1
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Goswami HN, Ahmadizadeh F, Wang B, Addo-Yobo D, Zhao Y, Whittington AC, He H, Terns MP, Li H. Molecular basis for cA6 synthesis by a type III-A CRISPR-Cas enzyme and its conversion to cA4 production. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae603. [PMID: 38989619 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The type III-A (Csm) CRISPR-Cas systems are multi-subunit and multipronged prokaryotic enzymes in guarding the hosts against viral invaders. Beyond cleaving activator RNA transcripts, Csm confers two additional activities: shredding single-stranded DNA and synthesizing cyclic oligoadenylates (cOAs) by the Cas10 subunit. Known Cas10 enzymes exhibit a fascinating diversity in cOA production. Three major forms-cA3, cA4 and cA6have been identified, each with the potential to trigger unique downstream effects. Whereas the mechanism for cOA-dependent activation is well characterized, the molecular basis for synthesizing different cOA isoforms remains unclear. Here, we present structural characterization of a cA6-producing Csm complex during its activation by an activator RNA. Analysis of the captured intermediates of cA6 synthesis suggests a 3'-to-5' nucleotidyl transferring process. Three primary adenine binding sites can be identified along the chain elongation path, including a unique tyrosine-threonine dyad found only in the cA6-producing Cas10. Consistently, disrupting the tyrosine-threonine dyad specifically impaired cA6 production while promoting cA4 production. These findings suggest that Cas10 utilizes a unique enzymatic mechanism for forming the phosphodiester bond and has evolved distinct strategies to regulate the cOA chain length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemant N Goswami
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Fozieh Ahmadizadeh
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Bing Wang
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Doreen Addo-Yobo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Yu Zhao
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - A Carl Whittington
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Huan He
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Michael P Terns
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Hong Li
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
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2
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Schwartz EA, Bravo JPK, Ahsan M, Macias LA, McCafferty CL, Dangerfield TL, Walker JN, Brodbelt JS, Palermo G, Fineran PC, Fagerlund RD, Taylor DW. RNA targeting and cleavage by the type III-Dv CRISPR effector complex. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3324. [PMID: 38637512 PMCID: PMC11026444 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47506-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas are adaptive immune systems in bacteria and archaea that utilize CRISPR RNA-guided surveillance complexes to target complementary RNA or DNA for destruction1-5. Target RNA cleavage at regular intervals is characteristic of type III effector complexes6-8. Here, we determine the structures of the Synechocystis type III-Dv complex, an apparent evolutionary intermediate from multi-protein to single-protein type III effectors9,10, in pre- and post-cleavage states. The structures show how multi-subunit fusion proteins in the effector are tethered together in an unusual arrangement to assemble into an active and programmable RNA endonuclease and how the effector utilizes a distinct mechanism for target RNA seeding from other type III effectors. Using structural, biochemical, and quantum/classical molecular dynamics simulation, we study the structure and dynamics of the three catalytic sites, where a 2'-OH of the ribose on the target RNA acts as a nucleophile for in line self-cleavage of the upstream scissile phosphate. Strikingly, the arrangement at the catalytic residues of most type III complexes resembles the active site of ribozymes, including the hammerhead, pistol, and Varkud satellite ribozymes. Our work provides detailed molecular insight into the mechanisms of RNA targeting and cleavage by an important intermediate in the evolution of type III effector complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan A Schwartz
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Programs, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jack P K Bravo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Mohd Ahsan
- Department of Bioengineering and Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Luis A Macias
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Caitlyn L McCafferty
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Programs, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Tyler L Dangerfield
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jada N Walker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering and Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Robert D Fagerlund
- Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - David W Taylor
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Programs, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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3
