1
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Katz MA, Sawyer EM, Oriolt L, Kozlova A, Williams MC, Margolis SR, Johnson M, Bondy-Denomy J, Meeske AJ. Diverse viral cas genes antagonize CRISPR immunity. Nature 2024:10.1038/s41586-024-07923-x. [PMID: 39232173 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07923-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas immunity is subverted by anti-CRISPRs (Acrs), which inhibit Cas protein activities when expressed during the phage lytic cycle or from resident prophages or plasmids1. Acrs often bind to specific cognate Cas proteins, and hence inhibition is typically limited to a single CRISPR-Cas subtype2. Furthermore, although acr genes are frequently organized together in phage-associated gene clusters3, how such inhibitors initially evolve has remained unclear. Here we investigated the Acr content and inhibition specificity of diverse Listeria isolates, which naturally harbour four CRISPR-Cas systems (types I-B, II-A, II-C and VI-A). We observed widespread antagonism of CRISPR, which we traced to 11 previously unknown and 4 known acr gene families encoded by endogenous mobile elements. Among these were two Acrs that possess sequence homology to type I-B Cas proteins, one of which assembles into a defective interference complex. Surprisingly, an additional type I-B Cas homologue did not affect type I immunity, but instead inhibited the RNA-targeting type VI CRISPR system by means of CRISPR RNA (crRNA) degradation. By probing viral sequence databases, we detected abundant orphan cas genes located within putative anti-defence gene clusters. Among them, we verified the activity of a particularly broad-spectrum cas3 homologue that inhibits type I-B, II-A and VI-A CRISPR immunity. Our observations provide direct evidence of Acr evolution by cas gene co-option, and new genes with potential for broad-spectrum control of genome editing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Katz
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Edith M Sawyer
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Luke Oriolt
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Albina Kozlova
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Shally R Margolis
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Matthew Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joseph Bondy-Denomy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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2
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Hwang SY, Kim H, Denisko D, Zhao B, Lee D, Jeong J, Kim J, Park K, Park J, Jeong D, Park S, Choi HJ, Kim S, Lee EA, Ahn K. Human cytomegalovirus harnesses host L1 retrotransposon for efficient replication. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7640. [PMID: 39223139 PMCID: PMC11369119 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51961-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic parasites, including viruses and transposons, exploit components from the host for their own replication. However, little is known about virus-transposon interactions within host cells. Here, we discover a strategy where human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) hijacks L1 retrotransposon encoded protein during its replication cycle. HCMV infection upregulates L1 expression by enhancing both the expression of L1-activating transcription factors, YY1 and RUNX3, and the chromatin accessibility of L1 promoter regions. Increased L1 expression, in turn, promotes HCMV replicative fitness. Affinity proteomics reveals UL44, HCMV DNA polymerase subunit, as the most abundant viral binding protein of the L1 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. UL44 directly interacts with L1 ORF2p, inducing DNA damage responses in replicating HCMV compartments. While increased L1-induced mutagenesis is not observed in HCMV for genetic adaptation, the interplay between UL44 and ORF2p accelerates viral DNA replication by alleviating replication stress. Our findings shed light on how HCMV exploits host retrotransposons for enhanced viral fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Yeon Hwang
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- SNU Institute for Virus Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyewon Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- SNU Institute for Virus Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Danielle Denisko
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Boxun Zhao
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02115, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Dohoon Lee
- Bioinformatics Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- BK21 FOUR Intelligence Computing, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiseok Jeong
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- SNU Institute for Virus Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinuk Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Kiwon Park
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- SNU Institute for Virus Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Junhyun Park
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- SNU Institute for Virus Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongjoon Jeong
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- SNU Institute for Virus Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sehong Park
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- SNU Institute for Virus Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Jung Choi
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Kim
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunjung Alice Lee
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02115, USA.
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Kwangseog Ahn
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- SNU Institute for Virus Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Wiegand T, Hoffmann FT, Walker MWG, Tang S, Richard E, Le HC, Meers C, Sternberg SH. TnpB homologues exapted from transposons are RNA-guided transcription factors. Nature 2024; 631:439-448. [PMID: 38926585 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07598-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Transposon-encoded tnpB and iscB genes encode RNA-guided DNA nucleases that promote their own selfish spread through targeted DNA cleavage and homologous recombination1-4. These widespread gene families were repeatedly domesticated over evolutionary timescales, leading to the emergence of diverse CRISPR-associated nucleases including Cas9 and Cas12 (refs. 5,6). We set out to test the hypothesis that TnpB nucleases may have also been repurposed for novel, unexpected functions other than CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity. Here, using phylogenetics, structural predictions, comparative genomics and functional assays, we uncover multiple independent genesis events of programmable transcription factors, which we name TnpB-like nuclease-dead repressors (TldRs). These proteins use naturally occurring guide RNAs to specifically target conserved promoter regions of the genome, leading to potent gene repression in a mechanism akin to CRISPR interference technologies invented by humans7. Focusing on a TldR clade found broadly in Enterobacteriaceae, we discover that bacteriophages exploit the combined action of TldR and an adjacently encoded phage gene to alter the expression and composition of the host flagellar assembly, a transformation with the potential to impact motility8, phage susceptibility9, and host immunity10. Collectively, this work showcases the diverse molecular innovations that were enabled through repeated exaptation of transposon-encoded genes, and reveals the evolutionary trajectory of diverse RNA-guided transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner Wiegand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Florian T Hoffmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matt W G Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Egill Richard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hoang C Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel H Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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4
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Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Fischer MG, Koonin EV. Natural history of eukaryotic DNA viruses with double jelly-roll major capsid proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2405771121. [PMID: 38805295 PMCID: PMC11161782 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2405771121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The phylum Preplasmiviricota (kingdom Bamfordvirae, realm Varidnaviria) is a broad assemblage of diverse viruses with comparatively short double-stranded DNA genomes (<50 kbp) that produce icosahedral capsids built from double jelly-roll major capsid proteins. Preplasmiviricots infect hosts from all cellular domains, testifying to their ancient origin, and, in particular, are associated with six of the seven supergroups of eukaryotes. Preplasmiviricots comprise four major groups of viruses, namely, polintons, polinton-like viruses (PLVs), virophages, and adenovirids. We used protein structure modeling and analysis to show that protein-primed DNA polymerases (pPolBs) of polintons, virophages, and cytoplasmic linear plasmids encompass an N-terminal domain homologous to the terminal proteins (TPs) of prokaryotic PRD1-like tectivirids and eukaryotic adenovirids that are involved in protein-primed replication initiation, followed by a viral ovarian tumor-like cysteine deubiquitinylase (vOTU) domain. The vOTU domain is likely responsible for the cleavage of the TP from the large pPolB polypeptide and is inactivated in adenovirids, in which TP is a separate protein. Many PLVs and transpovirons encode a distinct derivative of polinton-like pPolB that retains the TP, vOTU, and pPolB polymerization palm domains but lacks the exonuclease domain and instead contains a superfamily 1 helicase domain. Analysis of the presence/absence and inactivation of the vOTU domains and replacement of pPolB with other DNA polymerases in eukaryotic preplasmiviricots enabled us to outline a complete scenario for their origin and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mart Krupovic
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris75015, France
| | - Jens H. Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD21702
| | - Matthias G. Fischer
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg69120, Germany
| | - Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, MD20894
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5
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Ganguly C, Rostami S, Long K, Aribam SD, Rajan R. Unity among the diverse RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas interference mechanisms. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107295. [PMID: 38641067 PMCID: PMC11127173 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated) systems are adaptive immune systems that protect bacteria and archaea from invading mobile genetic elements (MGEs). The Cas protein-CRISPR RNA (crRNA) complex uses complementarity of the crRNA "guide" region to specifically recognize the invader genome. CRISPR effectors that perform targeted destruction of the foreign genome have emerged independently as multi-subunit protein complexes (Class 1 systems) and as single multi-domain proteins (Class 2). These different CRISPR-Cas systems can cleave RNA, DNA, and protein in an RNA-guided manner to eliminate the invader, and in some cases, they initiate programmed cell death/dormancy. The versatile mechanisms of the different CRISPR-Cas systems to target and destroy nucleic acids have been adapted to develop various programmable-RNA-guided tools and have revolutionized the development of fast, accurate, and accessible genomic applications. In this review, we present the structure and interference mechanisms of different CRISPR-Cas systems and an analysis of their unified features. The three types of Class 1 systems (I, III, and IV) have a conserved right-handed helical filamentous structure that provides a backbone for sequence-specific targeting while using unique proteins with distinct mechanisms to destroy the invader. Similarly, all three Class 2 types (II, V, and VI) have a bilobed architecture that binds the RNA-DNA/RNA hybrid and uses different nuclease domains to cleave invading MGEs. Additionally, we highlight the mechanistic similarities of CRISPR-Cas enzymes with other RNA-cleaving enzymes and briefly present the evolutionary routes of the different CRISPR-Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chhandosee Ganguly
