Modularity and diversity of target selectors in Tn7 transposons

To spread, transposons must integrate into target sites without disruption of essential genes while avoiding host defense systems. Tn7-like transposons employ multiple mechanisms for target-site selection, including protein-guided targeting and, in CRISPR-associated transposons (CASTs), RNA-guided targeting. Combining phylogenomic and structural analyses, we conducted a broad survey of target selectors, revealing diverse mechanisms used by Tn7 to recognize target sites, including previously uncharacterized target-selector proteins found in newly discovered transposable elements (TEs). We experimentally characterized a CAST I-D system and a Tn6022-like transposon that uses TnsF, which contains an inactivated tyrosine recombinase domain, to target the comM gene. Additionally, we identified a non-Tn7 transposon, Tsy, encoding a homolog of TnsF with an active tyrosine recombinase domain, which we show also inserts into comM. Our findings show that Tn7 transposons employ modular architecture and co-opt target selectors from various sources to optimize target selection and drive transposon spread.

RNA-activated protein cleavage with a CRISPR-associated endopeptidase

In prokaryotes, CRISPR-Cas systems provide adaptive immune responses against foreign genetic elements through RNA-guided nuclease activity. Recently, additional genes with non-nuclease functions have been found in genetic association with CRISPR systems, suggesting that there may be other RNA-guided non-nucleolytic enzymes. One such gene from Desulfonema ishimotonii encodes the TPR-CHAT protease Csx29, which is associated with the CRISPR effector Cas7-11. Here, we demonstrate that this CRISPR-associated protease (CASP) exhibits programmable RNA-activated endopeptidase activity against a sigma factor inhibitor to regulate a transcriptional response. Cryo-electron microscopy of an active and substrate-bound CASP complex reveals an allosteric activation mechanism that reorganizes Csx29 catalytic residues upon target RNA binding. This work reveals an RNA-guided function in nature that can be leveraged for RNA-sensing applications in vitro and in human cells.

Prokaryotic innate immunity through pattern recognition of conserved viral proteins

Many organisms have evolved specialized immune pattern-recognition receptors, including nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLRs) of the STAND superfamily that are ubiquitous in plants, animals, and fungi. Although the roles of NLRs in eukaryotic immunity are well established, it is unknown whether prokaryotes use similar defense mechanisms. Here, we show that antiviral STAND (Avs) homologs in bacteria and archaea detect hallmark viral proteins, triggering Avs tetramerization and the activation of diverse N-terminal effector domains, including DNA endonucleases, to abrogate infection. Cryo-electron microscopy reveals that Avs sensor domains recognize conserved folds, active-site residues, and enzyme ligands, allowing a single Avs receptor to detect a wide variety of viruses. These findings extend the paradigm of pattern recognition of pathogen-specific proteins across all three domains of life.

Global cellular response to chemical perturbation of PLK4 activity and abnormal centrosome number

Centrosomes act as the main microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in metazoans. Centrosome number is tightly regulated by limiting centriole duplication to a single round per cell cycle. This control is achieved by multiple mechanisms, including the regulation of the protein kinase PLK4, the most upstream facilitator of centriole duplication. Altered centrosome numbers in mouse and human cells cause p53-dependent growth arrest through poorly defined mechanisms. Recent work has shown that the E3 ligase TRIM37 is required for cell cycle arrest in acentrosomal cells. To gain additional insights into this process, we undertook a series of genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screens to identify factors important for growth arrest triggered by treatment with centrinone B, a selective PLK4 inhibitor. We found that TRIM37 is a key mediator of growth arrest after partial or full PLK4 inhibition. Interestingly, PLK4 cellular mobility decreased in a dose-dependent manner after centrinone B treatment. In contrast to recent work, we found that growth arrest after PLK4 inhibition correlated better with PLK4 activity than with mitotic length or centrosome number. These data provide insights into the global response to changes in centrosome number and PLK4 activity and extend the role for TRIM37 in regulating the abundance, localization, and function of centrosome proteins.

