1
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Hussain MS, Anand V, Kumar M. Functional PAM sequence for DNA interference by CRISPR-Cas I-B system of Leptospira interrogans and the role of LinCas11b encoded within lincas8b. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 237:124086. [PMID: 36940764 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124086] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic species of Leptospira are recalcitrant for genetic manipulation using conventional tools, and therefore there is a need to explore techniques of higher efficiency. Application of endogenous CRISPR-Cas tool is emerging and efficient; nevertheless, it is limited by a poor understanding of interference machinery in the bacterial genome and its associated protospacer adjacent motif (PAM). In this study, interference machinery of CRISPR-Cas subtype I-B (Lin_I-B) from L. interrogans was experimentally validated in E. coli using the various identified PAM (TGA, ATG, ATA). The overexpression of the Lin_I-B interference machinery in E. coli demonstrated that LinCas5, LinCas6, LinCas7, and LinCas8b can self-assemble on cognate CRISPR RNA to form an interference complex (LinCascade). Moreover, a robust interference of target plasmids containing a protospacer with a PAM suggested a functional LinCascade. We also recognized a small open reading frame within lincas8b that independently co-translates LinCas11b. A mutant variant of LinCascade-Cas11b that lacks LinCas11b co-expression erred to mount target plasmid interference. At the same time, LinCas11b complementation in LinCascade-Cas11b rescued target plasmid interference. Thus, the present study establishes Leptospira subtype I-B interference machinery to be functional and, soon, may pave the way for scientists to harness it as a programmable endogenous genetic manipulation tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Saddam Hussain
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - Vineet Anand
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India.
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2
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Isaev AB, Musharova OS, Severinov KV. Microbial Arsenal of Antiviral Defenses. Part II. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2021; 86:449-470. [PMID: 33941066 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921040064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem B Isaev
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo, Moscow, 143028, Russia.
| | - Olga S Musharova
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo, Moscow, 143028, Russia. .,Institute of Molecular Genetics, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Konstantin V Severinov
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo, Moscow, 143028, Russia. .,Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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3
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Thompson MK, Sobol RW, Prakash A. Exploiting DNA Endonucleases to Advance Mechanisms of DNA Repair. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:530. [PMID: 34198612 PMCID: PMC8232306 DOI: 10.3390/biology10060530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The earliest methods of genome editing, such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), utilize customizable DNA-binding motifs to target the genome at specific loci. While these approaches provided sequence-specific gene-editing capacity, the laborious process of designing and synthesizing recombinant nucleases to recognize a specific target sequence, combined with limited target choices and poor editing efficiency, ultimately minimized the broad utility of these systems. The discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat sequences (CRISPR) in Escherichia coli dates to 1987, yet it was another 20 years before CRISPR and the CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins were identified as part of the microbial adaptive immune system, by targeting phage DNA, to fight bacteriophage reinfection. By 2013, CRISPR/Cas9 systems had been engineered to allow gene editing in mammalian cells. The ease of design, low cytotoxicity, and increased efficiency have made CRISPR/Cas9 and its related systems the designer nucleases of choice for many. In this review, we discuss the various CRISPR systems and their broad utility in genome manipulation. We will explore how CRISPR-controlled modifications have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms of genome stability, using the modulation of DNA repair genes as examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlo K. Thompson
- Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Health, Mobile, AL 36604, USA; (M.K.T.); (R.W.S.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Robert W. Sobol
- Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Health, Mobile, AL 36604, USA; (M.K.T.); (R.W.S.)