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Price Family Foundation Institute of Structural Biology, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Saadi Rostami
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Price Family Foundation Institute of Structural Biology, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Kole Long
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Price Family Foundation Institute of Structural Biology, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Swarmistha Devi Aribam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Price Family Foundation Institute of Structural Biology, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Rakhi Rajan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Price Family Foundation Institute of Structural Biology, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
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6
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Goff JL, Lui LM, Nielsen TN, Poole FL, Smith HJ, Walker KF, Hazen TC, Fields MW, Arkin AP, Adams MWW. Mixed waste contamination selects for a mobile genetic element population enriched in multiple heavy metal resistance genes. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycae064. [PMID: 38800128 PMCID: PMC11128244 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) like plasmids, viruses, and transposable elements can provide fitness benefits to their hosts for survival in the presence of environmental stressors. Heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) are frequently observed on MGEs, suggesting that MGEs may be an important driver of adaptive evolution in environments contaminated with heavy metals. Here, we report the meta-mobilome of the heavy metal-contaminated regions of the Oak Ridge Reservation subsurface. This meta-mobilome was compared with one derived from samples collected from unimpacted regions of the Oak Ridge Reservation subsurface. We assembled 1615 unique circularized DNA elements that we propose to be MGEs. The circular elements from the highly contaminated subsurface were enriched in HMRG clusters relative to those from the nearby unimpacted regions. Additionally, we found that these HMRGs were associated with Gamma and Betaproteobacteria hosts in the contaminated subsurface and potentially facilitate the persistence and dominance of these taxa in this region. Finally, the HMRGs were associated with conjugative elements, suggesting their potential for future lateral transfer. We demonstrate how our understanding of MGE ecology, evolution, and function can be enhanced through the genomic context provided by completed MGE assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Goff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States
| | - Lauren M Lui
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Torben N Nielsen
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Farris L Poole
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Heidi J Smith
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
| | - Kathleen F Walker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916, United States
| | - Terry C Hazen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916, United States
- Genome Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, United States
| | - Matthew W Fields
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
| | - Adam P Arkin
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Michael W W Adams
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
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7
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Wiegand T, Hoffmann FT, Walker MWG, Tang S, Richard E, Le HC, Meers C, Sternberg SH. Emergence of RNA-guided transcription factors via domestication of transposon-encoded TnpB nucleases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.30.569447. [PMID: 38076855 PMCID: PMC10705468 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.30.569447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Transposon-encoded tnpB genes encode RNA-guided DNA nucleases that promote their own selfish spread through targeted DNA cleavage and homologous recombination1-4. This widespread gene family was repeatedly domesticated over evolutionary timescales, leading to the emergence of diverse CRISPR-associated nucleases including Cas9 and Cas125,6. We set out to test the hypothesis that TnpB nucleases may have also been repurposed for novel, unexpected functions other than CRISPR-Cas. Here, using phylogenetics, structural predictions, comparative genomics, and functional assays, we uncover multiple instances of programmable transcription factors that we name TnpB-like nuclease-dead repressors (TldR). These proteins employ naturally occurring guide RNAs to specifically target conserved promoter regions of the genome, leading to potent gene repression in a mechanism akin to CRISPRi technologies invented by humans7. Focusing on a TldR clade found broadly in Enterobacteriaceae, we discover that bacteriophages exploit the combined action of TldR and an adjacently encoded phage gene to alter the expression and composition of the host flagellar assembly, a transformation with the potential to impact motility8, phage susceptibility9, and host immunity10. Collectively, this work showcases the diverse molecular innovations that were enabled through repeated exaptation of genes encoded by transposable elements, and reveals that RNA-guided transcription factors emerged long before the development of dCas9-based editors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner Wiegand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Florian T Hoffmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matt W G Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Egill Richard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hoang C Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel H Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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8
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Meers C, Le HC, Pesari SR, Hoffmann FT, Walker MWG, Gezelle J, Tang S, Sternberg SH. Transposon-encoded nucleases use guide RNAs to promote their selfish spread. Nature 2023; 622:863-871. [PMID: 37758954 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06597-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Insertion sequences are compact and pervasive transposable elements found in bacteria, which encode only the genes necessary for their mobilization and maintenance1. IS200- and IS605-family transposons undergo 'peel-and-paste' transposition catalysed by a TnpA transposase2, but they also encode diverse, TnpB- and IscB-family proteins that are evolutionarily related to the CRISPR-associated effectors Cas12 and Cas9, respectively3,4. Recent studies have demonstrated that TnpB and IscB function as RNA-guided DNA endonucleases5,6, but the broader biological role of this activity has remained enigmatic. Here we show that TnpB and IscB are essential to prevent permanent transposon loss as a consequence of the TnpA transposition mechanism. We selected a family of related insertion sequences from Geobacillus stearothermophilus that encode several TnpB and IscB orthologues, and showed that a single TnpA transposase was broadly active for transposon mobilization. The donor joints formed upon religation of transposon-flanking sequences were efficiently targeted for cleavage by RNA-guided TnpB and IscB nucleases, and co-expression of TnpB and TnpA led to substantially greater transposon retention relative to conditions in which TnpA was expressed alone. Notably, TnpA and TnpB also stimulated recombination frequencies, surpassing rates observed with TnpB alone. Collectively, this study reveals that RNA-guided DNA cleavage arose as a primal biochemical activity to bias the selfish inheritance and spread of transposable elements, which was later co-opted during the evolution of CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity for antiviral defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hoang C Le
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sanjana R Pesari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Program, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Florian T Hoffmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matt W G Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeanine Gezelle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel H Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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9
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Chakrabarty P, Sen R, Sengupta S. From parasites to partners: exploring the intricacies of host-transposon dynamics and coevolution. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:278. [PMID: 37610667 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01206-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements, often referred to as "jumping genes," have long been recognized as genomic parasites due to their ability to integrate and disrupt normal gene function and induce extensive genomic alterations, thereby compromising the host's fitness. To counteract this, the host has evolved a plethora of mechanisms to suppress the activity of the transposons. Recent research has unveiled the host-transposon relationships to be nuanced and complex phenomena, resulting in the coevolution of both entities. Transposition increases the mutational rate in the host genome, often triggering physiological pathways such as immune and stress responses. Current gene transfer technologies utilizing transposable elements have potential drawbacks, including off-target integration, induction of mutations, and modifications of cellular machinery, which makes an in-depth understanding of the host-transposon relationship imperative. This review highlights the dynamic interplay between the host and transposable elements, encompassing various factors and components of the cellular machinery. We provide a comprehensive discussion of the strategies employed by transposable elements for their propagation, as well as the mechanisms utilized by the host to mitigate their parasitic effects. Additionally, we present an overview of recent research identifying host proteins that act as facilitators or inhibitors of transposition. We further discuss the evolutionary outcomes resulting from the genetic interactions between the host and the transposable elements. Finally, we pose open questions in this field and suggest potential avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prayas Chakrabarty
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University Kolkata, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, India
| | - Raneet Sen
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University Kolkata, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, India
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Department of RNA Metabolism, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Sugopa Sengupta
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University Kolkata, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, India.
