Applications of the versatile molecular tool CRISPR have been extended by
researchers from genome editing into genome imaging via the technology they
call CRISPR-Sirius. Researcher Hanhui Ma of ShanghaiTech University and
colleagues repurposed the genome editing tool into viewing targeted genes in
the nucleus and chromosomes of cells.

The limitation that the researchers aimed to solve was RNA guide
instability, which was encountered in earlier applications of the technology
and led to low genome labeling efficiency. In CRISPR-Sirius, enhanced RNA
stability and brightness were observed. Thus, the modified strategy promises
more effective detection of spatial and temporal features of genomic
elements. Although applied in animal cells in the featured study, this
technology may also be important in crops, especially in detection of gene
locations.

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