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Zhang H, Shi M, Ma X, Liu M, Wang N, Lu Q, Li Z, Zhao Y, Zhao H, Chen H, Zhang H, Jiang T, Ouyang S, Huo Y, Bi L. Type-III-A structure of mycobacteria CRISPR-Csm complexes involving atypical crRNAs. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 260:129331. [PMID: 38218299 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), a leading cause of mortality globally, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily infiltrates the lung. The mature crRNAs in M. tuberculosis transcribed from the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) locus exhibit an atypical structure featured with 5' and 3' repeat tags at both ends of the intact crRNA, in contrast to typical Type-III-A crRNAs that possess 5' repeat tags and partial crRNA sequences. However, this structural peculiarity particularly concerning the specific binding characteristics of the 3' repeat end within the mature crRNA within the Csm complex, has not been comprehensively elucidated. Here, our Mycobacteria CRISPR-Csm complexes structure represents the largest Csm complex reported to date. It incorporates an atypical Type-III-A CRISPR RNA (crRNA) (46 nt) with 5' 8-nt and 3' 4-nt repeat sequences in the stoichiometry of Mycobacteria Csm1125364151. The PAM-independent single-stranded RNAs (ssRNAs) are the most suitable substrate for the Csm complex. The 3'-repeat end trimming of mature crRNA was not necessary for its cleavage activity in Type-III-A Csm complex. Our work broadens our understanding of the Type-III-A Csm complex and identifies another mature crRNA processing mechanism in the Type-III-A CRISPR-Cas system based on structural biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongtai Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Mingmin Shi
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaoli Ma
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Mengxi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Pathogenesis and Interventions of Fujian Province University, the Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, China
| | - Nenhan Wang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Qiuhua Lu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Pathogenesis and Interventions of Fujian Province University, the Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, China
| | - Zekai Li
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Pathogenesis and Interventions of Fujian Province University, the Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, China
| | - Yanfeng Zhao
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Hongshen Zhao
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hong Chen
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Huizhi Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Songying Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Pathogenesis and Interventions of Fujian Province University, the Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, China.
| | - Yangao Huo
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Lijun Bi
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510005, China.
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4
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Sridhara S. Multiple structural flavors of RNase P in precursor tRNA processing. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1835. [PMID: 38479802 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
The precursor transfer RNAs (pre-tRNAs) require extensive processing to generate mature tRNAs possessing proper fold, structural stability, and functionality required to sustain cellular viability. The road to tRNA maturation follows an ordered process: 5'-processing, 3'-processing, modifications at specific sites, if any, and 3'-CCA addition before aminoacylation and recruitment to the cellular protein synthesis machinery. Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a universally conserved endonuclease in all domains of life, performing the hydrolysis of pre-tRNA sequences at the 5' end by the removal of phosphodiester linkages between nucleotides at position -1 and +1. Except for an archaeal species: Nanoarchaeum equitans where tRNAs are transcribed from leaderless-position +1, RNase P is indispensable for life and displays fundamental variations in terms of enzyme subunit composition, mechanism of substrate recognition and active site architecture, utilizing in all cases a two metal ion-mediated conserved catalytic reaction. While the canonical RNA-based ribonucleoprotein RNase P has been well-known to occur in bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes, the occurrence of RNA-free protein-only RNase P in eukaryotes and RNA-free homologs of Aquifex RNase P in prokaryotes has been discovered more recently. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of structural diversity displayed by various RNA-based and RNA-free RNase P holoenzymes towards harnessing critical RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions in achieving conserved pre-tRNA processing functionality. Furthermore, alternate roles and functional interchangeability of RNase P are discussed in the context of its employability in several clinical and biotechnological applications. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > tRNA Processing RNA Evolution and Genomics > RNA and Ribonucleoprotein Evolution RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar Sridhara
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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5
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Paraan M, Nasef M, Chou-Zheng L, Khweis SA, Schoeffler AJ, Hatoum-Aslan A, Stagg SM, Dunkle JA. The structure of a Type III-A CRISPR-Cas effector complex reveals conserved and idiosyncratic contacts to target RNA and crRNA among Type III-A systems. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287461. [PMID: 37352230 PMCID: PMC10289348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Type III CRISPR-Cas systems employ multiprotein effector complexes bound to small CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) to detect foreign RNA transcripts and elicit a complex immune response that leads to the destruction of invading RNA and DNA. Type III systems are among the most widespread in nature, and emerging interest in harnessing these systems for biotechnology applications highlights the need for detailed structural analyses of representatives from diverse organisms. We performed cryo-EM reconstructions of the Type III-A Cas10-Csm effector complex from S. epidermidis bound to an intact, cognate target RNA and identified two oligomeric states, a 276 kDa complex and a 318 kDa complex. 