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Aishwarya Prakash
- Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Health, Mobile, AL 36604, USA; (M.K.T.); (R.W.S.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
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4
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Koonin EV, Makarova KS. Origins and evolution of CRISPR-Cas systems. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20180087. [PMID: 30905284 PMCID: PMC6452270 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas, the bacterial and archaeal adaptive immunity systems, encompass a complex machinery that integrates fragments of foreign nucleic acids, mostly from mobile genetic elements (MGE), into CRISPR arrays embedded in microbial genomes. Transcripts of the inserted segments (spacers) are employed by CRISPR-Cas systems as guide (g)RNAs for recognition and inactivation of the cognate targets. The CRISPR-Cas systems consist of distinct adaptation and effector modules whose evolutionary trajectories appear to be at least partially independent. Comparative genome analysis reveals the origin of the adaptation module from casposons, a distinct type of transposons, which employ a homologue of Cas1 protein, the integrase responsible for the spacer incorporation into CRISPR arrays, as the transposase. The origin of the effector module(s) is far less clear. The CRISPR-Cas systems are partitioned into two classes, class 1 with multisubunit effectors, and class 2 in which the effector consists of a single, large protein. The class 2 effectors originate from nucleases encoded by different MGE, whereas the origin of the class 1 effector complexes remains murky. However, the recent discovery of a signalling pathway built into the type III systems of class 1 might offer a clue, suggesting that type III effector modules could have evolved from a signal transduction system involved in stress-induced programmed cell death. The subsequent evolution of the class 1 effector complexes through serial gene duplication and displacement, primarily of genes for proteins containing RNA recognition motif domains, can be hypothetically reconstructed. In addition to the multiple contributions of MGE to the evolution of CRISPR-Cas, the reverse flow of information is notable, namely, recruitment of minimalist variants of CRISPR-Cas systems by MGE for functions that remain to be elucidated. Here, we attempt a synthesis of the diverse threads that shed light on CRISPR-Cas origins and evolution. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The ecology and evolution of prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
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5
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Majumdar S, Terns MP. CRISPR RNA-guided DNA cleavage by reconstituted Type I-A immune effector complexes. Extremophiles 2018; 23:19-33. [PMID: 30284045 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-018-1057-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Diverse CRISPR-Cas immune systems protect archaea and bacteria from viruses and other mobile genetic elements. All CRISPR-Cas systems ultimately function by sequence-specific destruction of invading complementary nucleic acids. However, each CRISPR system uses compositionally distinct crRNP [CRISPR (cr) RNA/Cas protein] immune effector complexes to recognize and destroy invasive nucleic acids by unique molecular mechanisms. Previously, we found that Type I-A (Csa) effector crRNPs from Pyrococcus furiosus function in vivo to eliminate invader DNA. Here, we reconstituted functional Type I-A effector crRNPs in vitro with recombinant Csa proteins and synthetic crRNA and characterized properties of crRNP assembly, target DNA recognition and cleavage. Six proteins (Csa 4-1, Cas3″, Cas3', Cas5a, Csa2, Csa5) are essential for selective target DNA binding and cleavage. Native gel shift analysis and UV-induced RNA-protein crosslinking demonstrate that Cas5a and Csa2 directly interact with crRNA 5' tag and guide sequences, respectively. Mutational analysis revealed that Cas3″ is the effector nuclease of the complex. Together, our results indicate that DNA cleavage by Type I-A crRNPs requires crRNA-guided and protospacer adjacent motif-dependent target DNA binding to unwind double-stranded DNA and expose single strands for progressive ATP-dependent 3'-5' cleavage catalyzed by integral Cas3' helicase and Cas3″ nuclease crRNP components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Majumdar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Michael P Terns
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. .,Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. .,Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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6
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Venclovas Č. Structure of Csm2 elucidates the relationship between small subunits of CRISPR-Cas effector complexes. FEBS Lett 2016; 590:1521-9. [PMID: 27091242 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Type I and type III CRISPR-Cas effector complexes share similar architecture and have homologous key subunits. However, the relationship between the so-called small subunits of these complexes remains a contentious issue. Here, it is shown that the recently solved structure of Thermotoga maritima Csm2 represents a dimer with the extensive structure swapping between monomers. Unswapping the structure generates a compact globular monomer which shares similar structure and surface properties with Cmr5, the small subunit of a related Cmr complex. Detailed analysis of available structures of small subunits reveals that they all have a common fold suggesting their common origin.
