May 30, 2019
IDT’s new CRISPR Cas12a (Cpf1) Ultra enzyme can target new sites within the genome and with greater efficiency
CORALVILLE, IA (May 30, 2019) – As an advocate for the needs of researchers working at the forefronts of genomic research, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) releases its latest CRISPR enzyme Alt-R® Cas12a (Cpf1) Ultra. Cas12a Ultra is a powerful addition to IDT’s Alt-R CRISPR enzyme arsenal – its vastly improved performance makes it easier to achieve precision genome editing at new sites across genomes.
Publication of the Cas12a system in 2015 generated considerable interest among researchers seeking new enzymes for genome editing experiments, particularly due to its unique PAM site (“TTTV”) that greatly expanded the number of potential editing sites in the genome beyond that of Cas9 (“NGG”). IDT developed a novel mutant of the Acidaminococcus sp. BV3L6 Cas12a (Cpf1), called Cas12a Ultra. The new mutant enzyme has enhanced editing activity, reaching or exceeding the performance of Cas9. The new Cas12a Ultra also retains activity across a wider temperature range than the wild type enzyme, making it useful for genome editing in additional organisms, including plants.
Editas Medicine, a leading company developing genome editing medicines, recognized the potential advantages of the newly discovered Cas12a (also known as Cpf1) system and obtained an exclusive license from the Broad Institute, Inc., acting on behalf of itself and the President and Fellows of Harvard College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wageningen University, and the University of Tokyo in 2016 for human therapeutics. Editas Medicine also signed an exclusive license from IDT for use of Cas12a Ultra in human therapeutic applications, several months prior to IDT’s commercial release of the product for research use.
IDT’s Alt-R Cas12a (Cpf1) Ultra is a first addition to the genome editing toolbox that offers the same efficiency and versatility as Cas9. The new tool will find equal utility for both knock-out as well as knock-in applications, in fields ranging from basic research cell engineering to medical gene therapy to agricultural biotechnology. By incorporating Cas12a (Cpf1) Ultra from IDT into their research plan, scientists will also benefit from the exceptional quality of IDT’s recombinant genome editing protein manufacturing, high throughput guide RNA synthesis capacity, and best-in-class technical support.
Mark Behlke, Chief Scientific Officer of IDT commented, “We are proud that IDT continues to take the lead in developing and supplying innovative CRISPR tools to the research community. Alt-R Cas12a (Cpf1) Ultra is a powerful example of this. Researchers will really benefit from the efficiency and versatility that it brings to their gene-editing projects.”
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About IDT
Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. (IDT) develops, manufactures, and markets nucleic acid products for the life sciences industry in the areas of academic and commercial research, agriculture, medical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical development. IDT has developed proprietary technologies for genomics applications such as next generation sequencing, CRISPR genome editing, qPCR, and RNA interference. Through its GMP services, IDT manufactures products used in diagnostic tests for many forms of cancer and most inherited and infectious diseases. IDT is widely recognized as the industry leader in custom nucleic acid manufacture, serving over 120,000 life sciences researchers and producing over 70,000 nucleic acids daily. IDT has its manufacturing headquarters in Coralville, Iowa, USA, with additional manufacturing sites in San Diego, California, USA; Leuven, Belgium; and Singapore.
Contact
Brian Werger
Manager of Brand & Public Relations
Integrated DNA Technologies
idtpr@idtdna.com