Design of crRNA to Regulate MicroRNAs Related to Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer Using CRISPR-C2c2 (Cas13a) Technique
This bioinformatics study explores CRISPR-Cas13a targeting of miRNA precursors involved in colorectal cancer metastasis. Using crRNA design, specificity analysis, 3D modeling, and molecular docking, it investigates a potential strategy to suppress metastasis-associated miRNAs.
Seyed Taleb Houseini, Farkhondeh Nemati, Arash Sattari, Mansoureh Azadeh, Roya Bishehkolaei · October 21, 2026
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer with the second-highest mortality rate worldwide. microRNAs (miRNAs) of cancer-derived exosomes have shown promising diagnosis potential. Recent studies have shown the metastatic potential of a specific group of microRNAs called metastasis. Therefore, down-regulation of miRNAs at the transcriptional level can reduce metastasis probability. The aim of this bioinformatics research is targeting of miRNAs precursors using CRISPR-C2c2 (Cas13a) technique. The C2c2 (Cas13a) enzyme structure was downloaded from the RCSB database, the sequence miRNAs and their precursors were collected from miRbase. The crRNAs were designed and evaluated for their specificity by using CRISPR-RT server. The modeling 3D structure of the designed crRNA was performed by RNAComposer server. Finally, HDOCK server was used to perform molecular …