LAMP-Seq enables sensitive, multiplexed COVID-19 diagnostics using molecular barcoding

Frequent testing of large population groups combined with contact tracing and isolation measures will be crucial for containing Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreaks. Here we present LAMP-Seq, a modified, highly scalable reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) method. Unpurified biosamples are barcoded and amplified in a single heat step, and pooled products are analyzed en masse by sequencing. Using commercial reagents, LAMP-Seq has a limit of detection of ~2.2 molecules per µl at 95% confidence and near-perfect specificity for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 given its sequence readout. Clinical validation of an open-source protocol with 676 swab samples, 98 of which were deemed positive by standard RT-qPCR, demonstrated 100% sensitivity in individuals with cycle threshold values of up to 33 and a specificity of 99.7%, at a very low material cost. With a time-to-result of fewer than 24 h, low cost and little new infrastructure requirement, LAMP-Seq can be readily deployed for frequent testing as part of an integrated public health surveillance program.

Protocol for single-cell ATAC sequencing using combinatorial indexing in mouse lung adenocarcinoma

Single-cell ATAC sequencing using combinatorial indexing (sciATAC-seq) enables the identification of chromatin accessibility profiles at single-cell resolution with a dual-barcoding approach during transposition and library construction. Unlike commercial droplet-based approaches, sciATAC-seq is a cost-effective, extensible strategy that permits flexibility in the experimental scale via multiplexed barcoding across samples or perturbations. In contrast, droplet-based approaches have higher cell recovery and may be advantageous when cell input is limited. The step-by-step sciATAC-seq protocol described here is amenable to diverse cell types and fixed samples. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to LaFave et al. (2020).

Dual modes of CRISPR-associated transposon homing

Tn7-like transposons have co-opted CRISPR systems, including class 1 type I-F, I-B, and class 2 type V-K. Intriguingly, although these CRISPR-associated transposases (CASTs) undergo robust CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-guided transposition, they are almost never found in sites targeted by the crRNAs encoded by the cognate CRISPR array. To understand this paradox, we investigated CAST V-K and I-B systems and found two distinct modes of transposition: (1) crRNA-guided transposition and (2) CRISPR array-independent homing. We show distinct CAST systems utilize different molecular mechanisms to target their homing site. Type V-K CAST systems use a short, delocalized crRNA for RNA-guided homing, whereas type I-B CAST systems, which contain two distinct target selector proteins, use TniQ for RNA-guided DNA transposition and TnsD for homing to an attachment site. These observations illuminate a key step in the life cycle of CAST systems and highlight the diversity of molecular mechanisms mediating transposon homing.

A Survey of Genome Editing Activity for 16 Cas12a Orthologs

The class 2 CRISPR-Cas endonuclease Cas12a (previously known as Cpf1) offers several advantages over Cas9, including the ability to process its own array and the requirement for just a single RNA guide. These attributes make Cas12a promising for many genome engineering applications. To further expand the suite of Cas12a tools available, we tested 16 Cas12a orthologs for activity in eukaryotic cells. Four of these new enzymes demonstrated targeted activity, one of which, from Moraxella bovoculi AAX11_00205 (Mb3Cas12a), exhibited robust indel formation. We also showed that Mb3Cas12a displays some tolerance for a shortened PAM (TTN versus the canonical Cas12a PAM TTTV). The addition of these enzymes to the genome editing toolbox will further expand the utility of this powerful technology.

Response to Comment on "RNA-guided DNA insertion with CRISPR-associated transposases"

Rice et al suggest that the CRISPR-associated transposase ShCAST system could lead to additional insertion products beyond simple integration of the donor. We clarify the outcomes of ShCAST-mediated insertions in Escherichia coli, which consist of both simple insertions and integration of the donor plasmid. This latter outcome can be avoided by use of a 5' nicked DNA donor.