3.1 Å density for the well-ordered 276 kDa complex allowed construction of atomic models for the Csm2, Csm3, Csm4 and Csm5 subunits within the complex along with the crRNA and target RNA. We also collected small-angle X-ray scattering data which was consistent with the 276 kDa Cas10-Csm architecture we identified. Detailed comparisons between the S. epidermidis Cas10-Csm structure and the well-resolved bacterial (S. thermophilus) and archaeal (T. onnurineus) Cas10-Csm structures reveal differences in how the complexes interact with target RNA and crRNA which are likely to have functional ramifications. These structural comparisons shed light on the unique features of Type III-A systems from diverse organisms and will assist in improving biotechnologies derived from Type III-A effector complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Paraan
- National Center for In-situ Tomographic Ultramicroscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Mohamed Nasef
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States of America
| | - Lucy Chou-Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, United States of America
| | - Sarah A. Khweis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States of America
| | - Allyn J. Schoeffler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Asma Hatoum-Aslan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, United States of America
| | - Scott M. Stagg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States of America
| | - Jack A. Dunkle
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States of America
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6
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Wiegand T, Wilkinson R, Santiago-Frangos A, Lynes M, Hatzenpichler R, Wiedenheft B. Functional and Phylogenetic Diversity of Cas10 Proteins. CRISPR J 2023; 6:152-162. [PMID: 36912817 PMCID: PMC10123807 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2022.0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cas10 proteins are large subunits of type III CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-guided surveillance complexes, many of which have nuclease and cyclase activities. Here, we use computational and phylogenetic methods to identify and analyze 2014 Cas10 sequences from genomic and metagenomic databases. Cas10 proteins cluster into five distinct clades that mirror previously established CRISPR-Cas subtypes. Most Cas10 proteins (85.0%) have conserved polymerase active-site motifs, while HD-nuclease domains are less well conserved (36.0%). We identify Cas10 variants that are split over multiple genes or genetically fused to nucleases activated by cyclic nucleotides (i.e., NucC) or components of toxin-antitoxin systems (i.e., AbiEii). To clarify the functional diversification of Cas10 proteins, we cloned, expressed, and purified five representatives from three phylogenetically distinct clades. None of the Cas10s are functional cyclases in isolation, and activity assays performed with polymerase domain active site mutants indicate that previously reported Cas10 DNA-polymerase activity may be a result of contamination. Collectively, this work helps clarify the phylogenetic and functional diversity of Cas10 proteins in type III CRISPR systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner Wiegand
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Royce Wilkinson
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Andrew Santiago-Frangos
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Mackenzie Lynes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Blake Wiedenheft
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
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7
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Goswami HN, Rai J, Das A, Li H. Molecular mechanism of active Cas7-11 in processing CRISPR RNA and interfering target RNA. eLife 2022; 11:e81678. [PMID: 36190192 PMCID: PMC9629832 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cas7-11 is a Type III-E CRISPR Cas effector that confers programmable RNA cleavage and has potential applications in RNA interference. Cas7-11 encodes a single polypeptide containing four Cas7- and one Cas11-like segments that obscures the distinction between the multi-subunit Class 1 and the single-subunit Class-2 CRISPR Cas systems. We report a cryo-EM (cryo-electron microscopy) structure of the active Cas7-11 from Desulfonema ishimotonii (DiCas7-11) that reveals the molecular basis for RNA processing and interference activities. DiCas7-11 arranges its Cas7- and Cas11-like domains in an extended form that resembles the backbone made up by four Cas7 and one Cas11 subunits in the multi-subunit enzymes. Unlike the multi-subunit enzymes, however, the backbone of DiCas7-11 contains evolutionarily different Cas7 and Cas11 domains, giving rise to their unique functionality. The first Cas7-like domain nearly engulfs the last 15 direct repeat nucleotides in processing and recognition of the CRISPR RNA, and its free-standing fragment retains most of the activity. Both the second and the third Cas7-like domains mediate target RNA cleavage in a metal-dependent manner. The structure and mutational data indicate that the long variable insertion to the fourth Cas7 domain has little impact on RNA processing or targeting, suggesting the possibility for engineering a compact and programmable RNA interference tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemant N Goswami
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State UniversityTallahasseeUnited States
| | - Jay Rai
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State UniversityTallahasseeUnited States
