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Agapov A, Panteleev V, Kropocheva E, Kanevskaya A, Esyunina D, Kulbachinskiy A. Prokaryotic Argonaute nuclease cooperates with co-encoded RNase to acquire guide RNAs and target invader DNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:5895-5911. [PMID: 38716875 PMCID: PMC11162769 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Argonautes are an evolutionary conserved family of programmable nucleases that identify target nucleic acids using small guide oligonucleotides. In contrast to eukaryotic Argonautes (eAgos) that act on RNA, most studied prokaryotic Argonautes (pAgos) recognize DNA targets. Similarly to eAgos, pAgos can protect prokaryotic cells from invaders, but the biogenesis of guide oligonucleotides that confer them specificity to their targets remains poorly understood. Here, we have identified a new group of RNA-guided pAgo nucleases and demonstrated that a representative pAgo from this group, AmAgo from the mesophilic bacterium Alteromonas macleodii, binds guide RNAs of varying lengths for specific DNA targeting. Unlike most pAgos and eAgos, AmAgo is strictly specific to hydroxylated RNA guides containing a 5'-adenosine. AmAgo and related pAgos are co-encoded with a conserved RNA endonuclease from the HEPN superfamily (Ago-associated protein, Agap-HEPN). In vitro, Agap cleaves RNA between guanine and adenine nucleotides producing hydroxylated 5'-A guide oligonucleotides bound by AmAgo. In vivo, Agap cooperates with AmAgo in acquiring guide RNAs and counteracting bacteriophage infection. The AmAgo-Agap pair represents the first example of a pAgo system that autonomously produces RNA guides for DNA targeting and antiviral defense, which holds promise for programmable DNA targeting in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksei Agapov
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Vladimir Panteleev
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141700, Russia
| | | | - Anna Kanevskaya
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141700, Russia
| | - Daria Esyunina
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
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Gómez‐Campo CL, Abdelmoteleb A, Pulido V, Gost M, Sánchez‐Hevia DL, Berenguer J, Mencía M. Differential requirement for RecFOR pathway components in Thermus thermophilus. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 16:e13269. [PMID: 38822640 PMCID: PMC11143384 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Recombinational repair is an important mechanism that allows DNA replication to overcome damaged templates, so the DNA is duplicated timely and correctly. The RecFOR pathway is one of the common ways to load RecA, while the RuvABC complex operates in the resolution of DNA intermediates. We have generated deletions of recO, recR and ruvB genes in Thermus thermophilus, while a recF null mutant could not be obtained. The recO deletion was in all cases accompanied by spontaneous loss of function mutations in addA or addB genes, which encode a helicase-exonuclease also key for recombination. The mutants were moderately affected in viability and chromosome segregation. When we generated these mutations in a Δppol/addAB strain, we observed that the transformation efficiency was maintained at the typical level of Δppol/addAB, which is 100-fold higher than that of the wild type. Most mutants showed increased filamentation phenotypes, especially ruvB, which also had DNA repair defects. These results suggest that in T. thermophilus (i) the components of the RecFOR pathway have differential roles, (ii) there is an epistatic relationship of the AddAB complex over the RecFOR pathway and (iii) that neither of the two pathways or their combination is strictly required for viability although they are necessary for normal DNA repair and chromosome segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina L. Gómez‐Campo
- Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP)Polytechnic University of MadridMadridSpain
| | - Ali Abdelmoteleb
- Department of Molecular BiologyScience Faculty, Center for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CBM), Autonomous University of Madrid‐Higher Council of Scientific Research (CSIC)MadridSpain
- Department of Botany, Faculty of AgricultureMenoufia UniversityShebin El‐KomEgypt
| | - Verónica Pulido
- Department of Molecular BiologyScience Faculty, Center for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CBM), Autonomous University of Madrid‐Higher Council of Scientific Research (CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Marc Gost
- Department of Molecular BiologyScience Faculty, Center for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CBM), Autonomous University of Madrid‐Higher Council of Scientific Research (CSIC)MadridSpain
| | | | - José Berenguer
- Department of Molecular BiologyScience Faculty, Center for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CBM), Autonomous University of Madrid‐Higher Council of Scientific Research (CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Mario Mencía
- Department of Molecular BiologyScience Faculty, Center for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CBM), Autonomous University of Madrid‐Higher Council of Scientific Research (CSIC)MadridSpain
