1
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Xu P, Saito M, Faure G, Maguire S, Chau-Duy-Tam Vo S, Wilkinson ME, Kuang H, Wang B, Rice WJ, Macrae RK, Zhang F. Structural insights into the diversity and DNA cleavage mechanism of Fanzor. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00844-4. [PMID: 39208796 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.07.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Fanzor (Fz) is an ωRNA-guided endonuclease extensively found throughout the eukaryotic domain with unique gene editing potential. Here, we describe the structures of Fzs from three different organisms. We find that Fzs share a common ωRNA interaction interface, regardless of the length of the ωRNA, which varies considerably across species. The analysis also reveals Fz's mode of DNA recognition and unwinding capabilities as well as the presence of a non-canonical catalytic site. The structures demonstrate how protein conformations of Fz shift to allow the binding of double-stranded DNA to the active site within the R-loop. Mechanistically, examination of structures in different states shows that the conformation of the lid loop on the RuvC domain is controlled by the formation of the guide/DNA heteroduplex, regulating the activation of nuclease and DNA double-stranded displacement at the single cleavage site. Our findings clarify the mechanism of Fz, establishing a foundation for engineering efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyu Xu
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Makoto Saito
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Guilhem Faure
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Samantha Maguire
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Samuel Chau-Duy-Tam Vo
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Max E Wilkinson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Huihui Kuang
- Cryo-Electron Microscopy Core, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Bing Wang
- Cryo-Electron Microscopy Core, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - William J Rice
- Cryo-Electron Microscopy Core, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Rhiannon K Macrae
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Feng Zhang
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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2
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Yoon PH, Zhang Z, Loi KJ, Adler BA, Lahiri A, Vohra K, Shi H, Rabelo DB, Trinidad M, Boger RS, Al-Shimary MJ, Doudna JA. Structure-guided discovery of ancestral CRISPR-Cas13 ribonucleases. Science 2024; 385:538-543. [PMID: 39024377 DOI: 10.1126/science.adq0553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The RNA-guided ribonuclease CRISPR-Cas13 enables adaptive immunity in bacteria and programmable RNA manipulation in heterologous systems. Cas13s share limited sequence similarity, hindering discovery of related or ancestral systems. To address this, we developed an automated structural-search pipeline to identify an ancestral clade of Cas13 (Cas13an) and further trace Cas13 origins to defense-associated ribonucleases. Despite being one-third the size of other Cas13s, Cas13an mediates robust programmable RNA depletion and defense against diverse bacteriophages. However, unlike its larger counterparts, Cas13an uses a single active site for both CRISPR RNA processing and RNA-guided cleavage, revealing that the ancestral nuclease domain has two modes of activity. Discovery of Cas13an deepens our understanding of CRISPR-Cas evolution and expands opportunities for precision RNA editing, showcasing the promise of structure-guided genome mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter H Yoon
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA, USA
| | - Zeyuan Zhang
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth J Loi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin A Adler
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Arushi Lahiri
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kamakshi Vohra
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Honglue Shi
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA, USA
| | - Daniel Bellieny Rabelo
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Marena Trinidad
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA, USA
| | - Ron S Boger
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Muntathar J Al-Shimary
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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3
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Chang CW, Truong VA, Pham NN, Hu YC. RNA-guided genome engineering: paradigm shift towards transposons. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:970-985. [PMID: 38443218 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.006] [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: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems revolutionized the genome engineering field but need to induce double-strand breaks (DSBs) and may be difficult to deliver due to their large protein size. Tn7-like transposons such as CRISPR-associated transposons (CASTs) can be repurposed for RNA-guided DSB-free integration, and obligate mobile element guided activity (OMEGA) proteins of the IS200/IS605 transposon family have been developed as hypercompact RNA-guided genome editing tools. CASTs and OMEGA are exciting, innovative genome engineering tools that can improve the precision and efficiency of editing. This review explores the recent developments and uses of CASTs and OMEGA in genome editing across prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The pros and cons of these transposon-based systems are deliberated in comparison to other CRISPR systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Wei Chang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Vy Anh Truong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Nam Ngoc Pham