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10
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Meers C, Le H, Pesari SR, Hoffmann FT, Walker MW, Gezelle J, Sternberg SH. Transposon-encoded nucleases use guide RNAs to selfishly bias their inheritance. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.14.532601. [PMID: 36993599 PMCID: PMC10055086 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.14.532601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Insertion sequences (IS) are compact and pervasive transposable elements found in bacteria, which encode only the genes necessary for their mobilization and maintenance. IS 200 /IS 605 elements undergo 'peel-and-paste' transposition catalyzed by a TnpA transposase, but intriguingly, they also encode diverse, TnpB- and IscB-family proteins that are evolutionarily related to the CRISPR-associated effectors Cas12 and Cas9, respectively. Recent studies demonstrated that TnpB-family enzymes function as RNA-guided DNA endonucleases, but the broader biological role of this activity has remained enigmatic. Here we show that TnpB/IscB are essential to prevent permanent transposon loss as a consequence of the TnpA transposition mechanism. We selected a family of related IS elements from Geobacillus stearothermophilus that encode diverse TnpB/IscB orthologs, and showed that a single TnpA transposase was active for transposon excision. The donor joints formed upon religation of IS-flanking sequences were efficiently targeted for cleavage by RNA-guided TnpB/IscB nucleases, and co-expression of TnpB together with TnpA led to significantly greater transposon retention, relative to conditions in which TnpA was expressed alone. Remarkably, TnpA and TnpB/IscB recognize the same AT-rich transposon-adjacent motif (TAM) during transposon excision and RNA-guided DNA cleavage, respectively, revealing a striking convergence in the evolution of DNA sequence specificity between collaborating transposase and nuclease proteins. Collectively, our study reveals that RNA-guided DNA cleavage is a primal biochemical activity that arose to bias the selfish inheritance and spread of transposable elements, which was later co-opted during the evolution of CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity for antiviral defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chance Meers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Hoang Le
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Sanjana R. Pesari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Florian T. Hoffmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Matt W.G. Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Jeanine Gezelle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Samuel H. Sternberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY
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11
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Oliveira LS, Reyes A, Dutilh BE, Gruber A. Rational Design of Profile HMMs for Sensitive and Specific Sequence Detection with Case Studies Applied to Viruses, Bacteriophages, and Casposons. Viruses 2023; 15:519. [PMID: 36851733 PMCID: PMC9966878 DOI: 10.3390/v15020519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Profile hidden Markov models (HMMs) are a powerful way of modeling biological sequence diversity and constitute a very sensitive approach to detecting divergent sequences. Here, we report the development of protocols for the rational design of profile HMMs. These methods were implemented on TABAJARA, a program that can be used to either detect all biological sequences of a group or discriminate specific groups of sequences. By calculating position-specific information scores along a multiple sequence alignment, TABAJARA automatically identifies the most informative sequence motifs and uses them to construct profile HMMs. As a proof-of-principle, we applied TABAJARA to generate profile HMMs for the detection and classification of two viral groups presenting different evolutionary rates: bacteriophages of the Microviridae family and viruses of the Flavivirus genus. We obtained conserved models for the generic detection of any Microviridae or Flavivirus sequence, and profile HMMs that can specifically discriminate Microviridae subfamilies or Flavivirus species. In another application, we constructed Cas1 endonuclease-derived profile HMMs that can discriminate CRISPRs and casposons, two evolutionarily related transposable elements. We believe that the protocols described here, and implemented on TABAJARA, constitute a generic toolbox for generating profile HMMs for the highly sensitive and specific detection of sequence classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliane S. Oliveira
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Alejandro Reyes
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Bas E. Dutilh
- Institute of Biodiversity, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Science for Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Arthur Gruber
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
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12
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Bertels F, Rainey PB. Ancient Darwinian replicators nested within eubacterial genomes. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200085. [PMID: 36456469 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Integrative mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as transposons and insertion sequences, propagate within bacterial genomes, but persistence times in individual lineages are short. For long-term survival, MGEs must continuously invade new hosts by horizontal transfer. Theoretically, MGEs that persist for millions of years in single lineages, and are thus subject to vertical inheritance, should not exist. Here we draw attention to an exception - a class of MGE termed REPIN. REPINs are non-autonomous MGEs whose duplication depends on non-jumping RAYT transposases. Comparisons of REPINs and typical MGEs show that replication rates of REPINs are orders of magnitude lower, REPIN population size fluctuations correlate with changes in available genome space, REPIN conservation depends on RAYT function, and REPIN diversity accumulates within host lineages. These data lead to the hypothesis that REPINs form enduring, beneficial associations with eubacterial chromosomes. Given replicative nesting, our hypothesis predicts conflicts arising from the diverging effects of selection acting simultaneously on REPINs and host genomes. Evidence in support comes from patterns of REPIN abundance and diversity in two distantly related bacterial species. Together this bolsters the conclusion that REPINs are the genetic counterpart of mutualistic endosymbiotic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Bertels
- Department of Microbial Population Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
| | - Paul B Rainey
- Department of Microbial Population Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,Laboratory of Biophysics and Evolution, CBI, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Paris, France
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13
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Hackl T, Laurenceau R, Ankenbrand MJ, Bliem C, Cariani Z, Thomas E, Dooley KD, Arellano AA, Hogle SL, Berube P, Leventhal GE, Luo E, Eppley JM, Zayed AA, Beaulaurier J, Stepanauskas R, Sullivan MB, DeLong EF, Biller SJ, Chisholm SW. Novel integrative elements and genomic plasticity in ocean ecosystems. Cell 2023; 186:47-62.e16. [PMID: 36608657 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer accelerates microbial evolution. The marine picocyanobacterium Prochlorococcus exhibits high genomic plasticity, yet the underlying mechanisms are elusive. Here, we report a novel family of DNA transposons-"tycheposons"-some of which are viral satellites while others carry cargo, such as nutrient-acquisition genes, which shape the genetic variability in this globally abundant genus. Tycheposons share distinctive mobile-lifecycle-linked hallmark genes, including a deep-branching site-specific tyrosine recombinase. Their excision and integration at tRNA genes appear to drive the remodeling of genomic islands-key reservoirs for flexible genes in bacteria. In a selection experiment, tycheposons harboring a nitrate assimilation cassette were dynamically gained and lost, thereby promoting chromosomal rearrangements and host adaptation. Vesicles and phage particles harvested from seawater are enriched in tycheposons, providing a means for their dispersal in the wild. Similar elements are found in microbes co-occurring with Prochlorococcus, suggesting a common mechanism for microbial diversification in the vast oligotrophic oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hackl
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700CC Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Raphaël Laurenceau
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Markus J Ankenbrand
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; University of Würzburg, Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christina Bliem
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Zev Cariani
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Elaina Thomas
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Keven D Dooley
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Aldo A Arellano
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Shane L Hogle
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Paul Berube
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Gabriel E Leventhal
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Elaine Luo
- Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography, Research and Education, University of Hawai'i Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - John M Eppley
- Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography, Research and Education, University of Hawai'i Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Ahmed A Zayed
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | | | | | - Matthew B Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology & Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Edward F DeLong
- Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography, Research and Education, University of Hawai'i Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Steven J Biller
- Wellesley College, Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA
| | - Sallie W Chisholm
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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14
