Effect of mutations in the C-terminal domain of Mu B on DNA binding and interactions with Mu A transposase

Mechanistic details of CRISPR-associated transposon recruitment and integration revealed by cryo-EM

CRISPR-associated transposons (CASTs) are Tn7-like elements that are capable of RNA-guided DNA integration. Although structural data are known for nearly all core transposition components, the transposase component, TnsB, remains uncharacterized. Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure determination, we reveal the conformation of TnsB during transposon integration for the type V-K CAST system from Scytonema hofmanni (ShCAST). Our structure of TnsB is a tetramer, revealing strong mechanistic relationships with the overall architecture of RNaseH transposases/integrases in general, and in particular the MuA transposase from bacteriophage Mu. However, key structural differences in the C-terminal domains indicate that TnsB's tetrameric architecture is stabilized by a different set of protein-protein interactions compared with MuA. We describe the base-specific interactions along the TnsB binding site, which explain how different CAST elements can function on cognate mobile elements independent of one another. We observe that melting of the 5' nontransferred strand of the transposon end is a structural feature stabilized by TnsB and furthermore is crucial for donor-DNA integration. Although not observed in the TnsB strand-transfer complex, the C-terminal end of TnsB serves a crucial role in transposase recruitment to the target site. The C-terminal end of TnsB adopts a short, structured 15-residue "hook" that decorates TnsC filaments. Unlike full-length TnsB, C-terminal fragments do not appear to stimulate filament disassembly using two different assays, suggesting that additional interactions between TnsB and TnsC are required for redistributing TnsC to appropriate targets. The structural information presented here will help guide future work in modifying these important systems as programmable gene integration tools.

Transposable Phage Mu

Transposable phage Mu has played a major role in elucidating the mechanism of movement of mobile DNA elements. The high efficiency of Mu transposition has facilitated a detailed biochemical dissection of the reaction mechanism, as well as of protein and DNA elements that regulate transpososome assembly and function. The deduced phosphotransfer mechanism involves in-line orientation of metal ion-activated hydroxyl groups for nucleophilic attack on reactive diester bonds, a mechanism that appears to be used by all transposable elements examined to date. A crystal structure of the Mu transpososome is available. Mu differs from all other transposable elements in encoding unique adaptations that promote its viral lifestyle. These adaptations include multiple DNA (enhancer, SGS) and protein (MuB, HU, IHF) elements that enable efficient Mu end synapsis, efficient target capture, low target specificity, immunity to transposition near or into itself, and efficient mechanisms for recruiting host repair and replication machineries to resolve transposition intermediates. MuB has multiple functions, including target capture and immunity. The SGS element promotes gyrase-mediated Mu end synapsis, and the enhancer, aided by HU and IHF, participates in directing a unique topological architecture of the Mu synapse. The function of these DNA and protein elements is important during both lysogenic and lytic phases. Enhancer properties have been exploited in the design of mini-Mu vectors for genetic engineering. Mu ends assembled into active transpososomes have been delivered directly into bacterial, yeast, and human genomes, where they integrate efficiently, and may prove useful for gene therapy.

MuB gives a new twist to target DNA selection

Transposition target immunity is a phenomenon observed in some DNA transposons that are able to distinguish the host chromosome from their own DNA sequence, thus avoiding self-destructive insertions. The first molecular insight into target selection and immunity mechanisms came from the study of phage Mu transposition, which uses the protein MuB as a barrier to self-insertion. MuB is an ATP-dependent non-specific DNA binding protein that regulates the activity of the MuA transposase and captures target DNA for transposition. However, a detailed mechanistic understanding of MuB functioning was hindered by the poor solubility of the MuB-ATP complexes. Here we comment on the recent discovery that MuB is an AAA+ ATPase that upon ATP binding assembles into helical filaments that coat the DNA. Remarkably, the helical parameters of the MuB filament do not match those of the bound DNA. This intriguing mismatch symmetry led us to propose a model on how MuB targets DNA for transposition, favoring DNA bending and recognition by the transposase at the filament edge. We also speculate on a different protective role of MuB during immunity, where filament stickiness could favor the condensation of the DNA into a compact state that occludes it from the transposase.