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Hu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
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4
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Wang F, Ma S, Zhang S, Ji Q, Hu C. CRISPR beyond: harnessing compact RNA-guided endonucleases for enhanced genome editing. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024:10.1007/s11427-023-2566-8. [PMID: 39012436 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2566-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas system, an adaptive immunity system in prokaryotes designed to combat phages and foreign nucleic acids, has evolved into a groundbreaking technology enabling gene knockout, large-scale gene insertion, base editing, and nucleic acid detection. Despite its transformative impact, the conventional CRISPR-Cas effectors face a significant hurdle-their size poses challenges in effective delivery into organisms and cells. Recognizing this limitation, the imperative arises for the development of compact and miniature gene editors to propel advancements in gene-editing-related therapies. Two strategies were accepted to develop compact genome editors: harnessing OMEGA (Obligate Mobile Element-guided Activity) systems, or engineering the existing CRISPR-Cas system. In this review, we focus on the advances in miniature genome editors based on both of these strategies. The objective is to unveil unprecedented opportunities in genome editing by embracing smaller, yet highly efficient genome editors, promising a future characterized by enhanced precision and adaptability in the genetic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feizuo Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Shengsheng Ma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Senfeng Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Quanquan Ji
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
| | - Chunyi Hu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
- Precision Medicine Translational Research Programme (TRP), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
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5
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Žedaveinytė R, Meers C, Le HC, Mortman EE, Tang S, Lampe GD, Pesari SR, Gelsinger DR, Wiegand T, Sternberg SH. Antagonistic conflict between transposon-encoded introns and guide RNAs. Science 2024; 385:eadm8189. [PMID: 38991068 DOI: 10.1126/science.adm8189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
TnpB nucleases represent the evolutionary precursors to CRISPR-Cas12 and are widespread in all domains of life. IS605-family TnpB homologs function as programmable RNA-guided homing endonucleases in bacteria, driving transposon maintenance through DNA double-strand break-stimulated homologous recombination. In this work, we uncovered molecular mechanisms of the transposition life cycle of IS607-family elements that, notably, also encode group I introns. We identified specific features for a candidate "IStron" from Clostridium botulinum that allow the element to carefully control the relative levels of spliced products versus functional guide RNAs. Our results suggest that IStron transcripts evolved an ability to balance competing and mutually exclusive activities that promote selfish transposon spread while limiting adverse fitness costs on the host. Collectively, this work highlights molecular innovation in the multifunctional utility of transposon-encoded noncoding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimantė Žedaveinytė
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Hoang C Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Edan E Mortman
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - George D Lampe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sanjana R Pesari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Diego R Gelsinger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Tanner Wiegand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Samuel H Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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6
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Wiegand T, Hoffmann FT, Walker MWG, Tang S, Richard E, Le HC, Meers C, Sternberg SH. TnpB homologues exapted from transposons are RNA-guided transcription factors. Nature 2024; 631:439-448. [PMID: 38926585 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07598-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Transposon-encoded tnpB and iscB genes encode RNA-guided DNA nucleases that promote their own selfish spread through targeted DNA cleavage and homologous recombination1-4. These widespread gene families were repeatedly domesticated over evolutionary timescales, leading to the emergence of diverse CRISPR-associated nucleases including Cas9 and Cas12 (refs. 5,6). We set out to test the hypothesis that TnpB nucleases may have also been repurposed for novel, unexpected functions other than CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity. Here, using phylogenetics, structural predictions, comparative genomics and functional assays, we uncover multiple independent genesis events of programmable transcription factors, which we name TnpB-like nuclease-dead repressors (TldRs). These proteins use naturally occurring guide RNAs to specifically target conserved promoter regions of the genome, leading to potent gene repression in a mechanism akin to CRISPR interference technologies invented by humans7. Focusing on a TldR clade found broadly in Enterobacteriaceae, we discover that bacteriophages exploit the combined action of TldR and an adjacently encoded phage gene to alter the expression and composition of the host flagellar assembly, a transformation with the potential to impact motility8, phage susceptibility9, and host immunity10. Collectively, this work showcases the diverse molecular innovations that were enabled through repeated exaptation of transposon-encoded genes, and reveals the evolutionary trajectory of diverse RNA-guided transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner Wiegand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Florian T Hoffmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matt W G Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Egill Richard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hoang C Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel H Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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7
