CRISPR/Cas System Photocontrolled at the Guide RNA Level

Improving the efficiency and precision of gene editing systems is of utmost importance for modern molecular biology and genetic engineering. Of particular interest is the design of controlled CRISPR/Cas9 systems, the activity of which could be regulated using various physicochemical stimuli, such as light irradiation, pH change, temperature, change of molecule concentration, and others. A promising direction in this area is the development of approaches to control activity at the level of guide RNA through photosensitive modifications to the structure and sequence of guide RNA, and additional oligonucleotides. This review focuses on the analysis of publications on design of photosensitive guide RNAs and their applications in gene editing systems using CRISPR.