Highly Parallel Profiling of Cas9 Variant Specificity

Determining the off-target cleavage profile of programmable nucleases is an important consideration for any genome editing experiment, and a number of Cas9 variants have been reported that improve specificity. We describe here tagmentation-based tag integration site sequencing (TTISS), an efficient, scalable method for analyzing double-strand breaks (DSBs) that we apply in parallel to eight Cas9 variants across 59 targets. Additionally, we generated thousands of other Cas9 variants and screened for variants with enhanced specificity and activity, identifying LZ3 Cas9, a high specificity variant with a unique +1 insertion profile. This comprehensive comparison reveals a general trade-off between Cas9 activity and specificity and provides information about the frequency of generation of +1 insertions, which has implications for correcting frameshift mutations.

RNA-guided DNA insertion with CRISPR-associated transposases

CRISPR-Cas nucleases are powerful tools for manipulating nucleic acids; however, targeted insertion of DNA remains a challenge, as it requires host cell repair machinery. Here we characterize a CRISPR-associated transposase from cyanobacteria Scytonema hofmanni (ShCAST) that consists of Tn7-like transposase subunits and the type V-K CRISPR effector (Cas12k). ShCAST catalyzes RNA-guided DNA transposition by unidirectionally inserting segments of DNA 60 to 66 base pairs downstream of the protospacer. ShCAST integrates DNA into targeted sites in the Escherichia coli genome with frequencies of up to 80% without positive selection. This work expands our understanding of the functional diversity of CRISPR-Cas systems and establishes a paradigm for precision DNA insertion.

Engineering of CRISPR-Cas12b for human genome editing

The type-V CRISPR effector Cas12b (formerly known as C2c1) has been challenging to develop for genome editing in human cells, at least in part due to the high temperature requirement of the characterized family members. Here we explore the diversity of the Cas12b family and identify a promising candidate for human gene editing from Bacillus hisashii, BhCas12b. However, at 37 °C, wild-type BhCas12b preferentially nicks the non-target DNA strand instead of forming a double strand break, leading to lower editing efficiency. Using a combination of approaches, we identify gain-of-function mutations for BhCas12b that overcome this limitation. Mutant BhCas12b facilitates robust genome editing in human cell lines and ex vivo in primary human T cells, and exhibits greater specificity compared to S. pyogenes Cas9. This work establishes a third RNA-guided nuclease platform, in addition to Cas9 and Cpf1/Cas12a, for genome editing in human cells.

The Cas12b family of CRISPR nucleases has been underutilized in mammalian cells due to the high temperature requirement of known members. Here the authors engineer BhCas12b to overcome this limitation for robust and specific genome editing applications in human cells.

Nuclear microtubule filaments mediate non-linear directional motion of chromatin and promote DNA repair

Damaged DNA shows increased mobility, which can promote interactions with repair-conducive nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). This apparently random mobility is paradoxically abrogated upon disruption of microtubules or kinesins, factors that typically cooperate to mediate the directional movement of macromolecules. Here, we resolve this paradox by uncovering DNA damage-inducible intranuclear microtubule filaments (DIMs) that mobilize damaged DNA and promote repair. Upon DNA damage, relief of centromeric constraint induces DIMs that cooperate with the Rad9 DNA damage response mediator and Kar3 kinesin motor to capture DNA lesions, which then linearly move along dynamic DIMs. Decreasing and hyper-inducing DIMs respectively abrogates and hyper-activates repair. Accounting for DIM dynamics across cell populations by measuring directional changes of damaged DNA reveals that it exhibits increased non-linear directional behavior in nuclear space. Abrogation of DIM-dependent processes or repair-promoting factors decreases directional behavior. Thus, inducible and dynamic nuclear microtubule filaments directionally mobilize damaged DNA and promote repair.

Following DNA damage, different processes come to action to aid repair. The authors here find that microtubule filaments within the cell nucleus capture and non-randomly mobilize damaged chromatin to mediate DNA repair.

