This finding argues for specific recognition of the PAM sequence by Cas9 as a prerequisite for target DNA binding and possibly strand separation to allow strand invasion and R-loop formation, which would be analogous to the PAM sequence recognition by CasA/Cse1 implicated in a type I CRISPR/Cas system (34).

Cleavage assays using these substrates showed that Cas9-catalyzed DNA cleavage was particularly sensitive to mutations in the PAM sequence on the noncomplementary strand of the DNA, in contrast to complementary strand PAM recognition by type I CRISPR/Cas systems (18, 34). Cleavage of target single-stranded DNAs was unaffected by mutations of the PAM motif. This observation suggests that the PAM motif is required only in the context of target dsDNA and may thus be required to license duplex unwinding, strand invasion, and the formation of an R-loop structure.