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George NA, Zhou Z, Anantharaman K, Hug LA. Discarded diversity: Novel megaphages, auxiliary metabolic genes, and virally encoded CRISPR-Cas systems in landfills. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.30.596742. [PMID: 38854013 PMCID: PMC11160803 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.30.596742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Background Viruses are the most abundant microbial entity on the planet, impacting microbial community structure and ecosystem services. Despite outnumbering Bacteria and Archaea by an order of magnitude, viruses have been comparatively underrepresented in reference databases. Metagenomic examinations have illustrated that viruses of Bacteria and Archaea have been specifically understudied in engineered environments. Here we employed metagenomic and computational biology methods to examine the diversity, host interactions, and genetic systems of viruses predicted from 27 samples taken from three municipal landfills across North America. Results We identified numerous viruses that are not represented in reference databases, including the third largest bacteriophage genome identified to date (~678 kbp), and note a cosmopolitan diversity of viruses in landfills that are distinct from viromes in other systems. Host-virus interactions were examined via host CRISPR spacer to viral protospacer mapping which captured hyper-targeted viral populations and six viral populations predicted to infect across multiple phyla. Virally-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were identified with the potential to augment hosts' methane, sulfur, and contaminant degradation metabolisms, including AMGs not previously reported in literature. CRISPR arrays and CRISPR-Cas systems were identified from predicted viral genomes, including the two largest bacteriophage genomes to contain these genetic features. Some virally encoded Cas effector proteins appear distinct relative to previously reported Cas systems and are interesting targets for potential genome editing tools. Conclusions Our observations indicate landfills, as heterogeneous contaminated sites with unique selective pressures, are key locations for diverse viruses and atypical virus-host dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil A. George
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON, Canada
| | - Zhichao Zhou
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Laura A. Hug
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON, Canada
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8
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Feng X, Xu R, Liao J, Zhao J, Zhang B, Xu X, Zhao P, Wang X, Yao J, Wang P, Wang X, Han W, She Q. Flexible TAM requirement of TnpB enables efficient single-nucleotide editing with expanded targeting scope. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3464. [PMID: 38658536 PMCID: PMC11043419 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47697-4] [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: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
TnpBs encoded by the IS200/IS605 family transposon are among the most abundant prokaryotic proteins from which type V CRISPR-Cas nucleases may have evolved. Since bacterial TnpBs can be programmed for RNA-guided dsDNA cleavage in the presence of a transposon-adjacent motif (TAM), these nucleases hold immense promise for genome editing. However, the activity and targeting specificity of TnpB in homology-directed gene editing remain unknown. Here we report that a thermophilic archaeal TnpB enables efficient gene editing in the natural host. Interestingly, the TnpB has different TAM requirements for eliciting cell death and for facilitating gene editing. By systematically characterizing TAM variants, we reveal that the TnpB recognizes a broad range of TAM sequences for gene editing including those that do not elicit apparent cell death. Importantly, TnpB shows a very high targeting specificity on targets flanked by a weak TAM. Taking advantage of this feature, we successfully leverage TnpB for efficient single-nucleotide editing with templated repair. The use of different weak TAM sequences not only facilitates more flexible gene editing with increased cell survival, but also greatly expands targeting scopes, and this strategy is probably applicable to diverse CRISPR-Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Feng
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
| | - Ruyi Xu
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jianglan Liao
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jingyu Zhao
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Baochang Zhang
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Xu
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Pengpeng Zhao
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xiaoning Wang
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jianyun Yao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Pengxia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Wenyuan Han
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Qunxin She
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
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9
