| abstract |
An artificial fusion protein is disclosed wherein the fusion comprises at least one clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) associated subunit selected from the group consisting of Cas6, Cas5, Cse1, Cse2, and Cas7, and a further subunit, heterologous to the CRISPR subunit, selected from a helicase, a DNA or histone methyltransferase, a DNA or histone demethylase, an acetylase, a deacetylase, a phosphatase, a kinase, a transcription activator, a transcription repressor, and a DNA binding protein. Also claimed are Cascade protein complexes comprising the fusion proteins comprising a CRISPR Cas6, Cas5, Cse1, Cse2, or Cas7 subunit and a helicase, a DNA or histone methyltransferase, a DNA or histone demethylase, an acetylase, a deacetylase, a phosphatase, a kinase, a transcription activator, a transcription repressor, or a DNA binding protein. Ribonucleoprotein complexes comprising the aforementioned fusion proteins and a crRNA are additionally claimed. Methods of modifying a target nucleic acid using the aforementioned fusion proteins are also claimed. Fusion proteins comprising a CRISPR Cse1 subunit and a Fok1 nuclease are also disclosed. |