Primed CRISPR DNA uptake in Pyrococcus furiosus

Histones direct site-specific CRISPR spacer acquisition in model archaeon

CRISPR-Cas systems provide heritable immunity against viruses and other mobile genetic elements by incorporating fragments of invader DNA into the host CRISPR array as spacers. Integration of new spacers is localized to the 5' end of the array, and in certain Gram-negative Bacteria this polarized localization is accomplished by the integration host factor. For most other Bacteria and Archaea, the mechanism for 5' end localization is unknown. Here we show that archaeal histones play a key role in directing integration of CRISPR spacers. In Pyrococcus furiosus, deletion of either histone A or B impairs integration. In vitro, purified histones are sufficient to direct integration to the 5' end of the CRISPR array. Archaeal histone tetramers and bacterial integration host factor induce similar U-turn bends in bound DNA. These findings indicate a co-evolution of CRISPR arrays with chromosomal DNA binding proteins and a widespread role for binding and bending of DNA to facilitate accurate spacer integration.

Host nucleases generate prespacers for primed adaptation in the E. coli type I-E CRISPR-Cas system

CRISPR-Cas systems provide prokaryotes with adaptive immunity against foreign nucleic acids. In Escherichia coli, immunity is acquired upon integration of 33-bp spacers into CRISPR arrays. DNA targets complementary to spacers get degraded and serve as a source of new spacers during a process called primed adaptation. Precursors of such spacers, prespacers, are ~33-bp double-stranded DNA fragments with a ~4-nt 3' overhang. The mechanism of prespacer generation is not clear. Here, we use FragSeq and biochemical approaches to determine enzymes involved in generation of defined prespacer ends. We demonstrate that RecJ is the main exonuclease trimming 5' ends of prespacer precursors, although its activity can be partially substituted by ExoVII. The RecBCD complex allows single strand-specific RecJ to process double-stranded regions flanking prespacers. Our results reveal intricate functional interactions of genome maintenance proteins with CRISPR interference and adaptation machineries during generation of prespacers capable of integration into CRISPR arrays.

Hyper-stimulation of Pyrococcus furiosus CRISPR DNA uptake by a self-transmissible plasmid

Pyrococcus furiosus is a hyperthermophilic archaeon with three effector CRISPR complexes (types I-A, I-B, and III-B) that each employ crRNAs derived from seven CRISPR arrays. Here, we investigate the CRISPR adaptation response to a newly discovered and self-transmissible plasmid, pT33.3. Transconjugant strains of Pyrococcus furiosus exhibited dramatically elevated levels of new spacer integration at CRISPR loci relative to the strain harboring a commonly employed, laboratory-constructed plasmid. High-throughput sequence analysis demonstrated that the vast majority of the newly acquired spacers were preferentially selected from DNA surrounding a particular region of the pT33.3 plasmid and exhibited a bi-directional pattern of strand bias that is a hallmark of primed adaptation by type I systems. We observed that one of the CRISPR arrays of our Pyrococcus furiosus laboratory strain encodes a spacer that closely matches the region of the conjugative plasmid that is targeted for adaptation. The hyper-adaptation phenotype was found to strictly depend both on the presence of this single matching spacer as well as the I-B effector complex, known to mediate primed adaptation. Our results indicate that Pyrococcus furiosus naturally encountered this conjugative plasmid or a related mobile genetic element in the past and responds to reinfection with robust primed adaptation.

Allosteric control of type I-A CRISPR-Cas3 complexes and establishment as effective nucleic acid detection and human genome editing tools

Type I CRISPR-Cas systems typically rely on a two-step process to degrade DNA. First, an RNA-guided complex named Cascade identifies the complementary DNA target. The helicase-nuclease fusion enzyme Cas3 is then recruited in trans for processive DNA degradation. Contrary to this model, here, we show that type I-A Cascade and Cas3 function as an integral effector complex. We provide four cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) snapshots of the Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu) type I-A effector complex in different stages of DNA recognition and degradation. The HD nuclease of Cas3 is autoinhibited inside the effector complex. It is only allosterically activated upon full R-loop formation, when the entire targeted region has been validated by the RNA guide. The mechanistic insights inspired us to convert Pfu Cascade-Cas3 into a high-sensitivity, low-background, and temperature-activated nucleic acid detection tool. Moreover, Pfu CRISPR-Cas3 shows robust bi-directional deletion-editing activity in human cells, which could find usage in allele-specific inactivation of disease-causing mutations.