A sharp Pif1-dependent threshold separates DNA double-strand breaks from critically short telomeres

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and short telomeres are structurally similar, yet they have diametrically opposed fates. Cells must repair DSBs while blocking the action of telomerase on these ends. Short telomeres must avoid recognition by the DNA damage response while promoting telomerase recruitment. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Pif1 helicase, a telomerase inhibitor, lies at the interface of these end-fate decisions. Using Pif1 as a sensor, we uncover a transition point in which 34 bp of telomeric (TG_1-3)_n repeat sequence renders a DNA end insensitive to Pif1 action, thereby enabling extension by telomerase. A similar transition point exists at natural chromosome ends, where telomeres shorter than ~40 bp are inefficiently extended by telomerase. This phenomenon is not due to known Pif1 modifications and we instead propose that Cdc13 renders TG₃₄₊ ends insensitive to Pif1 action. We contend that the observed threshold of Pif1 activity defines a dividing line between DSBs and telomeres.

Mitosis inhibits DNA double-strand break repair to guard against telomere fusions

Mitotic cells inactivate DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, but the rationale behind this suppression remains unknown. Here, we unravel how mitosis blocks DSB repair and determine the consequences of repair reactivation. Mitotic kinases phosphorylate the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF8 and the nonhomologous end joining factor 53BP1 to inhibit their recruitment to DSB-flanking chromatin. Restoration of RNF8 and 53BP1 accumulation at mitotic DSB sites activates DNA repair but is, paradoxically, deleterious. Aberrantly controlled mitotic DSB repair leads to Aurora B kinase-dependent sister telomere fusions that produce dicentric chromosomes and aneuploidy, especially in the presence of exogenous genotoxic stress. We conclude that the capacity of mitotic DSB repair to destabilize the genome explains the necessity for its suppression during mitosis, principally due to the fusogenic potential of mitotic telomeres.

Reconstitution and characterization of eukaryotic N6-threonylcarbamoylation of tRNA using a minimal enzyme system

The universally conserved Kae1/Qri7/YgjD and Sua5/YrdC protein families have been implicated in growth, telomere homeostasis, transcription and the N6-threonylcarbamoylation (t⁶A) of tRNA, an essential modification required for translational fidelity by the ribosome. In bacteria, YgjD orthologues operate in concert with the bacterial-specific proteins YeaZ and YjeE, whereas in archaeal and eukaryotic systems, Kae1 operates as part of a larger macromolecular assembly called KEOPS with Bud32, Cgi121, Gon7 and Pcc1 subunits. Qri7 orthologues function in the mitochondria and may represent the most primitive member of the Kae1/Qri7/YgjD protein family. In accordance with previous findings, we confirm that Qri7 complements Kae1 function and uncover that Qri7 complements the function of all KEOPS subunits in growth, t⁶A biosynthesis and, to a partial degree, telomere maintenance. These observations suggest that Kae1 provides a core essential function that other subunits within KEOPS have evolved to support. Consistent with this inference, Qri7 alone is sufficient for t⁶A biosynthesis with Sua5 in vitro. In addition, the 2.9 Å crystal structure of Qri7 reveals a simple homodimer arrangement that is supplanted by the heterodimerization of YgjD with YeaZ in bacteria and heterodimerization of Kae1 with Pcc1 in KEOPS. The partial complementation of telomere maintenance by Qri7 hints that KEOPS has evolved novel functions in higher organisms.

From alpha to beta: identification of amino acids required for the N-acetyllactosamine-specific lectin-like activity of bundlin

Bundle-forming pili (BFP) promote the adherence of typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) to human intestinal epithelial cells. BFP are polymers of bundlin and nine bundlin alleles have been identified in EPEC isolated from diverse sources. These alleles are divided into two main groups, alpha and beta, based on their amino acid sequences. Alpha bundlins are also N-acetyllactosamine- (LacNAc) specific lectins and bind to HEp-2 cells, whereas beta bundlins do not display these characteristics. The four surface-exposed regions of amino acid sequence heterogeneity between alpha and beta bundlin were therefore investigated as potential LacNAc-specific carbohydrate-binding domains in a bundlin. Mutation of one of these domains, 137-GENNI-141, in alpha(1) bundlin to that of beta bundlin (136-SPDST-140) resulted in BFP that no longer bound to LacNAc or HEp-2 cells. Conversely, mutating the beta3 bundlin gene to encode the alpha bundlin sequence at this domain resulted in the gain of HEp-2 cell adherence. The importance of this domain in carbohydrate binding is supported by the finding that introducing the mutation GENNI-->GENNT altered the alpha1 bundlin carbohydrate-binding specificity from LacNAc to the Lewis X glycan sequence.

