The heterogeneous and compartmentalized environments within living cells make it difficult to deploy theranostic agents with precise spatiotemporal accuracy. Zhao et al. demonstrate a DNA framework state machine that can switch among multiple structural states according to the temporal sequence of molecular cues, enabling temporally controlled CRISPR–Cas9 targeting in living mammalian cells.
- Yan Zhao
- Shuting Cao
- Chunhai Fan
