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New Compact CRISPR Nuclease Achieves Up to 90% Editing Success

4/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed a compact CRISPR nuclease, Al3Cas12f, smaller than Cas9 and Cas12a.
The study, published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, shows Al3Cas12f edits over 50% at many sites and over 90% at some targets in human cells.
An enhanced variant, Al3Cas12f RKK, boosts editing to over 80% at various targets.
Future tests will assess performance when packaged into adeno-associated virus vectors.

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Story summary

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed a compact CRISPR nuclease, Al3Cas12f, smaller than Cas9 and Cas12a.
The study, published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, shows Al3Cas12f edits over 50% at many sites and over 90% at some targets in human cells.
An enhanced variant, Al3Cas12f RKK, boosts editing to over 80% at various targets.
Future tests will assess performance when packaged into adeno-associated virus vectors.