MuB is an AAA+ ATPase that forms helical filaments to control target selection for DNA transposition

MuB is an ATP-dependent nonspecific DNA-binding protein that regulates the activity of the MuA transposase and captures target DNA for transposition. Mechanistic understanding of MuB function has previously been hindered by MuB's poor solubility. Here we combine bioinformatic, mutagenic, biochemical, and electron microscopic analyses to unmask the structure and function of MuB. We demonstrate that MuB is an ATPase associated with diverse cellular activities (AAA+ ATPase) and forms ATP-dependent filaments with or without DNA. We also identify critical residues for MuB's ATPase, DNA binding, protein polymerization, and MuA interaction activities. Using single-particle electron microscopy, we show that MuB assembles into a helical filament, which binds the DNA in the axial channel. The helical parameters of the MuB filament do not match those of the coated DNA. Despite this protein-DNA symmetry mismatch, MuB does not deform the DNA duplex. These findings, together with the influence of MuB filament size on strand-transfer efficiency, lead to a model in which MuB-imposed symmetry transiently deforms the DNA at the boundary of the MuB filament and results in a bent DNA favored by MuA for transposition.

Immunity of replicating Mu to self-integration: a novel mechanism employing MuB protein

We describe a new immunity mechanism that protects actively replicating/transposing Mu from self-integration. We show that this mechanism is distinct from the established cis-immunity mechanism, which operates by removal of MuB protein from DNA adjacent to Mu ends. MuB normally promotes integration into DNA to which it is bound, hence its removal prevents use of this DNA as target. Contrary to what might be expected from a cis-immunity mechanism, strong binding of MuB was observed throughout the Mu genome. We also show that the cis-immunity mechanism is apparently functional outside Mu ends, but that the level of protection offered by this mechanism is insufficient to explain the protection seen inside Mu. Thus, both strong binding of MuB inside and poor immunity outside Mu testify to a mechanism of immunity distinct from cis-immunity, which we call 'Mu genome immunity'. MuB has the potential to coat the Mu genome and prevent auto-integration as previously observed in vitro on synthetic A/T-only DNA, where strong MuB binding occluded the entire bound region from Mu insertions. The existence of two rival immunity mechanisms within and outside the Mu genome, both employing MuB, suggests that the replicating Mu genome must be segregated into an independent chromosomal domain. We propose a model for how formation of a 'Mu domain' may be aided by specific Mu sequences and nucleoid-associated proteins, promoting polymerization of MuB on the genome to form a barrier against self-integration.

The dynamic Mu transpososome: MuB activation prevents disintegration

DNA transposases use a single active center to sequentially cleave the transposable element DNA and join this DNA to a target site. Recombination requires controlled conformational changes within the transposase to ensure that these chemically distinct steps occur at the right time and place, and that the reaction proceeds in the net forward direction. Mu transposition is catalyzed by a stable complex of MuA transposase bound to paired Mu DNA ends (a transpososome). We find that Mu transpososomes efficiently catalyze disintegration when recombination on one end of the Mu DNA is blocked. The MuB activator protein controls the integration versus disintegration equilibrium. When MuB is present, disintegration occurs slowly and transpososomes that have disintegrated catalyze subsequent rounds of recombination. In the absence of MuB, disintegration goes to completion. These results together with experiments mapping the MuA-MuB contacts during DNA joining suggest that MuB controls progression of recombination by specifically stabilizing a concerted transition to the "joining" configuration of MuA. Thus, we propose that MuB's interaction with the transpososome actively promotes coupled joining of both ends of the element DNA into the same target site and may provide a mechanism to antagonize formation of single-end transposition products.