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Yoon PH, Skopintsev P, Shi H, Chen L, Adler BA, Al-Shimary M, Craig RJ, Loi KJ, DeTurk EC, Li Z, Amerasekera J, Trinidad M, Nisonoff H, Chen K, Lahiri A, Boger R, Jacobsen S, Banfield JF, Doudna JA. Eukaryotic RNA-guided endonucleases evolved from a unique clade of bacterial enzymes. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:12414-12427. [PMID: 37971304 PMCID: PMC10711439 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-guided endonucleases form the crux of diverse biological processes and technologies, including adaptive immunity, transposition, and genome editing. Some of these enzymes are components of insertion sequences (IS) in the IS200/IS605 and IS607 transposon families. Both IS families encode a TnpA transposase and a TnpB nuclease, an RNA-guided enzyme ancestral to CRISPR-Cas12s. In eukaryotes, TnpB homologs occur as two distinct types, Fanzor1s and Fanzor2s. We analyzed the evolutionary relationships between prokaryotic TnpBs and eukaryotic Fanzors, which revealed that both Fanzor1s and Fanzor2s stem from a single lineage of IS607 TnpBs with unusual active site arrangement. The widespread nature of Fanzors implies that the properties of this particular lineage of IS607 TnpBs were particularly suited to adaptation in eukaryotes. Biochemical analysis of an IS607 TnpB and Fanzor1s revealed common strategies employed by TnpBs and Fanzors to co-evolve with their cognate transposases. Collectively, our results provide a new model of sequential evolution from IS607 TnpBs to Fanzor2s, and Fanzor2s to Fanzor1s that details how genes of prokaryotic origin evolve to give rise to new protein families in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter H Yoon
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Petr Skopintsev
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Honglue Shi
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - LinXing Chen
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin A Adler
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Muntathar Al-Shimary
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Rory J Craig
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth J Loi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Evan C DeTurk
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jasmine Amerasekera
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marena Trinidad
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Hunter Nisonoff
- Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Arushi Lahiri
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ron Boger
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Steve Jacobsen
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles CA, USA
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
- Gladstone Institutes; San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology; San Francisco, CA, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA, USA
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10
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Koonin EV, Krupovic M. New faces of prokaryotic mobile genetic elements: guide RNAs link transposition with host defense mechanisms. CURRENT OPINION IN SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2023; 36:100473. [PMID: 37779558 PMCID: PMC10538440 DOI: 10.1016/j.coisb.2023.100473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Most life forms harbor multiple, diverse mobile genetic elements (MGE) that widely differ in their rates and mechanisms of mobility. Recent findings on two classes of MGE in prokaryotes revealed a novel mechanism, RNA-guided transposition, where a transposon-encoded guide RNA directs the transposase to a unique site in the host genome. Tn7-like transposons, on multiple occasions, recruited CRISPR systems that lost the capacity to cleave target DNA and instead mediate RNA-guided transposition via CRISPR RNA. Conversely, the abundant transposon-associated, RNA-guided nucleases IscB and TnpB that appear to promote proliferation of IS200/IS605 and IS607 transposons were the likely evolutionary ancestors of type II and type V CRISPR systems, respectively. Thus, RNA-guided target recognition is a major biological phenomenon that connects MGE with host defense mechanisms. More RNA-guided defensive and MGE-associated functionalities are likely to be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris
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11
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Wiegand T, Hoffmann FT, Walker MWG, Tang S, Richard E, Le HC, Meers C, Sternberg SH. Emergence of RNA-guided transcription factors via domestication of transposon-encoded TnpB nucleases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.30.569447. [PMID: 38076855 PMCID: PMC10705468 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.30.569447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Transposon-encoded tnpB genes encode RNA-guided DNA nucleases that promote their own selfish spread through targeted DNA cleavage and homologous recombination1-4. This widespread gene family was repeatedly domesticated over evolutionary timescales, leading to the emergence of diverse CRISPR-associated nucleases including Cas9 and Cas125,6. We set out to test the hypothesis that TnpB nucleases may have also been repurposed for novel, unexpected functions other than CRISPR-Cas. Here, using phylogenetics, structural predictions, comparative genomics, and functional assays, we uncover multiple instances of programmable transcription factors that we name TnpB-like nuclease-dead repressors (TldR). These proteins employ naturally occurring guide RNAs to specifically target conserved promoter regions of the genome, leading to potent gene repression in a mechanism akin to CRISPRi technologies invented by humans7. Focusing on a TldR clade found broadly in Enterobacteriaceae, we discover that bacteriophages exploit the combined action of TldR and an adjacently encoded phage gene to alter the expression and composition of the host flagellar assembly, a transformation with the potential to impact motility8, phage susceptibility9, and host immunity10. Collectively, this work showcases the diverse molecular innovations that were enabled through repeated exaptation of genes encoded by transposable elements, and reveals that RNA-guided transcription factors emerged long before the development of dCas9-based editors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner Wiegand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Florian T Hoffmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matt W G Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Egill Richard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hoang C Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel H Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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12