Assembly of Cas7 subunits of Leptospira on the mature crRNA of CRISPR-Cas I-B is modulated by divalent ions

The spirochete Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni harbors the genetic elements of the CRISPR-Cas type I-B system in its genome. CRISPR-Cas is a CRISPR RNA (crRNA) mediated adaptive immune system in most prokaryotes against mobile genetic elements (MGEs). To eliminate the intruding MGEs, CRISPR-Cas type I systems utilize a Cascade (CRISPR-associated complex for antiviral defense) complex composed of Cas5, Cas6, Cas7, and Cas8 bound with a crRNA. The Cas7 is essentially known to constitute the major component of the Cascade complex. The present study reports the biochemical characterization of the Cas7 (LinCas7) from the CRISPR-Cas type I-B system of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni. The pure recombinant LinCas7 (rLinCas7) exists as a monomer in the solution by size exclusion chromatography. The rLinCas7 demonstrates an endoDNase activity dependent upon divalent Mg²⁺ ions, monovalent ions, pH, temperature, and substrate size. Analysis of ribonucleoprotein composite (rLinCas7-crRNA) by electron microscopy and native-PAGE demonstrated that rLinCas7 could oligomerize on the mature CRISPR RNA (crRNA) framework in the presence of Mg²⁺ ions. The ribonucleoprotein composite attains a helical shape similar to the backbone of the Cascade complex. However, in the absence of Mg²⁺ ions, rLinCas7 acts as an RNase. The fluorescence spectroscopy disclosed a weak interaction (K_d = 26.81 mM) between rLinCas7 and Mg²⁺ ions, leading to an overall conformational change in rLinCas7 that modulates the rLinCas7's activity on DNA and RNA substrates. The nuclease activity of LinCas7 characterized in this study aids to the functional divergences among proteins of the Cas7 family from different CRISPR-Cas systems in various organisms.

Adaptation by Type III CRISPR-Cas Systems: Breakthrough Findings and Open Questions

CRISPR-Cas systems acquire heritable defense memory against invading nucleic acids through adaptation. Type III CRISPR-Cas systems have unique and intriguing features of defense and are important in method development for Genetics research. We started to understand the common and unique properties of type III CRISPR-Cas adaptation in recent years. This review summarizes our knowledge regarding CRISPR-Cas adaptation with the emphasis on type III systems and discusses open questions for type III adaptation studies.

Unique properties of spacer acquisition by the type III-A CRISPR-Cas system

Type III CRISPR-Cas systems have a unique mode of interference, involving crRNA-guided recognition of nascent RNA and leading to DNA and RNA degradation. How type III systems acquire new CRISPR spacers is currently not well understood. Here, we characterize CRISPR spacer uptake by a type III-A system within its native host, Streptococcus thermophilus. Adaptation by the type II-A system in the same host provided a basis for comparison. Cas1 and Cas2 proteins were critical for type III adaptation but deletion of genes responsible for crRNA biogenesis or interference did not detectably change spacer uptake patterns, except those related to host counter-selection. Unlike the type II-A system, type III spacers are acquired in a PAM- and orientation-independent manner. Interestingly, certain regions of plasmids and the host genome were particularly well-sampled during type III-A, but not type II-A, spacer uptake. These regions included the single-stranded origins of rolling-circle replicating plasmids, rRNA and tRNA encoding gene clusters, promoter regions of expressed genes and 5′ UTR regions involved in transcription attenuation. These features share the potential to form DNA secondary structures, suggesting a preferred substrate for type III adaptation. Lastly, the type III-A system adapted to and protected host cells from lytic phage infection.

Protospacer-Adjacent Motif Specificity during Clostridioides difficile Type I-B CRISPR-Cas Interference and Adaptation

