Longevity & AgingCRISPR Tool Kills Cancer Cells by Reading Their RNA With Surgical Precision
Researchers at Utah State University have engineered a CRISPR-based tool that kills cells by detecting specific RNA sequences inside them. The system uses an enzyme called Cas12a2, which — once triggered by a target RNA — goes into overdrive, shredding all DNA in the cell and causing its death. Unlike existing tools that target proteins or cut a single DNA site, this approach can zero in on non-coding RNAs, viral transcripts, and cancer-specific gene activity. Tested in yeast, HeLa cells, and four human cancer cell lines including melanoma and lung cancer, the system reliably killed targeted cells while showing strong specificity, avoiding healthy cells with non-matching RNA. Delivery via lipid nanoparticles — the same technology used in mRNA vaccines — makes it a potentially practical therapeutic platform.