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Smaruj P, Kieliszek M. Casposons - silent heroes of the CRISPR-Cas systems evolutionary history. EXCLI JOURNAL 2023; 22:70-83. [PMID: 36814855 PMCID: PMC9939771 DOI: 10.17179/excli2022-5581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Many archaeal and bacterial organisms possess an adaptive immunity system known as CRISPR-Cas. Its role is to recognize and degrade foreign DNA showing high similarity to repeats within the CRISPR array. In recent years computational techniques have been used to identify cas1 genes that are not associated with CRISPR systems, named cas1-solo. Often, cas1-solo genes are present in a conserved neighborhood of PolB-like polymerase genes, which is a characteristic feature of self-synthesizing, eukaryotic transposons of the Polinton class. Nearly all cas1-polB genomic islands are flanked by terminal inverted repeats and direct repeats which correspond to target site duplications. Considering the patchy taxonomic distribution of the identified islands in archaeal and bacterial genomes, they were characterized as a new superfamily of mobile genetic elements and called casposons. Here, we review recent experiments on casposons' mobility and discuss their discovery, classification, and evolutionary relationship with the CRISPR-Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Smaruj
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States of America,College of Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland,*To whom correspondence should be addressed: Paulina Smaruj, Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States of America, E-mail:
| | - Marek Kieliszek
- Department of Food Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159 C, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
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15
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Hackl T, Laurenceau R, Ankenbrand MJ, Bliem C, Cariani Z, Thomas E, Dooley KD, Arellano AA, Hogle SL, Berube P, Leventhal GE, Luo E, Eppley JM, Zayed AA, Beaulaurier J, Stepanauskas R, Sullivan MB, DeLong EF, Biller SJ, Chisholm SW. Novel integrative elements and genomic plasticity in ocean ecosystems. Cell 2023. [DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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16
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Devaux CA, Pontarotti P, Nehari S, Raoult D. 'Cannibalism' of exogenous DNA sequences: The ancestral form of adaptive immunity which entails recognition of danger. Front Immunol 2022; 13:989707. [PMID: 36618387 PMCID: PMC9816338 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.989707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptive immunity is a sophisticated form of immune response capable of retaining the molecular memory of a very great diversity of target antigens (epitopes) as non-self. It is capable of reactivating itself upon a second encounter with an immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor antigen-binding site with a known epitope that had previously primed the host immune system. It has long been considered that adaptive immunity is a highly evolved form of non-self recognition that appeared quite late in speciation and complemented a more generalist response called innate immunity. Innate immunity offers a relatively non-specific defense (although mediated by sensors that could specifically recognize virus or bacteria compounds) and which does not retain a memory of the danger. But this notion of recent acquisition of adaptive immunity is challenged by the fact that another form of specific recognition mechanisms already existed in prokaryotes that may be able to specifically auto-protect against external danger. This recognition mechanism can be considered a primitive form of specific (adaptive) non-self recognition. It is based on the fact that many archaea and bacteria use a genome editing system that confers the ability to appropriate viral DNA sequences allowing prokaryotes to prevent host damage through a mechanism very similar to adaptive immunity. This is indistinctly called, 'endogenization of foreign DNA' or 'viral DNA predation' or, more pictorially 'DNA cannibalism'. For several years evidence has been accumulating, highlighting the crucial role of endogenization of foreign DNA in the fundamental processes related to adaptive immunity and leading to a change in the dogma that adaptive immunity appeared late in speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian A. Devaux
- Aix-Marseille University, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), MEPHI, Institut Hospitalo-universitaire (IHU)-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France,Department of Biological Sciences, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-SNC5039, Marseille, France,*Correspondence: Christian A. Devaux,
| | - Pierre Pontarotti
- Aix-Marseille University, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), MEPHI, Institut Hospitalo-universitaire (IHU)-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France,Department of Biological Sciences, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-SNC5039, Marseille, France
| | - Sephora Nehari
- Aix-Marseille University, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), MEPHI, Institut Hospitalo-universitaire (IHU)-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix-Marseille University, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), MEPHI, Institut Hospitalo-universitaire (IHU)-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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17
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Salgado O, Guajardo-Leiva S, Moya-Beltrán A, Barbosa C, Ridley C, Tamayo-Leiva J, Quatrini R, Mojica FJM, Díez B. Global phylogenomic novelty of the Cas1 gene from hot spring microbial communities. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1069452. [DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1069452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cas1 protein is essential for the functioning of CRISPR-Cas adaptive systems. However, despite the high prevalence of CRISPR-Cas systems in thermophilic microorganisms, few studies have investigated the occurrence and diversity of Cas1 across hot spring microbial communities. Phylogenomic analysis of 2,150 Cas1 sequences recovered from 48 metagenomes representing hot springs (42–80°C, pH 6–9) from three continents, revealed similar ecological diversity of Cas1 and 16S rRNA associated with geographic location. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the Cas1 sequences exposed a broad taxonomic distribution in thermophilic bacteria, with new clades of Cas1 homologs branching at the root of the tree or at the root of known clades harboring reference Cas1 types. Additionally, a new family of casposases was identified from hot springs, which further completes the evolutionary landscape of the Cas1 superfamily. This ecological study contributes new Cas1 sequences from known and novel locations worldwide, mainly focusing on under-sampled hot spring microbial mat taxa. Results herein show that circumneutral hot springs are environments harboring high diversity and novelty related to adaptive immunity systems.
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18
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Liu P, Cuerda-Gil D, Shahid S, Slotkin RK. The Epigenetic Control of the Transposable Element Life Cycle in Plant Genomes and Beyond. Annu Rev Genet 2022; 56:63-87. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-072920-015534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Within the life cycle of a living organism, another life cycle exists for the selfish genome inhabitants, which are called transposable elements (TEs). These mobile sequences invade, duplicate, amplify, and diversify within a genome, increasing the genome's size and generating new mutations. Cells act to defend their genome, but rather than permanently destroying TEs, they use chromatin-level repression and epigenetic inheritance to silence TE activity. This level of silencing is ephemeral and reversible, leading to a dynamic equilibrium between TE suppression and reactivation within a host genome. The coexistence of the TE and host genome can also lead to the domestication of the TE to serve in host genome evolution and function. In this review, we describe the life cycle of a TE, with emphasis on how epigenetic regulation is harnessed to control TEs for host genome stability and innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Diego Cuerda-Gil
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Graduate Program in the Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Saima Shahid
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - R. Keith Slotkin
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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19
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Gehlert FO, Sauerwein T, Weidenbach K, Repnik U, Hallack D, Förstner KU, Schmitz RA. Dual-RNAseq Analysis Unravels Virus-Host Interactions of MetSV and Methanosarcina mazei. Viruses 2022; 14:2585. [PMID: 36423194 PMCID: PMC9694453 DOI: 10.3390/v14112585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanosarcina spherical virus (MetSV), infecting Methanosarcina species, encodes 22 genes, but their role in the infection process in combination with host genes has remained unknown. To study the infection process in detail, infected and uninfected M. mazei cultures were compared using dual-RNAseq, qRT-PCRs, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The transcriptome analysis strongly indicates a combined role of virus and host genes in replication, virus assembly, and lysis. Thereby, 285 host and virus genes were significantly regulated. Within these 285 regulated genes, a network of the viral polymerase, MetSVORF6, MetSVORF5, MetSVORF2, and the host genes encoding NrdD, NrdG, a CDC48 family protein, and a SSB protein with a role in viral replication was postulated. Ultrastructural analysis at 180 min p.i. revealed many infected cells with virus particles randomly scattered throughout the cytoplasm or attached at the cell surface, and membrane fragments indicating cell lysis. Dual-RNAseq and qRT-PCR analyses suggested a multifactorial lysis reaction in potential connection to the regulation of a cysteine proteinase, a pirin-like protein and a HicB-solo protein. Our study's results led to the first preliminary infection model of MetSV infecting M. mazei, summarizing the key infection steps as follows: replication, assembly, and host cell lysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Finn O. Gehlert
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Till Sauerwein
- ZB MED, Information Centre for Life Sciences, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Katrin Weidenbach
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Urska Repnik
- Central Microscopy, Christian Albrechts University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniela Hallack
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Ruth A. Schmitz
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
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20