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) systems provide prokaryotes with efficient protection against foreign nucleic acid invaders. We have recently demonstrated the defensive interference function of a CRISPR-Cas system from Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, a major human enteropathogen, and showed that it could be harnessed for efficient genome editing in this bacterium. However, molecular details are still missing on CRISPR-Cas function for adaptation and sequence requirements for both interference and new spacer acquisition in this pathogen. Despite accumulating knowledge on the individual CRISPR-Cas systems in various prokaryotes, no data are available on the adaptation process in bacterial type I-B CRISPR-Cas systems. Here, we report the first experimental evidence that the C. difficile type I-B CRISPR-Cas system acquires new spacers upon overexpression of its adaptation module. The majority of new spacers are derived from a plasmid expressing Cas proteins required for adaptation or from regions of the C. difficile genome where generation of free DNA termini is expected. Results from protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) library experiments and plasmid conjugation efficiency assays indicate that C. difficile CRISPR-Cas requires the YCN consensus PAM for efficient interference. We revealed a functional link between the adaptation and interference machineries, since newly adapted spacers are derived from sequences associated with a CCN PAM, which fits the interference consensus. The definition of functional PAMs and establishment of relative activity levels of each of the multiple C. difficile CRISPR arrays in present study are necessary for further CRISPR-based biotechnological and medical applications involving this organism. IMPORTANCE CRISPR-Cas systems provide prokaryotes with adaptive immunity for defense against foreign nucleic acid invaders, such as viruses or phages and plasmids. The CRISPR-Cas systems are highly diverse, and detailed studies of individual CRISPR-Cas subtypes are important for our understanding of various aspects of microbial adaptation strategies and for the potential applications. The significance of our work is in providing the first experimental evidence for type I-B CRISPR-Cas system adaptation in the emerging human enteropathogen Clostridioides difficile. This bacterium needs to survive in phage-rich gut communities, and its active CRISPR-Cas system might provide efficient antiphage defense by acquiring new spacers that constitute memory for further invader elimination. Our study also reveals a functional link between the adaptation and interference CRISPR machineries. The definition of all possible functional trinucleotide motifs upstream protospacers within foreign nucleic acid sequences is important for CRISPR-based genome editing in this pathogen and for developing new drugs against C. difficile infections.

Microbial Arsenal of Antiviral Defenses. Part II

Bacteriophages or phages are viruses that infect bacterial cells (for the scope of this review we will also consider viruses that infect Archaea). The constant threat of phage infection is a major force that shapes evolution of microbial genomes. To withstand infection, bacteria had evolved numerous strategies to avoid recognition by phages or to directly interfere with phage propagation inside the cell. Classical molecular biology and genetic engineering had been deeply intertwined with the study of phages and host defenses. Nowadays, owing to the rise of phage therapy, broad application of CRISPR-Cas technologies, and development of bioinformatics approaches that facilitate discovery of new systems, phage biology experiences a revival. This review describes variety of strategies employed by microbes to counter phage infection. In the first part defense associated with cell surface, roles of small molecules, and innate immunity systems relying on DNA modification were discussed. The second part focuses on adaptive immunity systems, abortive infection mechanisms, defenses associated with mobile genetic elements, and novel systems discovered in recent years through metagenomic mining.

CRISPR-Associated Primase-Polymerases are implicated in prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas adaptation

CRISPR-Cas pathways provide prokaryotes with acquired “immunity” against foreign genetic elements, including phages and plasmids. Although many of the proteins associated with CRISPR-Cas mechanisms are characterized, some requisite enzymes remain elusive. Genetic studies have implicated host DNA polymerases in some CRISPR-Cas systems but CRISPR-specific replicases have not yet been discovered. We have identified and characterised a family of CRISPR-Associated Primase-Polymerases (CAPPs) in a range of prokaryotes that are operonically associated with Cas1 and Cas2. CAPPs belong to the Primase-Polymerase (Prim-Pol) superfamily of replicases that operate in various DNA repair and replication pathways that maintain genome stability. Here, we characterise the DNA synthesis activities of bacterial CAPP homologues from Type IIIA and IIIB CRISPR-Cas systems and establish that they possess a range of replicase activities including DNA priming, polymerisation and strand-displacement. We demonstrate that CAPPs operonically-associated partners, Cas1 and Cas2, form a complex that possesses spacer integration activity. We show that CAPPs physically associate with the Cas proteins to form bespoke CRISPR-Cas complexes. Finally, we propose how CAPPs activities, in conjunction with their partners, may function to undertake key roles in CRISPR-Cas adaptation.

CAPPs are putative Primase-Polymerases associated with CRISPR-Cas operons. Here, the authors show CAPPs genetic and physical association with Cas1 and Cas2, their capacity to function as DNA-dependent DNA primases and DNA polymerases, and that Cas1-Cas2 complex adjacent to CAPP has bona fide spacer integration activity.

