Fig. 6: Mechanism of CRISPR roadblock polarity to transcription. | Nature Structural & Molecular Biology

Fig. 6: Mechanism of CRISPR roadblock polarity to transcription.

From: Polarity of the CRISPR roadblock to transcription

Fig. 6

When RNAP encounters a bound dCas from the PAM-distal side, RNAP may rezip the DNA bubble of the bound dCas, leading to R-loop disruption and DNA bubble collapse. The subsequent dCas removal allows transcription read-through. In contrast, when RNAP encounters a bound dCas from the PAM-proximal side, the DNA bubble of the bound dCas is not directly accessible to RNAP, making the dCas a strong barrier to transcription. Note that this mechanism is illustrated using a dCas9 cartoon, but the same mechanism also applies to dCas12a.

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