[Important metabolic parameters in the peripartum period as affected by peridural anesthesia]

In a clinical study we compared two groups of healthy patients at term: - 10 patients received no analgesics or very small doses of pethidine (control group) during the course of labour, - 17 patients were given CO2-bupivacaine via epidural catheter because they asked for it and because their obstetricians prescribed it (CEDA-group). After giving the same infusion solution of 120 ml/h 5% half-isotonic fructose to all the parturients, the following biochemical parameters were measured at the beginning and at the end of the first stage of labour, at delivery, and two hours later: Blood gases and acid-base status, blood sugar, lactate, betahydroxybutyric acid, ACTH, cortisol, hematocrit, electrolytes, and serum osmolality. The above mentioned parameters, except electrolytes and serum osmolality, were also determined in umbilical-cord blood immediately after delivery. In the labour ward, infants were observed and their capillary blood gases, acid-bases status, and blood sugar were measured 30, 60, and 120 minutes after birth. Lactate, betahydroxybutyric acid, ACTH, and cortisol levels rose significantly until delivery in both of the groups; significant differences between the two groups could be seen in blood gases, blood sugar, and ACTH levels. In the umbilical cord there were only significant differences in blood sugar. In summary it can be concluded that although labour pain can be controlled by epidural analgesia, the stress of labour is only influenced by different analgesic methods to a certain degree.

Untersuchungen zum Verhalten wichtiger metabolischer Parameter in der Peripartalperiode unter dem Einfluß der Periduralanästhesie

In einer klinischen Studie wurden zwei Gruppen von kreislauf- und stoffwechselgesunden Patientinnen am Geburtstermin verglichen. 10 Patientinnen erhielten zur Schmerzbekämpfung über den Geburts-verlauf keine Analgetika Oder Minidosen von Pethidin (Kontroll-gruppe), 17 Patientinnen auf eigenen Wunsch und Ordination des Geburtshelfers eine kontinuierliche PDA mit fraktionierten Dosen von Bupivacain-CCh (PDA-Gruppe). Bei gleichem Infusionsregime, 120 ml/h einer 5 % halbisotonen Laevuloselösung, wurden zu Beginn der Eröffnungsperiode, der Austreibungsperiode, zum Geburtszeitpunkt und 2h postpartal bei der Mutter folgende biochemische Parameter bestimmt: Blutgase und Säuren-Basen-Status, Blutzucker, Laktat, Betahydroxybuttersäure, ACTH, Cortisol, Hk, Elektrolyte und Osmolalität. Unmittelbar postpartal wurden die oben angegebenen Werte, außer Elektrolyten und Osmolalität, im kindlichen Nabelschnurblut untersucht. 30, 60 und 120 min post partum diente die kapilläre Blutabnahme von Blutgasen, Säuren-Basen-Status und Blutzucker beim Neugeborenen der Beurteilung des postpartalen Adaptationszustandes. In beiden Patientengruppen stiegen Laktat, Betahydroxybuttersäure, ACTH und Cortisol bis zur Geburt signifikant an, signifikante Unterschiede zwischen beiden Gruppen dagegen konnten nur bei den Blutgasen, den Blutzucker- und ACTH-Werten errechnet werden. In der kindlichen Nabelschnur waren nur beim Blutzucker signifikante Unterschiede festzustellen. Als Fazit kann man sagen, daß man den Müttern in der langen Eröffnungsperiode den Geburtsschmerz wirksam nehmen, den Geburtsstreß aber, dokumentiert durch die oben aufgeführten Stoffwechsel-parameter, offensichtlich nur bis zu einem gewissen Grad.