted cleavage of DNA and RNA

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP4650448A1RNA enzyme-based dear nucleic acid manipulation system and use thereof
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
  • EP4650448A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP4650448A1 patent drawingFigure 1D~1E
  • EP4650448A1 patent drawingFigure 1F~1G

AI summary

Disclosed in the present disclosure are an RNA enzyme-based DEAR nucleic acid manipulation system and a use thereof. The present disclosure provides a DEAR nucleic acid manipulation system, wherein the DEAR nucleic acid manipulation system comprises an RNA molecule derived from a bacterial group II intron of type C, and the RNA molecule contains a substrate recognition region hybridized with a target sequence in a target nucleic acid. The RNA enzyme-based DEAR nucleic acid manipulation system provided by the present disclosure avoids the problem that the transfection efficiency is affected by large protein molecules in a CRISPR-Cas system, the problem of the potential immunogenicity caused by Cas proteins, etc. The RNA enzyme-based DEAR nucleic acid manipulation system provided by the present disclosure can realize cutting of DNA and RNA.