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Žedaveinytė R, Meers C, Le HC, Mortman EE, Tang S, Lampe GD, Pesari SR, Gelsinger DR, Wiegand T, Sternberg SH. Antagonistic conflict between transposon-encoded introns and guide RNAs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.20.567912. [PMID: 38045383 PMCID: PMC10690162 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.20.567912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
TnpB nucleases represent the evolutionary precursors to CRISPR-Cas12 and are widespread in all domains of life, presumably due to the critical roles they play in transposon proliferation. IS605family TnpB homologs function in bacteria as programmable homing endonucleases by exploiting transposon-encoded guide RNAs to cleave vacant genomic sites, thereby driving transposon maintenance through DSB-stimulated homologous recombination. Whether this pathway is conserved in other genetic contexts, and in association with other transposases, is unknown. Here we uncover molecular mechanisms of transposition and RNA-guided DNA cleavage by IS607-family elements that, remarkably, also encode catalytic, self-splicing group I introns. After reconstituting and systematically investigating each of these biochemical activities for a candidate 'IStron' derived from Clostridium botulinum, we discovered sequence and structural features of the transposon-encoded RNA that satisfy molecular requirements of a group I intron and TnpB guide RNA, while still retaining the ability to be faithfully mobilized at the DNA level by the TnpA transposase. Strikingly, intron splicing was strongly repressed not only by TnpB, but also by the secondary structure of ωRNA alone, allowing the element to carefully control the relative levels of spliced products versus functional guide RNAs. Our results suggest that IStron transcripts have evolved a sensitive equilibrium to balance competing and mutually exclusive activities that promote transposon maintenance while limiting adverse fitness costs on the host. Collectively, this work explains how diverse enzymatic activities emerged during the selfish spread of IS607-family elements and highlights molecular innovation in the multi-functional utility of transposon-encoded noncoding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimantė Žedaveinytė
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Hoang C. Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Edan E. Mortman
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - George D. Lampe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sanjana R. Pesari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
- Present address: Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Program, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Diego R. Gelsinger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Tanner Wiegand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Samuel H. Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University; New York, NY 10032, USA
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13
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Meers C, Le HC, Pesari SR, Hoffmann FT, Walker MWG, Gezelle J, Tang S, Sternberg SH. Transposon-encoded nucleases use guide RNAs to promote their selfish spread. Nature 2023; 622:863-871. [PMID: 37758954 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06597-1] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Insertion sequences are compact and pervasive transposable elements found in bacteria, which encode only the genes necessary for their mobilization and maintenance1. IS200- and IS605-family transposons undergo 'peel-and-paste' transposition catalysed by a TnpA transposase2, but they also encode diverse, TnpB- and IscB-family proteins that are evolutionarily related to the CRISPR-associated effectors Cas12 and Cas9, respectively3,4. Recent studies have demonstrated that TnpB and IscB function as RNA-guided DNA endonucleases5,6, but the broader biological role of this activity has remained enigmatic. Here we show that TnpB and IscB are essential to prevent permanent transposon loss as a consequence of the TnpA transposition mechanism. We selected a family of related insertion sequences from Geobacillus stearothermophilus that encode several TnpB and IscB orthologues, and showed that a single TnpA transposase was broadly active for transposon mobilization. The donor joints formed upon religation of transposon-flanking sequences were efficiently targeted for cleavage by RNA-guided TnpB and IscB nucleases, and co-expression of TnpB and TnpA led to substantially greater transposon retention relative to conditions in which TnpA was expressed alone. Notably, TnpA and TnpB also stimulated recombination frequencies, surpassing rates observed with TnpB alone. Collectively, this study reveals that RNA-guided DNA cleavage arose as a primal biochemical activity to bias the selfish inheritance and spread of transposable elements, which was later co-opted during the evolution of CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity for antiviral defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hoang C Le
