SPP 2141: Much more than defence: the multiple functions and facets of CRISPR-Cas

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In the frame of this priority programme 21 groups cooperate towards the common goal to identify and characterise CRISPR-Cas functions beyond defence in a concerted action. The CRISPR-Cas system has been identified as a prokaryotic defence system more than ten years ago and today, we know that this molecular machine can also carry out other functions beyond defence. The CRISPR-Cas systems or one of its components have been reported to be involved in DNA repair, virulence regulation and group behaviour to name a few. Up to date new CRISPR-Cas functions have primarily been discovered fortuitously and systematic approaches to detect new functions are lacking. The aim of this priority programme is to systematically search for functions of the CRISPR-Cas system beyond defence. The synergy provided by this priority programme is required to effectively achieve the set goals of unravelling and identifying new and additional CRISPR-Cas functions. A team of renowned scientists from different disciplines, such as microbiology, genetics, medical microbiology, biochemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics, ecology, structural biology, molecular dynamics, single-molecule localisation microscopy and single-molecule biochemistry, makes this programme truly interdisciplinary and will guarantee a successful outcome. The newly revealed functions of the CRISPR-Cas system promise exciting biological discoveries and surprising insights into the new activities and will open several novel avenues of research. The two major goals of this concerted priority programme are: (1) The identification and investigation of new CRISPR-Cas functions beyond defence using model representatives of archaea and bacteria. (2) The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying these novel functions using state-of-the-art methods. The programme will be supplemented by a public outreach module to communicate the science of CRISPR-Cas to society in a comprehensible manner and to facilitate the discussion of controversial issues with the public (e.g., for human genome editing applications).