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Wang JY, Pausch P, Doudna JA. Structural biology of CRISPR-Cas immunity and genome editing enzymes. Nat Rev Microbiol 2022; 20:641-656. [PMID: 35562427 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-022-00739-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems provide resistance against foreign mobile genetic elements and have a wide range of genome editing and biotechnological applications. In this Review, we examine recent advances in understanding the molecular structures and mechanisms of enzymes comprising bacterial RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas immune systems and deployed for wide-ranging genome editing applications. We explore the adaptive and interference aspects of CRISPR-Cas function as well as open questions about the molecular mechanisms responsible for genome targeting. These structural insights reflect close evolutionary links between CRISPR-Cas systems and mobile genetic elements, including the origins and evolution of CRISPR-Cas systems from DNA transposons, retrotransposons and toxin-antitoxin modules. We discuss how the evolution and structural diversity of CRISPR-Cas systems explain their functional complexity and utility as genome editing tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Y Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Pausch
- VU LSC-EMBL Partnership for Genome Editing Technologies, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- MBIB Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Gladstone Institutes, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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21
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DNA Motifs and an Accessory CRISPR Factor Determine Cas1 Binding and Integration Activity in Sulfolobus islandicus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710178. [PMID: 36077578 PMCID: PMC9456107 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems empower prokaryotes with adaptive immunity against invasive mobile genetic elements. At the first step of CRISPR immunity adaptation, short DNA fragments from the invaders are integrated into CRISPR arrays at the leader-proximal end. To date, the mechanism of recognition of the leader-proximal end remains largely unknown. Here, in the Sulfolobus islandicus subtype I-A system, we show that mutations destroying the proximal region reduce CRISPR adaptation in vivo. We identify that a stem-loop structure is present on the leader-proximal end, and we demonstrate that Cas1 preferentially binds the stem-loop structure in vitro. Moreover, we demonstrate that the integrase activity of Cas1 is modulated by interacting with a CRISPR-associated factor Csa3a. When translocated to the CRISPR array, the Csa3a-Cas1 complex is separated by Csa3a binding to the leader-distal motif and Cas1 binding to the leader-proximal end. Mutation at the leader-distal motif reduces CRISPR adaptation efficiency, further confirming the in vivo function of leader-distal motif. Together, our results suggest a general model for binding of Cas1 protein to a leader motif and modulation of integrase activity by an accessory factor.
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22
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Ilyina TS. Adaptive Immunity Systems of Bacteria: Association with Self-Synthesizing Transposons, Polyfunctionality. MOLECULAR GENETICS, MICROBIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3103/s0891416822030065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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23
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Chuprikova L, Mateo-Cáceres V, de Toro M, Redrejo-Rodríguez M. ExplorePipolin: reconstruction and annotation of piPolB-encoding bacterial mobile elements from draft genomes. BIOINFORMATICS ADVANCES 2022; 2:vbac056. [PMID: 36699382 PMCID: PMC9710591 DOI: 10.1093/bioadv/vbac056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Motivation Detailed and accurate analysis of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in bacteria is essential to deal with the current threat of multiresistant microbes. The overwhelming use of draft, contig-based genomes hinder the delineation of the genetic structure of these plastic and variable genomic stretches, as in the case of pipolins, a superfamily of MGEs that spans diverse integrative and plasmidic elements, characterized by the presence of a primer-independent DNA polymerase. Results ExplorePipolin is a Python-based pipeline that screens for the presence of the element and performs its reconstruction and annotation. The pipeline can be used on virtually any genome from diverse organisms and of diverse quality, obtaining the highest-scored possible structure and reconstructed out of different contigs if necessary. Then, predicted pipolin boundaries and pipolin encoded genes are subsequently annotated using a custom database, returning the standard file formats suitable for comparative genomics of this mobile element. Availability and implementation All code is available and can be accessed here: github.com/pipolinlab/ExplorePipolin. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - V Mateo-Cáceres
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas ‘Alberto Sols’ (UAM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - M de Toro
- Plataforma de Genómica y Bioinformática, CIBIR (Centro de Investigación Biomédica de La Rioja), Logroño, La Rioja 26006, Spain
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Khedkar S, Smyshlyaev G, Letunic I, Maistrenko OM, Coelho LP, Orakov A, Forslund SK, Hildebrand F, Luetge M, Schmidt TSB, Barabas O, Bork P. Landscape of mobile genetic elements and their antibiotic resistance cargo in prokaryotic genomes. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:3155-3168. [PMID: 35323968 PMCID: PMC8989519 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotic Mobile Genetic Elements (MGEs) such as transposons, integrons, phages and plasmids, play important roles in prokaryotic evolution and in the dispersal of cargo functions like antibiotic resistance. However, each of these MGE types is usually annotated and analysed individually, hampering a global understanding of phylogenetic and environmental patterns of MGE dispersal. We thus developed a computational framework that captures diverse MGE types, their cargos and MGE-mediated horizontal transfer events, using recombinases as ubiquitous MGE marker genes and pangenome information for MGE boundary estimation. Applied to ∼84k genomes with habitat annotation, we mapped 2.8 million MGE-specific recombinases to six operational MGE types, which together contain on average 13% of all the genes in a genome. Transposable elements (TEs) dominated across all taxa (∼1.7 million occurrences), outnumbering phages and phage-like elements (<0.4 million). We recorded numerous MGE-mediated horizontal transfer events across diverse phyla and habitats involving all MGE types, disentangled and quantified the extent of hitchhiking of TEs (17%) and integrons (63%) with other MGE categories, and established TEs as dominant carriers of antibiotic resistance genes. We integrated all these findings into a resource (proMGE.embl.de), which should facilitate future studies on the large mobile part of genomes and its horizontal dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supriya Khedkar
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Georgy Smyshlyaev
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivica Letunic
- Biobyte solutions GmbH, Bothestr 142, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oleksandr M Maistrenko
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luis Pedro Coelho
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Askarbek Orakov
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sofia K Forslund
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.,Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin and Max-Delbrück Center, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Falk Hildebrand
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mechthild Luetge
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas S B Schmidt
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Orsolya Barabas
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Peer Bork
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.,Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Yonsei Frontier Lab (YFL), Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, South Korea
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25
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Benler S, Koonin EV. Recruitment of Mobile Genetic Elements for Diverse Cellular Functions in Prokaryotes. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:821197. [PMID: 35402511 PMCID: PMC8987985 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.821197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotic genomes are replete with mobile genetic elements (MGE) that span a continuum of replication autonomy. On numerous occasions during microbial evolution, diverse MGE lose their autonomy altogether but, rather than being quickly purged from the host genome, assume a new function that benefits the host, rendering the immobilized MGE subject to purifying selection, and resulting in its vertical inheritance. This mini-review highlights the diversity of the repurposed (exapted) MGE as well as the plethora of cellular functions that they perform. The principal contribution of the exaptation of MGE and their components is to the prokaryotic functional systems involved in biological conflicts, and in particular, defense against viruses and other MGE. This evolutionary entanglement between MGE and defense systems appears to stem both from mechanistic similarities and from similar evolutionary predicaments whereby both MGEs and defense systems tend to incur fitness costs to the hosts and thereby evolve mechanisms for survival including horizontal mobility, causing host addiction, and exaptation for functions beneficial to the host. The examples discussed demonstrate that the identity of an MGE, overall mobility and relationship with the host cell (mutualistic, symbiotic, commensal, or parasitic) are all factors that affect exaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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26
