CRISPR has transformed genetic research, but there are other systems out there, like SPARDA, that are only now being explored. This unique system has caught scientists’ attention recently, as they uncover its potential for gene editing.
CRISPR, known for its gene-editing abilities, originally came from a bacterial immune system adapted for scientific use. A recent study in the journal Cell Research introduces SPARDA (short prokaryotic Argonaute, DNase associated), revealing its promise as a new biotechnological tool.
Study co-author Mindaugas Zaremba, a biochemist from Vilnius University, emphasized that SPARDA systems were previously under-studied. They help bacteria protect themselves from viruses and free-floating DNA by breaking down harmful genetic material, even if it means destroying the host cell.
To understand SPARDA better, Zaremba’s team used AlphaFold, an AI tool that predicts protein shapes. They focused on how this system works at a molecular level and found that SPARDA systems contain “activating regions” called beta-relays. When these relays detect a threat, they change shape, allowing proteins to form long chains and attack surrounding DNA. This reaction can stop infections from spreading.
Zaremba’s exploration of SPARDA systems included bacteria like Xanthobacter autotrophicus and Enhydrobacter aerosaccus. Interestingly, these systems were transplanted into E. coli for further study. They discovered that the beta-relay is a common feature among similar proteins, indicating a shared evolutionary trait.
The potential of SPARDA goes beyond bacterial defense. Its ability to recognize foreign DNA accurately could be adapted for human use in diagnostics. Adjusting the beta-relay to respond only to specific genetic sequences could lead to innovative diagnostic tools. Unlike CRISPR, which requires specific DNA markers called PAM sequences, SPARDA could function like a universal adapter, improving the detection of various germs and viruses.
While CRISPR has already changed the scientific landscape and even earned a Nobel Prize, SPARDA’s research is still in the early stages. Nonetheless, it shows that tiny organisms may hold keys to solve some of science’s biggest challenges.