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7
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Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas (CRISPR-associated proteins) is a prokaryotic adaptive immune system that is represented in most archaea and many bacteria. Among the currently known prokaryotic defense systems, the CRISPR-Cas genomic loci show unprecedented complexity and diversity. Classification of CRISPR-Cas variants that would capture their evolutionary relationships to the maximum possible extent is essential for comparative genomic and functional characterization of this theoretically and practically important system of adaptive immunity. To this end, a multipronged approach has been developed that combines phylogenetic analysis of the conserved Cas proteins with comparison of gene repertoires and arrangements in CRISPR-Cas loci. This approach led to the current classification of CRISPR-Cas systems into three distinct types and ten subtypes for each of which signature genes have been identified. Comparative genomic analysis of the CRISPR-Cas systems in new archaeal and bacterial genomes performed over the 3 years elapsed since the development of this classification makes it clear that new types and subtypes of CRISPR-Cas need to be introduced. Moreover, this classification system captures only part of the complexity of CRISPR-Cas organization and evolution, due to the intrinsic modularity and evolutionary mobility of these immunity systems, resulting in numerous recombinant variants. Moreover, most of the cas genes evolve rapidly, complicating the family assignment for many Cas proteins and the use of family profiles for the recognition of CRISPR-Cas subtype signatures. Further progress in the comparative analysis of CRISPR-Cas systems requires integration of the most sensitive sequence comparison tools, protein structure comparison, and refined approaches for comparison of gene neighborhoods.
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8
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An updated evolutionary classification of CRISPR-Cas systems. NATURE REVIEWS. MICROBIOLOGY 2015. [PMID: 26411297 DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3569.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of CRISPR-cas loci, which encode adaptive immune systems in archaea and bacteria, involves rapid changes, in particular numerous rearrangements of the locus architecture and horizontal transfer of complete loci or individual modules. These dynamics complicate straightforward phylogenetic classification, but here we present an approach combining the analysis of signature protein families and features of the architecture of cas loci that unambiguously partitions most CRISPR-cas loci into distinct classes, types and subtypes. The new classification retains the overall structure of the previous version but is expanded to now encompass two classes, five types and 16 subtypes. The relative stability of the classification suggests that the most prevalent variants of CRISPR-Cas systems are already known. However, the existence of rare, currently unclassifiable variants implies that additional types and subtypes remain to be characterized.
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9
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Makarova KS, Wolf YI, Alkhnbashi OS, Costa F, Shah SA, Saunders SJ, Barrangou R, Brouns SJJ, Charpentier E, Haft DH, Horvath P, Moineau S, Mojica FJM, Terns RM, Terns MP, White MF, Yakunin AF, Garrett RA, van der Oost J, Backofen R, Koonin EV. An updated evolutionary classification of CRISPR-Cas systems. Nat Rev Microbiol 2015; 13:722-36. [PMID: 26411297 DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1565] [Impact Index Per Article: 173.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of CRISPR-cas loci, which encode adaptive immune systems in archaea and bacteria, involves rapid changes, in particular numerous rearrangements of the locus architecture and horizontal transfer of complete loci or individual modules. These dynamics complicate straightforward phylogenetic classification, but here we present an approach combining the analysis of signature protein families and features of the architecture of cas loci that unambiguously partitions most CRISPR-cas loci into distinct classes, types and subtypes. The new classification retains the overall structure of the previous version but is expanded to now encompass two classes, five types and 16 subtypes. The relative stability of the classification suggests that the most prevalent variants of CRISPR-Cas systems are already known. However, the existence of rare, currently unclassifiable variants implies that additional types and subtypes remain to be characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira S Makarova
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA
| | - Yuri I Wolf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA
| | - Omer S Alkhnbashi
- Bioinformatics group, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiberg, Georges-Kohler-Allee 106, 79110 Freiberg, Germany
| | - Fabrizio Costa
- Bioinformatics group, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiberg, Georges-Kohler-Allee 106, 79110 Freiberg, Germany
| | - Shiraz A Shah
- Archaea Centre, Department of Biology, Copenhagen University, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Sita J Saunders
- Bioinformatics group, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiberg, Georges-Kohler-Allee 106, 79110 Freiberg, Germany
| | - Rodolphe Barrangou
- Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, USA
| | - Stan J J Brouns
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 10, 6703HB Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Emmanuelle Charpentier