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Ambroa A, Blasco L, López M, Pacios O, Bleriot I, Fernández-García L, González de Aledo M, Ortiz-Cartagena C, Millard A, Tomás M. Genomic Analysis of Molecular Bacterial Mechanisms of Resistance to Phage Infection. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:784949. [PMID: 35250902 PMCID: PMC8891609 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.784949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To optimize phage therapy, we need to understand how bacteria evolve against phage attacks. One of the main problems of phage therapy is the appearance of bacterial resistance variants. The use of genomics to track antimicrobial resistance is increasingly developed and used in clinical laboratories. For that reason, it is important to consider, in an emerging future with phage therapy, to detect and avoid phage-resistant strains that can be overcome by the analysis of metadata provided by whole-genome sequencing. Here, we identified genes associated with phage resistance in 18 Acinetobacter baumannii clinical strains belonging to the ST-2 clonal complex during a decade (Ab2000 vs. 2010): 9 from 2000 to 9 from 2010. The presence of genes putatively associated with phage resistance was detected. Genes detected were associated with an abortive infection system, restriction-modification system, genes predicted to be associated with defense systems but with unknown function, and CRISPR-Cas system. Between 118 and 171 genes were found in the 18 clinical strains. On average, 26% of these genes were detected inside genomic islands in the 2000 strains and 32% in the 2010 strains. Furthermore, 38 potential CRISPR arrays in 17 of 18 of the strains were found, as well as 705 proteins associated with CRISPR-Cas systems. A moderately higher presence of these genes in the strains of 2010 in comparison with those of 2000 was found, especially those related to the restriction-modification system and CRISPR-Cas system. The presence of these genes in genomic islands at a higher rate in the strains of 2010 compared with those of 2000 was also detected. Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics could be powerful tools to avoid drawbacks when a personalized therapy is applied. In this study, it allows us to take care of the phage resistance in A. baumannii clinical strains to prevent a failure in possible phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antón Ambroa
- Microbiology Department-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC), Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
- Study Group on Mechanisms of Action and Resistance to Antimicrobials (GEMARA) the Behalf of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucia Blasco
- Microbiology Department-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC), Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
- Study Group on Mechanisms of Action and Resistance to Antimicrobials (GEMARA) the Behalf of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), Madrid, Spain
| | - María López
- Microbiology Department-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC), Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
- Study Group on Mechanisms of Action and Resistance to Antimicrobials (GEMARA) the Behalf of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), Madrid, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI), Infectious Diseases Network Biomedical Research Center (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Pacios
- Microbiology Department-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC), Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
- Study Group on Mechanisms of Action and Resistance to Antimicrobials (GEMARA) the Behalf of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Bleriot
- Microbiology Department-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC), Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
- Study Group on Mechanisms of Action and Resistance to Antimicrobials (GEMARA) the Behalf of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Fernández-García
- Microbiology Department-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC), Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
- Study Group on Mechanisms of Action and Resistance to Antimicrobials (GEMARA) the Behalf of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel González de Aledo
- Microbiology Department-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC), Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Concha Ortiz-Cartagena
- Microbiology Department-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC), Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
- Study Group on Mechanisms of Action and Resistance to Antimicrobials (GEMARA) the Behalf of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrew Millard
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - María Tomás
- Microbiology Department-Research Institute Biomedical A Coruña (INIBIC), Hospital A Coruña (CHUAC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
- Study Group on Mechanisms of Action and Resistance to Antimicrobials (GEMARA) the Behalf of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), Madrid, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI), Infectious Diseases Network Biomedical Research Center (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
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27
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Lee H, Sashital DG. Creating memories: molecular mechanisms of CRISPR adaptation. Trends Biochem Sci 2022; 47:464-476. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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28
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Abstract
The principal biological function of bacterial and archaeal CRISPR systems is RNA-guided adaptive immunity against viruses and other mobile genetic elements (MGEs). These systems show remarkable evolutionary plasticity and functional versatility at multiple levels, including both the defense mechanisms that lead to direct, specific elimination of the target DNA or RNA and those that cause programmed cell death (PCD) or induction of dormancy. This flexibility is also evident in the recruitment of CRISPR systems for nondefense functions. Defective CRISPR systems or individual CRISPR components have been recruited by transposons for RNA-guided transposition, by plasmids for interplasmid competition, and by viruses for antidefense and interviral conflicts. Additionally, multiple highly derived CRISPR variants of yet unknown functions have been discovered. A major route of innovation in CRISPR evolution is the repurposing of diverged repeat variants encoded outside CRISPR arrays for various structural and regulatory functions. The evolutionary plasticity and functional versatility of CRISPR systems are striking manifestations of the ubiquitous interplay between defense and “normal” cellular functions. The CRISPR systems show remarkable functional versatility beyond their principal function as an adaptive immune mechanism. This Essay discusses how derived CRISPR systems have been recruited by transposons on multiple occasions and mediate RNA-guided transposition; derived CRISPR RNAs are frequently recruited for regulatory functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kira S. Makarova
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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29
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Malone LM, Hampton HG, Morgan XC, Fineran PC. Type I CRISPR-Cas provides robust immunity but incomplete attenuation of phage-induced cellular stress. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 50:160-174. [PMID: 34928385 PMCID: PMC8754663 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During infection, phages manipulate bacteria to redirect metabolism towards viral proliferation. To counteract phages, some bacteria employ CRISPR-Cas systems that provide adaptive immunity. While CRISPR-Cas mechanisms have been studied extensively, their effects on both the phage and the host during phage infection remains poorly understood. Here, we analysed the infection of Serratia by a siphovirus (JS26) and the transcriptomic response with, or without type I-E or I-F CRISPR-Cas immunity. In non-immune Serratia, phage infection altered bacterial metabolism by upregulating anaerobic respiration and amino acid biosynthesis genes, while flagella production was suppressed. Furthermore, phage proliferation required a late-expressed viral Cas4 homologue, which did not influence CRISPR adaptation. While type I-E and I-F immunity provided robust defence against phage infection, phage development still impacted the bacterial host. Moreover, DNA repair and SOS response pathways were upregulated during type I immunity. We also discovered that the type I-F system is controlled by a positive autoregulatory feedback loop that is activated upon phage targeting during type I-F immunity, leading to a controlled anti-phage response. Overall, our results provide new insight into phage-host dynamics and the impact of CRISPR immunity within the infected cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia M Malone
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Hannah G Hampton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Xochitl C Morgan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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30
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Koonin EV, Dolja VV, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH. Viruses Defined by the Position of the Virosphere within the Replicator Space. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2021; 85:e0019320. [PMID: 34468181 PMCID: PMC8483706 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00193-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Originally, viruses were defined as miniscule infectious agents that passed through filters that retain even the smallest cells. Subsequently, viruses were considered obligate intracellular parasites whose reproduction depends on their cellular hosts for energy supply and molecular building blocks. However, these features are insufficient to unambiguously define viruses as they are broadly understood today. We outline possible approaches to define viruses and explore the boundaries of the virosphere within the virtual space of replicators and the relationships between viruses and other types of replicators. Regardless of how, exactly, viruses are defined, viruses clearly have evolved on many occasions from nonviral replicators, such as plasmids, by recruiting host proteins to become virion components. Conversely, other types of replicators have repeatedly evolved from viruses. Thus, the virosphere is a dynamic entity with extensive evolutionary traffic across its boundaries. We argue that the virosphere proper, here termed orthovirosphere, consists of a distinct variety of replicators that encode structural proteins encasing the replicators' genomes, thereby providing protection and facilitating transmission among hosts. Numerous and diverse replicators, such as virus-derived but capsidless RNA and DNA elements, or defective viruses occupy the zone surrounding the orthovirosphere in the virtual replicator space. We define this zone as the perivirosphere. Although intense debates on the nature of certain replicators that adorn the internal and external boundaries of the virosphere will likely continue, we present an operational definition of virus that recently has been accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Valerian V. Dolja
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Jens H. Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
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31