Prespacers formed during primed adaptation associate with the Cas1-Cas2 adaptation complex and the Cas3 interference nuclease-helicase

Primed adaptation allows rapid acquisition of protective spacers derived from foreign mobile genetic elements into CRISPR arrays of the host. Primed adaptation requires ongoing CRISPR interference that destroys foreign genetic elements, but the nature of this requirement is unknown. Using the Escherichia coli I-E CRISPR-Cas as a model, we show that prespacers, short fragments of foreign DNA on their way to become incorporated into CRISPR arrays as spacers, are associated with both the adaptation integrase Cas1 and the interference nuclease Cas3, implying physical association of the interference and adaptation machineries during priming.

For Type I CRISPR-Cas systems, a mode of CRISPR adaptation named priming has been described. Priming allows specific and highly efficient acquisition of new spacers from DNA recognized (primed) by the Cascade-crRNA (CRISPR RNA) effector complex. Recognition of the priming protospacer by Cascade-crRNA serves as a signal for engaging the Cas3 nuclease–helicase required for both interference and primed adaptation, suggesting the existence of a primed adaptation complex (PAC) containing the Cas1–Cas2 adaptation integrase and Cas3. To detect this complex in vivo, we here performed chromatin immunoprecipitation with Cas3-specific and Cas1-specific antibodies using cells undergoing primed adaptation. We found that prespacers are bound by both Cas1 (presumably, as part of the Cas1–Cas2 integrase) and Cas3, implying direct physical association of the interference and adaptation machineries as part of PAC.

Virus-induced cell gigantism and asymmetric cell division in archaea

Archaeal viruses represent one of the most mysterious parts of the global virosphere, with many virus groups sharing no evolutionary relationship to viruses of bacteria or eukaryotes. How these viruses interact with their hosts remains largely unexplored. Here we show that nonlytic lemon-shaped virus STSV2 interferes with the cell cycle control of its host, hyperthermophilic and acidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus islandicus, arresting the cell cycle in the S phase. STSV2 infection leads to transcriptional repression of the cell division machinery, which is homologous to the eukaryotic endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) system. The infected cells grow up to 20-fold larger in size, have 8,000-fold larger volume compared to noninfected cells, and accumulate massive amounts of viral and cellular DNA. Whereas noninfected Sulfolobus cells divide symmetrically by binary fission, the STSV2-infected cells undergo asymmetric division, whereby giant cells release normal-sized cells by budding, resembling the division of budding yeast. Reinfection of the normal-sized cells produces a new generation of giant cells. If the CRISPR-Cas system is present, the giant cells acquire virus-derived spacers and terminate the virus spread, whereas in its absence, the cycle continues, suggesting that CRISPR-Cas is the primary defense system in Sulfolobus against STSV2. Collectively, our results show how an archaeal virus manipulates the cell cycle, transforming the cell into a giant virion-producing factory.

Pruning and Tending Immune Memories: Spacer Dynamics in the CRISPR Array

CRISPR-Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-associated genes) is a type of prokaryotic immune system that is unique in its ability to provide sequence-specific adaptive protection, which can be updated in response to new threats. CRISPR-Cas does this by storing fragments of DNA from invading genetic elements in an array interspersed with short repeats. The CRISPR array can be continuously updated through integration of new DNA fragments (termed spacers) at one end, but over time existing spacers become obsolete. To optimize immunity, spacer uptake, residency, and loss must be regulated. This mini-review summarizes what is known about how spacers are organized, maintained, and lost from CRISPR arrays.

Mechanisms of spacer acquisition by sequential assembly of the adaptation module in Synechocystis

CRISPR–Cas immune systems process and integrate short fragments of DNA from new invaders as spacers into the host CRISPR locus to establish molecular memory of prior infection, which is also known as adaptation in the field. Some CRISPR–Cas systems rely on Cas1 and Cas2 to complete the adaptation process, which has been characterized in a few systems. In contrast, many other CRISPR–Cas systems require an additional factor of Cas4 for efficient adaptation, the mechanism of which remains less understood. Here we present biochemical reconstitution of the Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 type I-D adaptation system, X-ray crystal structures of Cas1–Cas2–prespacer complexes, and negative stained electron microscopy structure of the Cas4–Cas1 complex. Cas4 and Cas2 compete with each other to interact with Cas1. In the absence of prespacer, Cas4 but not Cas2 assembles with Cas1 into a very stable complex for processing the prespacer. Strikingly, the Cas1-prespacer complex develops a higher binding affinity toward Cas2 to form the Cas1–Cas2–prespacer ternary complex for integration. Together, we show a two-step sequential assembly mechanism for the type I-D adaptation module of Synechocystis, in which Cas4–Cas1 and Cas1–Cas2 function as two exclusive complexes for prespacer processing, capture, and integration.