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sanjana R Pesari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Program, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Florian T Hoffmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matt W G Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeanine Gezelle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel H Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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14
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Jiang K, Lim J, Sgrizzi S, Trinh M, Kayabolen A, Yutin N, Bao W, Kato K, Koonin EV, Gootenberg JS, Abudayyeh OO. Programmable RNA-guided DNA endonucleases are widespread in eukaryotes and their viruses. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadk0171. [PMID: 37756409 PMCID: PMC10530073 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Programmable RNA-guided DNA nucleases perform numerous roles in prokaryotes, but the extent of their spread outside prokaryotes is unclear. Fanzors, the eukaryotic homolog of prokaryotic TnpB proteins, have been detected in genomes of eukaryotes and large viruses, but their activity and functions in eukaryotes remain unknown. Here, we characterize Fanzors as RNA-programmable DNA endonucleases, using biochemical and cellular evidence. We found diverse Fanzors that frequently associate with various eukaryotic transposases. Reconstruction of Fanzors evolution revealed multiple radiations of RuvC-containing TnpB homologs in eukaryotes. Fanzor genes captured introns and proteins acquired nuclear localization signals, indicating extensive, long-term adaptation to functioning in eukaryotic cells. Fanzor nucleases contain a rearranged catalytic site of the RuvC domain, similar to a distinct subset of TnpBs, and lack collateral cleavage activity. We demonstrate that Fanzors can be harnessed for genome editing in human cells, highlighting the potential of these widespread eukaryotic RNA-guided nucleases for biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyi Jiang
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Justin Lim
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Samantha Sgrizzi
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Michael Trinh
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alisan Kayabolen
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Natalya Yutin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Weidong Bao
- Genetic Information Research Institute, 20380 Town Center Ln, Suite 240, Cupertino, CA, USA
| | - Kazuki Kato
- Structural Biology Division, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
- Department of Molecular and Mechanistic Immunology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Jonathan S. Gootenberg
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Omar O. Abudayyeh
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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15
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Karvelis T, Siksnys V. Fanzors: Mysterious TnpB-Like Bacterial Transposon-Related RNA-Guided DNA Nucleases of Eukaryotes. CRISPR J 2023; 6:310-312. [PMID: 37594268 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2023.29164.tka] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tautvydas Karvelis
- Department of Protein - DNA Interactions, Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Virginijus Siksnys
- Department of Protein - DNA Interactions, Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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16
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Jiang K, Lim J, Sgrizzi S, Trinh M, Kayabolen A, Yutin N, Koonin EV, Abudayyeh OO, Gootenberg JS. Programmable RNA-guided endonucleases are widespread in eukaryotes and their viruses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544871. [PMID: 37398409 PMCID: PMC10312701 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
TnpB proteins are RNA-guided nucleases that are broadly associated with IS200/605 family transposons in prokaryotes. TnpB homologs, named Fanzors, have been detected in genomes of some eukaryotes and large viruses, but their activity and functions in eukaryotes remain unknown. We searched genomes of diverse eukaryotes and their viruses for TnpB homologs and identified numerous putative RNA-guided nucleases that are often associated with various transposases, suggesting they are encoded in mobile genetic elements. Reconstruction of the evolution of these nucleases, which we rename Horizontally-transferred Eukaryotic RNA-guided Mobile Element Systems (HERMES), revealed multiple acquisitions of TnpBs by eukaryotes and subsequent diversification. In their adaptation and spread in eukaryotes, HERMES proteins acquired nuclear localization signals, and genes captured introns, indicating extensive, long term adaptation to functioning in eukaryotic cells. Biochemical and cellular evidence show that HERMES employ non-coding RNAs encoded adjacent to the nuclease for RNA-guided cleavage of double-stranded DNA. HERMES nucleases contain a re-arranged catalytic site of the RuvC domain, similar to a distinct subset of TnpBs, and lack collateral cleavage activity. We demonstrate that HERMES can be harnessed for genome editing in human cells, highlighting the potential of these widespread eukaryotic RNA-guided nucleases for biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyi Jiang
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Justin Lim
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Samantha Sgrizzi
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Michael Trinh
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alisan Kayabolen
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Natalya Yutin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Omar O. Abudayyeh
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jonathan S. Gootenberg
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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