The article presents a study focusing on transcription activator-like effector (TALE) repeat-variable diresidues (RVD) specificities and efficiencies. It states that DNA-binding domain of transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) has become important for the targeting of genome-editing nucleases. It shows that natural TALEs from plant-pathogenic Xanthomonas sp. bacteria function as eukaryotic transcription factors.