Bizarre CRISPR enzyme kills cancer cells by shredding their DNA
Scientists have discovered a surprising new use for a little-known CRISPR enzyme that could change how some cancers are treated. Unlike traditional gene-editing tools, this enzyme acts like a programmable kill switch. It identifies a unique RNA found in cancer cells, then destroys the cell by shredding its DNA. Early studies show it can target mutations linked to cancers driven by genes such as TP53 and KRAS, while leaving healthy cells largely untouched.
The research is still in its early stages, but the results are encouraging. Tests in laboratory-grown human cells and mice showed tumours shrinking, and a biotechnology company is already developing a treatment for HPV-related cancers. Scientists still need to solve challenges such as delivering the enzyme safely into cells and proving it works in people. Even so, researchers believe this approach could eventually offer a more precise alternative to chemotherapy and might one day be adapted to treat other diseases that involve unique RNA signatures.