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Finocchio G, Koopal B, Potocnik A, Heijstek C, Westphal AH, Jinek M, Swarts DC. Target DNA-dependent activation mechanism of the prokaryotic immune system SPARTA. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:2012-2029. [PMID: 38224450 PMCID: PMC10899771 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In both prokaryotic and eukaryotic innate immune systems, TIR domains function as NADases that degrade the key metabolite NAD+ or generate signaling molecules. Catalytic activation of TIR domains requires oligomerization, but how this is achieved varies in distinct immune systems. In the Short prokaryotic Argonaute (pAgo)/TIR-APAZ (SPARTA) immune system, TIR NADase activity is triggered upon guide RNA-mediated recognition of invading DNA by an unknown mechanism. Here, we describe cryo-EM structures of SPARTA in the inactive monomeric and target DNA-activated tetrameric states. The monomeric SPARTA structure reveals that in the absence of target DNA, a C-terminal tail of TIR-APAZ occupies the nucleic acid binding cleft formed by the pAgo and TIR-APAZ subunits, inhibiting SPARTA activation. In the active tetrameric SPARTA complex, guide RNA-mediated target DNA binding displaces the C-terminal tail and induces conformational changes in pAgo that facilitate SPARTA-SPARTA dimerization. Concurrent release and rotation of one TIR domain allow it to form a composite NADase catalytic site with the other TIR domain within the dimer, and generate a self-complementary interface that mediates cooperative tetramerization. Combined, this study provides critical insights into the structural architecture of SPARTA and the molecular mechanism underlying target DNA-dependent oligomerization and catalytic activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Finocchio
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Balwina Koopal
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University, 6708 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ana Potocnik
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University, 6708 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Clint Heijstek
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University, 6708 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Adrie H Westphal
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University, 6708 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daan C Swarts
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University, 6708 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Beskrovnaia M, Agapov A, Makasheva K, Zharkov DO, Esyunina D, Kulbachinskiy A. Sensing of DNA modifications by pAgo proteins in vitro. Biochimie 2023; 220:39-47. [PMID: 38128776 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.12.006] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Many prokaryotic Argonaute (pAgo) proteins act as programmable nucleases that use small guide DNAs for recognition and cleavage of complementary target DNA. Recent studies suggested that pAgos participate in cell defense against invader DNA and may also be involved in other genetic processes, including DNA replication and repair. The ability of pAgos to recognize specific targets potentially make them an invaluable tool for DNA manipulations. Here, we demonstrate that DNA-guided DNA-targeting pAgo nucleases from three bacterial species, DloAgo from Dorea longicatena, CbAgo from Clostridium butyricum and KmAgo from Kurthia massiliensis, can sense site-specific modifications in the target DNA, including 8-oxoguanine, thymine glycol, ethenoadenine and pyrimidine dimers. The effects of DNA modifications on the activity of pAgos strongly depend on their positions relative to the site of cleavage and are comparable to or exceed the effects of guide-target mismatches at corresponding positions. For all tested pAgos, the strongest effects are observed when DNA lesions are located at the cleavage position. The results demonstrate that DNA cleavage by pAgos is strongly affected by DNA modifications, thus making possible their use as sensors of DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aleksei Agapov
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Kristina Makasheva
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Dmitry O Zharkov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Daria Esyunina
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
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Taton A, Gilderman TS, Ernst DC, Omaga CA, Cohen LA, Rey-Bedon C, Golden JW, Golden SS. Synechococcus elongatus Argonaute reduces natural transformation efficiency and provides immunity against exogenous plasmids. mBio 2023; 14:e0184323. [PMID: 37791787 PMCID: PMC10653904 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01843-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE S. elongatus is an important cyanobacterial model organism for the study of its prokaryotic circadian clock, photosynthesis, and other biological processes. It is also widely used for genetic engineering to produce renewable biochemicals. Our findings reveal an SeAgo-based defense mechanism in S. elongatus against the horizontal transfer of genetic material. We demonstrate that deletion of the ago gene facilitates genetic studies and genetic engineering of S. elongatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Taton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Tami S. Gilderman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Dustin C. Ernst
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Carla A. Omaga
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Lucas A. Cohen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Camilo Rey-Bedon
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - James W. Golden
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Susan S. Golden
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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