- Department of Regulation in Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Daniel H Haft
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA
| | - Philippe Horvath
- DuPont Nutrition and Health, BP10, Dangé-Saint-Romain 86220, France
| | - Sylvain Moineau
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Buccale, Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Francisco J M Mojica
- Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología. Universidad de Alicante. 03080-Alicante, Spain
| | - Rebecca M Terns
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Georgia, Davison Life Sciences Complex, Green Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Michael P Terns
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Georgia, Davison Life Sciences Complex, Green Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Malcolm F White
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9TZ, UK
| | - Alexander F Yakunin
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Roger A Garrett
- Archaea Centre, Department of Biology, Copenhagen University, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 10, 6703HB Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Rolf Backofen
- Bioinformatics group, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiberg, Georges-Kohler-Allee 106, 79110 Freiberg, Germany.,BIOSS Centre for Biological Signaling Studies, Cluster of Excellence, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, USA
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10
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Plagens A, Richter H, Charpentier E, Randau L. DNA and RNA interference mechanisms by CRISPR-Cas surveillance complexes. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2015; 39:442-63. [PMID: 25934119 PMCID: PMC5965380 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuv019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) adaptive immune systems use small guide RNAs, the CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs), to mark foreign genetic material, e.g. viral nucleic acids, for degradation. Archaea and bacteria encode a large variety of Cas proteins that bind crRNA molecules and build active ribonucleoprotein surveillance complexes. The evolution of CRISPR-Cas systems has resulted in a diversification of cas genes and a classification of the systems into three types and additional subtypes characterized by distinct surveillance and interfering complexes. Recent crystallographic and biochemical advances have revealed detailed insights into the assembly and DNA/RNA targeting mechanisms of the various complexes. Here, we review our knowledge on the molecular mechanism involved in the DNA and RNA interference stages of type I (Cascade: CRISPR-associated complex for antiviral defense), type II (Cas9) and type III (Csm, Cmr) CRISPR-Cas systems. We further highlight recently reported structural and mechanistic themes shared among these systems. This review details and compares the assembly and the DNA/RNA targeting mechanisms of the various surveillance complexes of prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas immune systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Plagens
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Hagen Richter
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Department of Regulation in Infection Biology, Braunschweig 38124, Germany
| | - Emmanuelle Charpentier
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Department of Regulation in Infection Biology, Braunschweig 38124, Germany The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå 90187, Sweden Hannover Medical School, Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Lennart Randau
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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11
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Hale CR, Cocozaki A, Li H, Terns RM, Terns MP. Target RNA capture and cleavage by the Cmr type III-B CRISPR-Cas effector complex. Genes Dev 2014; 28:2432-43. [PMID: 25367038 PMCID: PMC4215187 DOI: 10.1101/gad.250712.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The effector complex of the Cmr/type III-B CRISPR–Cas system cleaves RNAs recognized by the crRNA of the complex and includes six protein subunits of unknown functions. Hale et al. used reconstituted Pyrococcus furiosus Cmr complexes and found that Cmr3 recognizes the signature crRNA tag sequence (and depends on protein–protein interactions with Cmr2, Cmr4, and Cmr5), each Cmr4 subunit mediates a target RNA cleavage, and Cmr1 and Cmr6 mediate an essential interaction between the 3′ region of the crRNA and the target RNA. The effector complex of the Cmr/type III-B CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)–Cas (CRISPR-associated) system cleaves RNAs recognized by the CRISPR RNA (crRNA) of the complex and includes six protein subunits of unknown functions. Using reconstituted Pyrococcus furiosus Cmr complexes, we found that each of the six Cmr proteins plays a critical role in either crRNA interaction or target RNA capture. Cmr2, Cmr3, Cmr4, and Cmr5 are all required for formation of a crRNA-containing complex detected by native gel electrophoresis, and the conserved 5′ repeat sequence tag and 5′-OH group of the crRNA are essential for the interaction. Interestingly, capture of the complementary target RNA additionally requires both Cmr1 and Cmr6. In detailed functional studies, we determined that P. furiosus Cmr complexes cleave target RNAs at 6-nucleotide (nt) intervals in the region of complementarity, beginning 5 nt downstream from the crRNA tag and continuing to within ∼14 nt of the 3′ end of the crRNA. Our findings indicate that Cmr3 recognizes the signature crRNA tag sequence (and depends on protein–protein interactions with Cmr2, Cmr4, and Cmr5), each Cmr4 subunit mediates a target RNA cleavage, and Cmr1 and Cmr6 mediate an essential interaction between the 3′ region of the crRNA and the target RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caryn R Hale
