Nucleic acid-guided protein-empowered aquatic contaminants sensing

Fang Zhang; Shiau Wei Liew; Sin Yu Lam; Chun Kit Kwok

doi:10.1016/j.trechm.2025.09.013

Nucleic acid-guided protein-empowered aquatic contaminants sensing

Fang Zhang^* (Co-first Author), Shiau Wei Liew (Co-first Author), Sin Yu Lam (Co-first Author), Chun Kit Kwok^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

The rapid evolution of nucleic acid-guided proteins (e.g., CRISPR/Cas12a, Argonaute) has positioned them as transformative tools for aquatic contaminant sensing. Their programmability, compatibility with diverse signal transducers, and field-deployable designs enable unprecedented on-site environmental monitoring. This review outlines the fundamental mechanisms of nucleic acid (NA)-guided proteins, critically analyzes implementation strategies (including field-deployable platforms), and systematically highlights their applications in the sensing of aquatic pollutants. We further discuss current challenges and future research directions to further advance multiplexing, sensitivity enhancement, artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted engineering, and integrated on-site detection areas. By providing comprehensive insights into this emerging field, we hope that this review will serve as an important resource for researchers developing next-generation NA-guided proteins-based environmental surveillance tools to address ‘One Health’ challenges at aquatic interfaces. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	853-868
Journal	Trends in Chemistry
Volume	7
Issue number	12
Online published	30 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trechm.2025.09.013
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Projects ( 32471343 , 32222089 ); Research Grants Council (RGC) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ( RFS2425-1S02 , CityU 11100123 , CityU 11100222 , and CityU 11100421 ); Croucher Foundation Project ( 9509003 ); State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution Seed Collaborative Research Fund ( SCRF0070 ); City University of Hong Kong projects ( 9680376 , 7030001 and 9678302 ) to C.K.K.; the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme to S.W.L. and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Start-up Fund for RAPs under the Strategic Hiring Scheme ( A0058760 ) to F.Z.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Research Keywords

aquatic contaminants
argonaute
CRISPR-Cas
environmental monitoring
nucleic acids
sensing

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1016/j.trechm.2025.09.013

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title = "Nucleic acid-guided protein-empowered aquatic contaminants sensing",

abstract = "The rapid evolution of nucleic acid-guided proteins (e.g., CRISPR/Cas12a, Argonaute) has positioned them as transformative tools for aquatic contaminant sensing. Their programmability, compatibility with diverse signal transducers, and field-deployable designs enable unprecedented on-site environmental monitoring. This review outlines the fundamental mechanisms of nucleic acid (NA)-guided proteins, critically analyzes implementation strategies (including field-deployable platforms), and systematically highlights their applications in the sensing of aquatic pollutants. We further discuss current challenges and future research directions to further advance multiplexing, sensitivity enhancement, artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted engineering, and integrated on-site detection areas. By providing comprehensive insights into this emerging field, we hope that this review will serve as an important resource for researchers developing next-generation NA-guided proteins-based environmental surveillance tools to address {\textquoteleft}One Health{\textquoteright} challenges at aquatic interfaces. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Inc.",

keywords = "aquatic contaminants, argonaute, CRISPR-Cas, environmental monitoring, nucleic acids, sensing",

author = "Fang Zhang and Liew, {Shiau Wei} and Lam, {Sin Yu} and Kwok, {Chun Kit}",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.trechm.2025.09.013",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

pages = "853--868",

journal = "Trends in Chemistry",

issn = "2589-5974",

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number = "12",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Nucleic acid-guided protein-empowered aquatic contaminants sensing

AU - Zhang, Fang

AU - Liew, Shiau Wei

AU - Lam, Sin Yu

AU - Kwok, Chun Kit

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - The rapid evolution of nucleic acid-guided proteins (e.g., CRISPR/Cas12a, Argonaute) has positioned them as transformative tools for aquatic contaminant sensing. Their programmability, compatibility with diverse signal transducers, and field-deployable designs enable unprecedented on-site environmental monitoring. This review outlines the fundamental mechanisms of nucleic acid (NA)-guided proteins, critically analyzes implementation strategies (including field-deployable platforms), and systematically highlights their applications in the sensing of aquatic pollutants. We further discuss current challenges and future research directions to further advance multiplexing, sensitivity enhancement, artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted engineering, and integrated on-site detection areas. By providing comprehensive insights into this emerging field, we hope that this review will serve as an important resource for researchers developing next-generation NA-guided proteins-based environmental surveillance tools to address ‘One Health’ challenges at aquatic interfaces. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.

AB - The rapid evolution of nucleic acid-guided proteins (e.g., CRISPR/Cas12a, Argonaute) has positioned them as transformative tools for aquatic contaminant sensing. Their programmability, compatibility with diverse signal transducers, and field-deployable designs enable unprecedented on-site environmental monitoring. This review outlines the fundamental mechanisms of nucleic acid (NA)-guided proteins, critically analyzes implementation strategies (including field-deployable platforms), and systematically highlights their applications in the sensing of aquatic pollutants. We further discuss current challenges and future research directions to further advance multiplexing, sensitivity enhancement, artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted engineering, and integrated on-site detection areas. By providing comprehensive insights into this emerging field, we hope that this review will serve as an important resource for researchers developing next-generation NA-guided proteins-based environmental surveillance tools to address ‘One Health’ challenges at aquatic interfaces. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.

KW - aquatic contaminants

KW - argonaute

KW - CRISPR-Cas

KW - environmental monitoring

KW - nucleic acids

KW - sensing

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UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105020275067&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1016/j.trechm.2025.09.013

DO - 10.1016/j.trechm.2025.09.013

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 2589-5974

VL - 7

SP - 853

EP - 868

JO - Trends in Chemistry

JF - Trends in Chemistry

IS - 12

ER -

Nucleic acid-guided protein-empowered aquatic contaminants sensing

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

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RFS: Developing RNA Structure-Targeting Bi-/Multi-Functional Laptamer-Based Chimeras for Gene Regulation

GRF: Developing Novel Short Peptides to Target G-quadruplex Structure and Modulate Gene Function

GRF: Evolving New L-RNA Aptamers and Developing L-RNA aptamer-peptide Conjugates to Control G-quadruplex Structure-associated Gene Activity

Cite this