Heavily Armed Ancestors: CRISPR Immunity and Applications in Archaea with a Comparative Analysis of CRISPR Types in Sulfolobales

Prokaryotes are constantly coping with attacks by viruses in their natural environments and therefore have evolved an impressive array of defense systems. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is an adaptive immune system found in the majority of archaea and about half of bacteria which stores pieces of infecting viral DNA as spacers in genomic CRISPR arrays to reuse them for specific virus destruction upon a second wave of infection. In detail, small CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) are transcribed from CRISPR arrays and incorporated into type-specific CRISPR effector complexes which further degrade foreign nucleic acids complementary to the crRNA. This review gives an overview of CRISPR immunity to newcomers in the field and an update on CRISPR literature in archaea by comparing the functional mechanisms and abundances of the diverse CRISPR types. A bigger fraction is dedicated to the versatile and prevalent CRISPR type III systems, as tremendous progress has been made recently using archaeal models in discerning the controlled molecular mechanisms of their unique tripartite mode of action including RNA interference, DNA interference and the unique cyclic-oligoadenylate signaling that induces promiscuous RNA shredding by CARF-domain ribonucleases. The second half of the review spotlights CRISPR in archaea outlining seminal in vivo and in vitro studies in model organisms of the euryarchaeal and crenarchaeal phyla, including the application of CRISPR-Cas for genome editing and gene silencing. In the last section, a special focus is laid on members of the crenarchaeal hyperthermophilic order Sulfolobales by presenting a thorough comparative analysis about the distribution and abundance of CRISPR-Cas systems, including arrays and spacers as well as CRISPR-accessory proteins in all 53 genomes available to date. Interestingly, we find that CRISPR type III and the DNA-degrading CRISPR type I complexes co-exist in more than two thirds of these genomes. Furthermore, we identified ring nuclease candidates in all but two genomes and found that they generally co-exist with the above-mentioned CARF domain ribonucleases Csx1/Csm6. These observations, together with published literature allowed us to draft a working model of how CRISPR-Cas systems and accessory proteins cross talk to establish native CRISPR anti-virus immunity in a Sulfolobales cell.

Reproducible Antigen Recognition by the Type I-F CRISPR-Cas System

CRISPR-associated proteins 1 and 2 (Cas1-2) are necessary and sufficient for new spacer acquisition in some CRISPR-Cas systems (e.g., type I-E), but adaptation in other systems (e.g., type II-A) involves the crRNA-guided surveillance complex. Here we show that the type I-F Cas1-2/3 proteins are necessary and sufficient to produce low levels of spacer acquisition, but the presence of the type I-F crRNA-guided surveillance complex (Csy) improves the efficiency of adaptation and significantly increases the fidelity of protospacer adjacent motif selection. Sequences selected for integration are preferentially derived from specific regions of extrachromosomal DNA, and patterns of spacer selection are highly reproducible between independent biological replicates. This work helps define the role of the Csy complex in I-F adaptation and reveals that actively replicating mobile genetic elements have antigenic signatures that facilitate their integration during CRISPR adaptation.

Adaptation induced by self-targeting in a type I-B CRISPR-Cas system

Haloferax volcanii is, to our knowledge, the only prokaryote known to tolerate CRISPR-Cas-mediated damage to its genome in the WT background; the resulting cleavage of the genome is repaired by homologous recombination restoring the WT version. In mutant Haloferax strains with enhanced self-targeting, cell fitness decreases and microhomology-mediated end joining becomes active, generating deletions in the targeted gene. Here we use self-targeting to investigate adaptation in H. volcanii CRISPR-Cas type I-B. We show that self-targeting and genome breakage events that are induced by self-targeting, such as those catalyzed by active transposases, can generate DNA fragments that are used by the CRISPR-Cas adaptation machinery for integration into the CRISPR loci. Low cellular concentrations of self-targeting crRNAs resulted in acquisition of large numbers of spacers originating from the entire genomic DNA. In contrast, high concentrations of self-targeting crRNAs resulted in lower acquisition that was mostly centered on the targeting site. Furthermore, we observed naïve spacer acquisition at a low level in WT Haloferax cells and with higher efficiency upon overexpression of the Cas proteins Cas1, Cas2, and Cas4. Taken together, these findings indicate that naïve adaptation is a regulated process in H. volcanii that operates at low basal levels and is induced by DNA breaks.