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Altae-Tran H, Kannan S, Demircioglu FE, Oshiro R, Nety SP, McKay LJ, Dlakić M, Inskeep WP, Makarova KS, Macrae RK, Koonin EV, Zhang F. The widespread IS200/IS605 transposon family encodes diverse programmable RNA-guided endonucleases. Science 2021; 374:57-65. [PMID: 34591643 PMCID: PMC8929163 DOI: 10.1126/science.abj6856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
IscB proteins are putative nucleases encoded in a distinct family of IS200/IS605 transposons and are likely ancestors of the RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9, but the functions of IscB and its interactions with any RNA remain uncharacterized. Using evolutionary analysis, RNA sequencing, and biochemical experiments, we reconstructed the evolution of CRISPR-Cas9 systems from IS200/IS605 transposons. We found that IscB uses a single noncoding RNA for RNA-guided cleavage of double-stranded DNA and can be harnessed for genome editing in human cells. We also demonstrate the RNA-guided nuclease activity of TnpB, another IS200/IS605 transposon-encoded protein and the likely ancestor of Cas12 endonucleases. This work reveals a widespread class of transposon-encoded RNA-guided nucleases, which we name OMEGA (obligate mobile element–guided activity), with strong potential for developing as biotechnologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Altae-Tran
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Soumya Kannan
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - F. Esra Demircioglu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Rachel Oshiro
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Suchita P. Nety
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Luke J. McKay
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717
| | - Mensur Dlakić
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - William P. Inskeep
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Kira S. Makarova
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Rhiannon K. Macrae
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Feng Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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32
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Kolesnik MV, Fedorova I, Karneyeva KA, Artamonova DN, Severinov KV. Type III CRISPR-Cas Systems: Deciphering the Most Complex Prokaryotic Immune System. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2021; 86:1301-1314. [PMID: 34903162 PMCID: PMC8527444 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921100114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The emergence and persistence of selfish genetic elements is an intrinsic feature of all living systems. Cellular organisms have evolved a plethora of elaborate defense systems that limit the spread of such genetic parasites. CRISPR-Cas are RNA-guided defense systems used by prokaryotes to recognize and destroy foreign nucleic acids. These systems acquire and store fragments of foreign nucleic acids and utilize the stored sequences as guides to recognize and destroy genetic invaders. CRISPR-Cas systems have been extensively studied, as some of them are used in various genome editing technologies. Although Type III CRISPR-Cas systems are among the most common CRISPR-Cas systems, they are also some of the least investigated ones, mostly due to the complexity of their action compared to other CRISPR-Cas system types. Type III effector complexes specifically recognize and cleave RNA molecules. The recognition of the target RNA activates the effector large subunit - the so-called CRISPR polymerase - which cleaves DNA and produces small cyclic oligonucleotides that act as signaling molecules to activate auxiliary effectors, notably non-specific RNases. In this review, we provide a historical overview of the sometimes meandering pathway of the Type III CRISPR research. We also review the current data on the structures and activities of Type III CRISPR-Cas systems components, their biological roles, and evolutionary history. Finally, using structural modeling with AlphaFold2, we show that the archaeal HRAMP signature protein, which heretofore has had no assigned function, is a degenerate relative of Type III CRISPR-Cas signature protein Cas10, suggesting that HRAMP systems have descended from Type III CRISPR-Cas systems or their ancestors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matvey V Kolesnik
- Center of Life Science, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia.
| | - Iana Fedorova
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 195251, Russia.
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Karyna A Karneyeva
- Center of Life Science, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia.
| | - Daria N Artamonova
- Center of Life Science, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia.
| | - Konstantin V Severinov
- Center of Life Science, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia.
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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33
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Vink JNA, Baijens JHL, Brouns SJJ. PAM-repeat associations and spacer selection preferences in single and co-occurring CRISPR-Cas systems. Genome Biol 2021; 22:281. [PMID: 34593010 PMCID: PMC8482600 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02495-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The adaptive CRISPR-Cas immune system stores sequences from past invaders as spacers in CRISPR arrays and thereby provides direct evidence that links invaders to hosts. Mapping CRISPR spacers has revealed many aspects of CRISPR-Cas biology, including target requirements such as the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM). However, studies have so far been limited by a low number of mapped spacers in the database. RESULTS By using vast metagenomic sequence databases, we map approximately one-third of more than 200,000 unique CRISPR spacers from a variety of microbes and derive a catalog of more than two hundred unique PAM sequences associated with specific CRISPR-Cas subtypes. These PAMs are further used to correctly assign the orientation of CRISPR arrays, revealing conserved patterns between the last nucleotides of the CRISPR repeat and PAM. We could also deduce CRISPR-Cas subtype-specific preferences for targeting either template or coding strand of open reading frames. While some DNA-targeting systems (type I-E and type II systems) prefer the template strand and avoid mRNA, other DNA- and RNA-targeting systems (types I-A and I-B and type III systems) prefer the coding strand and mRNA. In addition, we find large-scale evidence that both CRISPR-Cas adaptation machinery and CRISPR arrays are shared between different CRISPR-Cas systems. This could lead to simultaneous DNA and RNA targeting of invaders, which may be effective at combating mobile genetic invaders. CONCLUSIONS This study has broad implications for our understanding of how CRISPR-Cas systems work in a wide range of organisms for which only the genome sequence is known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochem N A Vink
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jan H L Baijens
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Stan J J Brouns
- Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft, The Netherlands.
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Wang X, Yuan Q, Zhang W, Ji S, Lv Y, Ren K, Lu M, Xiao Y. Sequence specific integration by the family 1 casposase from Candidatus Nitrosopumilus koreensis AR1. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:9938-9952. [PMID: 34428286 PMCID: PMC8464041 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Casposase, a homolog of Cas1 integrase, is encoded by a superfamily of mobile genetic elements known as casposons. While family 2 casposase has been well documented in both function and structure, little is known about the other three casposase families. Here, we studied the family 1 casposase lacking the helix-turn-helix (HTH) domain from Candidatus Nitrosopumilus koreensis AR1 (Ca. N. koreensis). The determinants for integration by Ca. N. koreensis casposase were extensively investigated, and it was found that a 13-bp target site duplication (TSD) sequence, a minimal 3-bp leader and three different nucleotides of the TSD sequences are indispensable for target specific integration. Significantly, the casposase can site-specifically integrate a broad range of terminal inverted repeat (TIR)-derived oligonucleotides ranging from 7-nt to ∼4000-bp, and various oligonucleotides lacking the 5′-TTCTA-3′ motif at the 3′ end of TIR sequence can be integrated efficiently. Furthermore, similar to some Cas1 homologs, the casposase utilizes a 5′-ATAA-3′ motif in the TSD as a molecular ruler to dictate nucleophilic attack at 9-bp downstream of the end of the ruler during the spacer-side integration. By characterizing the family 1 Ca. N. koreensis casposase, we have extended our understanding on mechanistic similarities and evolutionary connections between casposons and the adaptation elements of CRISPR-Cas immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoke Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Qinling Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Wenxuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Suyu Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Yang Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Kejing Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Meiling Lu
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Yibei Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
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35
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Makarova KS, Wolf YI, Shmakov SA, Liu Y, Li M, Koonin EV. Unprecedented Diversity of Unique CRISPR-Cas-Related Systems and Cas1 Homologs in Asgard Archaea. CRISPR J 2021; 3:156-163. [PMID: 33555973 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2020.0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The principal function of archaeal and bacterial CRISPR-Cas systems is antivirus adaptive immunity. However, recent genome analyses identified a variety of derived CRISPR-Cas variants at least some of which appear to perform different functions. Here, we describe a unique repertoire of CRISPR-Cas-related systems that we discovered by searching archaeal metagenome-assemble genomes of the Asgard superphylum. Several of these variants contain extremely diverged homologs of Cas1, the integrase involved in CRISPR adaptation as well as casposon transposition. Strikingly, the diversity of Cas1 in Asgard archaea alone is greater than that detected so far among the rest of archaea and bacteria. The Asgard CRISPR-Cas derivatives also encode distinct forms of Cas4, Cas5, and Cas7 proteins, and/or additional nucleases. Some of these systems are predicted to perform defense functions, but possibly not programmable ones, whereas others are likely to represent previously unknown mobile genetic elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira S Makarova
