CRISPR/Cas system targeting RNA and its derivative technology

RNA editing is one of the important research directions in the field of epigenetics. With further research, scientists have discovered that the CRISPR/Cas system can target not only DNA but also RNA, thereby achieving precise gene editing at the transcriptional level. Moreover, using the CRISPR/Cas system for RNA editing can also avoid damage to genome. At present, a variety of derivative technologies based on RNA-targeting CRISPR systems have been developed, including RNA knockdown and editing, nucleic acid detection and imaging, and RNA tracking. The emergence of these derivative technologies provides powerful tools for deciphering biological genetic mechanisms and disease treatment. In this review, we summarize the structure, function, mechanisms, and derived technologies of RNA-targeting CRISPR/Cas systems, aiming to enrich people's understanding of CRISPR/Cas-mediated RNA editing.