| | - Anuska Das
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State UniversityTallahasseeUnited States
| | - Hong Li
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State UniversityTallahasseeUnited States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State UniversityTallahasseeUnited States
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8
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Hu C, van Beljouw SPB, Nam KH, Schuler G, Ding F, Cui Y, Rodríguez-Molina A, Haagsma AC, Valk M, Pabst M, Brouns SJ, Ke A. Craspase is a CRISPR RNA-guided, RNA-activated protease. Science 2022; 377:1278-1285. [PMID: 36007061 PMCID: PMC10041820 DOI: 10.1126/science.add5064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas type III-E RNA-targeting effector complex gRAMP/Cas7-11 is associated with a caspase-like protein (TPR-CHAT/Csx29) to form Craspase (CRISPR-guided caspase). Here, we use cryo-electron microscopy snapshots of Craspase to explain its target RNA cleavage and protease activation mechanisms. Target-guide pairing extending into the 5' region of the guide RNA displaces a gating loop in gRAMP, which triggers an extensive conformational relay that allosterically aligns the protease catalytic dyad and opens an amino acid side-chain-binding pocket. We further define Csx30 as the endogenous protein substrate that is site-specifically proteolyzed by RNA-activated Craspase. This protease activity is switched off by target RNA cleavage by gRAMP and is not activated by RNA targets containing a matching protospacer flanking sequence. We thus conclude that Craspase is a target RNA-activated protease with self-regulatory capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyi Hu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 253 Biotechnology Building, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sam P. B. van Beljouw
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, Netherlands
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Ki Hyun Nam
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Gabriel Schuler
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 253 Biotechnology Building, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Fran Ding
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 253 Biotechnology Building, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Yanru Cui
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 253 Biotechnology Building, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Alicia Rodríguez-Molina
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, Netherlands
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Anna C Haagsma
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, Netherlands
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Menno Valk
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, Netherlands
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Martin Pabst
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, Netherlands
| | - Stan J.J. Brouns
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, Netherlands
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Ailong Ke
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 253 Biotechnology Building, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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9
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Woodside WT, Vantsev N, Catchpole RJ, Garrett SC, Olson S, Graveley BR, Terns MP. Type III-A CRISPR systems as a versatile gene knockdown technology. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:1074-1088. [PMID: 35618430 PMCID: PMC9297841 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079206.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems are functionally diverse prokaryotic antiviral defense systems, which encompass six distinct types (I-VI) that each encode different effector Cas nucleases with distinct nucleic acid cleavage specificities. By harnessing the unique attributes of the various CRISPR-Cas systems, a range of innovative CRISPR-based DNA and RNA targeting tools and technologies have been developed. Here, we exploit the ability of type III-A CRISPR-Cas systems to carry out RNA-guided and sequence-specific target RNA cleavage for establishment of research tools for post-transcriptional control of gene expression. Type III-A systems from three bacterial species (L. lactis, S. epidermidis, and S. thermophilus) were each expressed on a single plasmid in E. coli, and the efficiency and specificity of gene knockdown was assessed by northern blot and transcriptomic analysis. We show that engineered type III-A modules can be programmed using tailored CRISPR RNAs to efficiently knock down gene expression of both coding and noncoding RNAs in vivo. Moreover, simultaneous degradation of multiple cellular mRNA transcripts can be directed by utilizing a CRISPR array expressing corresponding gene-targeting crRNAs. Our results demonstrate the utility of distinct type III-A modules to serve as specific and effective gene knockdown platforms in heterologous cells. This transcriptome engineering technology has the potential to be further refined and exploited for key applications including gene discovery and gene pathway analyses in additional prokaryotic and perhaps eukaryotic cells and organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter T Woodside
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Nikita Vantsev
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Ryan J Catchpole
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Sandra C Garrett
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
| | - Sara Olson
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
| | - Brenton R Graveley
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
| | - Michael P Terns
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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