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Alexis Cocozaki
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA
| | - Hong Li
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA
| | - Rebecca M Terns
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA;
| | - Michael P Terns
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA; Department of Genetics, Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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12
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He F, Chen L, Peng X. First Experimental Evidence for the Presence of a CRISPR Toxin in Sulfolobus. J Mol Biol 2014; 426:3683-3688. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Revised: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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13
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Hot and crispy: CRISPR-Cas systems in the hyperthermophile Sulfolobus solfataricus. Biochem Soc Trans 2014; 41:1422-6. [PMID: 24256231 DOI: 10.1042/bst20130031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) and Cas (CRISPR-associated) genes are widely spread in bacteria and archaea, representing an intracellular defence system against invading viruses and plasmids. In the system, fragments from foreign DNA are captured and integrated into the host genome at the CRISPR locus. The locus is transcribed and the resulting RNAs are processed by Cas6 into small crRNAs (CRISPR RNAs) that guide a variety of effector complexes to degrade the invading genetic elements. Many bacteria and archaea have one major type of effector complex. However, Sulfolobus solfataricus strain P2 has six CRISPR loci with two families of repeats, four cas6 genes and three different types of effector complex. These features make S. solfataricus an important model for studying CRISPR-Cas systems. In the present article, we review our current understanding of crRNA biogenesis and its effector complexes, subtype I-A and subtype III-B, in S. solfataricus. We also discuss the differences in terms of mechanisms between the subtype III-B systems in S. solfataricus and Pyrococcus furiosus.
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14
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Abstract
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) is an adaptive immunity system in bacteria and archaea that functions via a distinct self/non-self recognition mechanism that involves unique spacers homologous with viral or plasmid DNA and integrated into the CRISPR loci. Most of the Cas proteins evolve under relaxed purifying selection and some underwent dramatic structural rearrangements during evolution. In many cases, CRISPR-Cas system components are replaced either by homologous or by analogous proteins or domains in some bacterial and archaeal lineages. However, recent advances in comparative sequence analysis, structural studies and experimental data suggest that, despite this remarkable evolutionary plasticity, all CRISPR-Cas systems employ the same architectural and functional principles, and given the conservation of the principal building blocks, share a common ancestry. We review recent advances in the understanding of the evolution and organization of CRISPR-Cas systems. Among other developments, we describe for the first time a group of archaeal cas1 gene homologues that are not associated with CRISPR-Cas loci and are predicted to be involved in functions other than adaptive immunity.
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15
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Daume M, Plagens A, Randau L. DNA binding properties of the small cascade subunit Csa5. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105716. [PMID: 25148031 PMCID: PMC4141822 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Accepted: 07/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems provide immunity against viral attacks in archaeal and bacterial cells. Type I systems employ a Cas protein complex termed Cascade, which utilizes small CRISPR RNAs to detect and degrade the exogenic DNA. A small sequence motif, the PAM, marks the foreign substrates. Previously, a recombinant type I-A Cascade complex from the archaeon Thermoproteus tenax was shown to target and degrade DNA in vitro, dependent on a native PAM sequence. Here, we present the biochemical analysis of the small subunit, Csa5, of this Cascade complex. T. tenax Csa5 preferentially bound ssDNA and mutants that showed decreased ssDNA-binding and reduced Cascade-mediated DNA cleavage were identified. Csa5 oligomerization prevented DNA binding. Specific recognition of the PAM sequence was not observed. Phylogenetic analyses identified Csa5 as a universal member of type I-A systems and revealed three distinct groups. A potential role of Csa5 in R-loop stabilization is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Daume
- Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - André Plagens
- Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lennart Randau
- Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Plagens A, Tripp V, Daume M, Sharma K, Klingl A, Hrle A, Conti E, Urlaub H, Randau L. In vitro assembly and activity of an archaeal CRISPR-Cas type I-A Cascade interference complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:5125-38. [PMID: 24500198 PMCID: PMC4005679 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated (Cas) systems of type I use a Cas ribonucleoprotein complex for antiviral defense (Cascade) to mediate the targeting and degradation of foreign DNA. To address molecular features of the archaeal type I-A Cascade interference mechanism, we established the in vitro assembly of the Thermoproteus tenax Cascade from six recombinant Cas proteins, synthetic CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) and target DNA fragments. RNA-Seq analyses revealed the processing pattern of crRNAs from seven T. tenax CRISPR arrays. Synthetic crRNA transcripts were matured by hammerhead ribozyme cleavage. The assembly of type I-A Cascade indicates that Cas3′ and Cas3′′ are an integral part of the complex, and the interference activity was shown to be dependent on the crRNA and the matching target DNA. The reconstituted Cascade was used to identify sequence motifs that are required for efficient DNA degradation and to investigate the role of the subunits Cas7 and Cas3′′ in the interplay with other Cascade subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Plagens
- Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology Group, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, D-35043 Marburg, Germany, Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany, Cell Biology and LOEWE Research Centre for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, D-35043 Marburg, Germany and Department of Structural Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany
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Brendel J, Stoll B, Lange SJ, Sharma K, Lenz C, Stachler AE, Maier LK, Richter H, Nickel L, Schmitz RA, Randau L, Allers T, Urlaub H, Backofen R, Marchfelder A. A complex of Cas proteins 5, 6, and 7 is required for the biogenesis and stability of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (crispr)-derived rnas (crrnas) in Haloferax volcanii. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:7164-7177. [PMID: 24459147 PMCID: PMC3945376 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.508184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated (CRISPR-Cas) system is a prokaryotic defense mechanism against foreign genetic elements. A plethora of CRISPR-Cas versions exist, with more than 40 different Cas protein families and several different molecular approaches to fight the invading DNA. One of the key players in the system is the CRISPR-derived RNA (crRNA), which directs the invader-degrading Cas protein complex to the invader. The CRISPR-Cas types I and III use the Cas6 protein to generate mature crRNAs. Here, we show that the Cas6 protein is necessary for crRNA production but that additional Cas proteins that form a CRISPR-associated complex for antiviral defense (Cascade)-like complex are needed for crRNA stability in the CRISPR-Cas type I-B system in Haloferax volcanii in vivo. Deletion of the cas6 gene results in the loss of mature crRNAs and interference. However, cells that have the complete cas gene cluster (cas1–8b) removed and are transformed with the cas6 gene are not able to produce and stably maintain mature crRNAs. crRNA production and stability is rescued only if cas5, -6, and -7 are present. Mutational analysis of the cas6 gene reveals three amino acids (His-41, Gly-256, and Gly-258) that are essential for pre-crRNA cleavage, whereas the mutation of two amino acids (Ser-115 and Ser-224) leads to an increase of crRNA amounts. This is the first systematic in vivo analysis of Cas6 protein variants. In addition, we show that the H. volcanii I-B system contains a Cascade-like complex with a Cas7, Cas5, and Cas6 core that protects the crRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jutta Brendel
- Department of Biology II, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Britta Stoll
- Department of Biology II, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sita J Lange
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 106, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kundan Sharma
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christof Lenz
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bioanalytics, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Hagen Richter
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Nickel
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Ruth A Schmitz
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Lennart Randau
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Allers
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bioanalytics, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rolf Backofen
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 106, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS), Cluster of Excellence, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
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Rouillon C, Zhou M, Zhang J, Politis A, Beilsten-Edmands V, Cannone G, Graham S, Robinson CV, Spagnolo L, White MF. Structure of the CRISPR interference complex CSM reveals key similarities with cascade. Mol Cell 2013; 52:124-34. [PMID: 24119402 PMCID: PMC3807668 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2013.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Revised: 07/11/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) system is an adaptive immune system in prokaryotes. Interference complexes encoded by CRISPR-associated (cas) genes utilize small RNAs for homology-directed detection and subsequent degradation of invading genetic elements, and they have been classified into three main types (I-III). Type III complexes share the Cas10 subunit but are subclassifed as type IIIA (CSM) and type IIIB (CMR), depending on their specificity for DNA or RNA targets, respectively. The role of CSM in limiting the spread of conjugative plasmids in Staphylococcus epidermidis was first described in 2008. Here, we report a detailed investigation of the composition and structure of the CSM complex from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, using a combination of electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, and deep sequencing. This reveals a three-dimensional model for the CSM complex that includes a helical component strikingly reminiscent of the backbone structure of the type I (Cascade) family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Rouillon
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK
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Burroughs AM, Ando Y, Aravind L. New perspectives on the diversification of the RNA interference system: insights from comparative genomics and small RNA sequencing. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2013; 5:141-81. [PMID: 24311560 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2013] [Revised: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 11/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of the pervasive involvement of small RNAs in regulating diverse biological processes has been greatly augmented by recent application of deep-sequencing technologies to small RNA across diverse eukaryotes. We review the currently known small RNA classes and place them in context of the reconstructed evolutionary history of the RNA interference (RNAi) protein machinery. This synthesis indicates that the earliest versions of eukaryotic RNAi systems likely utilized small RNA processed from three types of precursors: (1) sense-antisense transcriptional products, (2) genome-encoded, imperfectly complementary hairpin sequences, and (3) larger noncoding RNA precursor sequences. Structural dissection of PIWI proteins along with recent discovery of novel families (including Med13 of the Mediator complex) suggest that emergence of a distinct architecture with the N-terminal domains (also occurring separately fused to endoDNases in prokaryotes) formed via duplication of an ancestral unit was key to their recruitment as primary RNAi effectors and use of small RNAs of certain preferred lengths. Prokaryotic PIWI proteins are typically components of several RNA-directed DNA restriction or CRISPR/Cas systems. However, eukaryotic versions appear to have emerged from a subset that evolved RNA-directed RNAi. They were recruited alongside RNaseIII domains and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) domains, also from prokaryotic systems, to form the core eukaryotic RNAi system. Like certain regulatory systems, RNAi diversified into two distinct but linked arms concomitant with eukaryotic nucleocytoplasmic compartmentalization. Subsequent elaboration of RNAi proceeded via diversification of the core protein machinery through lineage-specific expansions and recruitment of new components from prokaryotes (nucleases and small RNA-modifying enzymes), allowing for diversification of associating small RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Maxwell Burroughs
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Makarova KS, Wolf YI, Koonin EV. The basic building blocks and evolution of CRISPR-CAS systems. Biochem Soc Trans 2013. [PMID: 24256226 DOI: 10.1042/bst20130038.the] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) is an adaptive immunity system in bacteria and archaea that functions via a distinct self/non-self recognition mechanism that involves unique spacers homologous with viral or plasmid DNA and integrated into the CRISPR loci. Most of the Cas proteins evolve under relaxed purifying selection and some underwent dramatic structural rearrangements during evolution. In many cases, CRISPR-Cas system components are replaced either by homologous or by analogous proteins or domains in some bacterial and archaeal lineages. However, recent advances in comparative sequence analysis, structural studies and experimental data suggest that, despite this remarkable evolutionary plasticity, all CRISPR-Cas systems employ the same architectural and functional principles, and given the conservation of the principal building blocks, share a common ancestry. We review recent advances in the understanding of the evolution and organization of CRISPR-Cas systems. Among other developments, we describe for the first time a group of archaeal cas1 gene homologues that are not associated with CRISPR-Cas loci and are predicted to be involved in functions other than adaptive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira S Makarova
- *National Center for Biotechnology Information, NLM, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, U.S.A
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Abstract
CRISPR (cluster of regularly interspaced palindromic repeats) is a prokaryotic adaptive defence system, providing immunity against mobile genetic elements such as viruses. Genomically encoded crRNA (CRISPR RNA) is used by Cas (CRISPR-associated) proteins to target and subsequently degrade nucleic acids of invading entities in a sequence-dependent manner. The process is known as ‘interference’. In the present review we cover recent progress on the structural biology of the CRISPR/Cas system, focusing on the Cas proteins and complexes that catalyse crRNA biogenesis and interference. Structural studies have helped in the elucidation of key mechanisms, including the recognition and cleavage of crRNA by the Cas6 and Cas5 proteins, where remarkable diversity at the level of both substrate recognition and catalysis has become apparent. The RNA-binding RAMP (repeat-associated mysterious protein) domain is present in the Cas5, Cas6, Cas7 and Cmr3 protein families and RAMP-like domains are found in Cas2 and Cas10. Structural analysis has also revealed an evolutionary link between the small subunits of the type I and type III-B interference complexes. Future studies of the interference complexes and their constituent components will transform our understanding of the system.
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