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yuri I Wolf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sergey A Shmakov
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Meng Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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36
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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: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [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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37
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Butiuc-Keul A, Farkas A, Carpa R, Iordache D. CRISPR-Cas System: The Powerful Modulator of Accessory Genomes in Prokaryotes. Microb Physiol 2021; 32:2-17. [PMID: 34192695 DOI: 10.1159/000516643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Being frequently exposed to foreign nucleic acids, bacteria and archaea have developed an ingenious adaptive defense system, called CRISPR-Cas. The system is composed of the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) array, together with CRISPR (cas)-associated genes. This system consists of a complex machinery that integrates fragments of foreign nucleic acids from viruses and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), into CRISPR arrays. The inserted segments (spacers) are transcribed and then used by cas proteins as guide RNAs for recognition and inactivation of the targets. Different types and families of CRISPR-Cas systems consist of distinct adaptation and effector modules with evolutionary trajectories, partially independent. The origin of the effector modules and the mechanism of spacer integration/deletion is far less clear. A review of the most recent data regarding the structure, ecology, and evolution of CRISPR-Cas systems and their role in the modulation of accessory genomes in prokaryotes is proposed in this article. The CRISPR-Cas system's impact on the physiology and ecology of prokaryotes, modulation of horizontal gene transfer events, is also discussed here. This system gained popularity after it was proposed as a tool for plant and animal embryo editing, in cancer therapy, as antimicrobial against pathogenic bacteria, and even for combating the novel coronavirus - SARS-CoV-2; thus, the newest and promising applications are reviewed as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Butiuc-Keul
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Anca Farkas
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Rahela Carpa
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Dumitrana Iordache
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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38
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Lau CH, Bolt EL. Integration of diverse DNA substrates by a casposase can be targeted to R-loops in vitro by its fusion to Cas9. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:BSR20203595. [PMID: 33289517 PMCID: PMC7786333 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20203595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR systems build adaptive immunity against mobile genetic elements by DNA capture and integration catalysed by Cas1-Cas2 protein complexes. Recent studies suggested that CRISPR repeats and adaptation module originated from a novel type of DNA transposons called casposons. Casposons encode a Cas1 homologue called casposase that alone integrates into target molecules single and double-stranded DNA containing terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) from casposons. A recent study showed Methanosarcina mazei casposase is able to integrate random DNA oligonucleotides, followed up in this work using Acidoprofundum boonei casposase, from which we also observe promiscuous substrate integration. Here we first show that the substrate flexibility of Acidoprofundum boonei casposase extends to random integration of DNA without TIRs, including integration of a functional gene. We then used this to investigate targeting of the casposase-catalysed DNA integration reactions to specific DNA sites that would allow insertion of defined DNA payloads. Casposase-Cas9 fusions were engineered that were catalytically proficient in vitro and generated RNA-guided DNA integration products from short synthetic DNA or a gene, with or without TIRs. However, DNA integration could still occur unguided due to the competing background activity of the casposase moiety. Expression of Casposase-dCas9 in Escherichia coli cells effectively targeted chromosomal and plasmid lacZ revealed by reduced β-galactosidase activity but DNA integration was not detected. The promiscuous substrate integration properties of casposases make them potential DNA insertion tools. The Casposase-dCas9 fusion protein may serves as a prototype for development in genetic editing for DNA insertion that is independent of homology-directed DNA repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Hang Lau
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K
| | - Edward L. Bolt
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K
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39
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Letunic I, Khedkar S, Bork P. SMART: recent updates, new developments and status in 2020. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:D458-D460. [PMID: 33104802 PMCID: PMC7778883 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 805] [Impact Index Per Article: 268.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
SMART (Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool) is a web resource (https://smart.embl.de) for the identification and annotation of protein domains and the analysis of protein domain architectures. SMART version 9 contains manually curated models for more than 1300 protein domains, with a topical set of 68 new models added since our last update article (1). All the new models are for diverse recombinase families and subfamilies and as a set they provide a comprehensive overview of mobile element recombinases namely transposase, integrase, relaxase, resolvase, cas1 casposase and Xer like cellular recombinase. Further updates include the synchronization of the underlying protein databases with UniProt (2), Ensembl (3) and STRING (4), greatly increasing the total number of annotated domains and other protein features available in architecture analysis mode. Furthermore, SMART's vector-based protein display engine has been extended and updated to use the latest web technologies and the domain architecture analysis components have been optimized to handle the increased number of protein features available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivica Letunic
- biobyte solutions GmbH, Bothestr 142, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Peer Bork
- EMBL, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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40
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Evolutionary Dynamics of Transposable Elements Following a Shared Polyploidization Event in the Tribe Andropogoneae. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:4387-4398. [PMID: 32988994 PMCID: PMC7718754 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Both polyploidization and transposable element (TE) activity are known to be major drivers of plant genome evolution. Here, we utilize the Zea-Tripsacum clade to investigate TE activity and accumulation after a shared polyploidization event. Comparisons of TE evolutionary dynamics in various Zea and Tripsacum species, in addition to two closely related diploid species, Urelytrum digitatum and Sorghum bicolor, revealed variation in repeat content among all taxa included in the study. The repeat composition of Urelytrum is more similar to that of Zea and Tripsacum compared to Sorghum, despite the similarity in genome size with the latter. Although LTR-retrotransposons were abundant in all species, we observed an expansion of the copia superfamily, specifically in Z. mays and T. dactyloides, species that have adapted to more temperate environments. Additional analyses of the genomic distribution of these retroelements provided evidence of biased insertions near genes involved in various biological processes including plant development, defense, and macromolecule biosynthesis. Specifically, copia insertions in Zea and T. dactyloides were significantly enriched near genes involved in abiotic stress response, suggesting independent evolution post Zea-Tripsacum divergence. The lack of copia insertions near the orthologous genes in S. bicolor suggests that duplicate gene copies generated during polyploidization may offer novel neutral sites for TEs to insert, thereby providing an avenue for subfunctionalization via TE insertional mutagenesis.
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41
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Zink IA, Wimmer E, Schleper C. Heavily Armed Ancestors: CRISPR Immunity and Applications in Archaea with a Comparative Analysis of CRISPR Types in Sulfolobales. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1523. [PMID: 33172134 PMCID: PMC7694759 DOI: 10.3390/biom10111523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotes are constantly coping with attacks by viruses in their natural environments and therefore have evolved an impressive array of defense systems. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is an adaptive immune system found in the majority of archaea and about half of bacteria which stores pieces of infecting viral DNA as spacers in genomic CRISPR arrays to reuse them for specific virus destruction upon a second wave of infection. In detail, small CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) are transcribed from CRISPR arrays and incorporated into type-specific CRISPR effector complexes which further degrade foreign nucleic acids complementary to the crRNA. This review gives an overview of CRISPR immunity to newcomers in the field and an update on CRISPR literature in archaea by comparing the functional mechanisms and abundances of the diverse CRISPR types. A bigger fraction is dedicated to the versatile and prevalent CRISPR type III systems, as tremendous progress has been made recently using archaeal models in discerning the controlled molecular mechanisms of their unique tripartite mode of action including RNA interference, DNA interference and the unique cyclic-oligoadenylate signaling that induces promiscuous RNA shredding by CARF-domain ribonucleases. The second half of the review spotlights CRISPR in archaea outlining seminal in vivo and in vitro studies in model organisms of the euryarchaeal and crenarchaeal phyla, including the application of CRISPR-Cas for genome editing and gene silencing. In the last section, a special focus is laid on members of the crenarchaeal hyperthermophilic order Sulfolobales by presenting a thorough comparative analysis about the distribution and abundance of CRISPR-Cas systems, including arrays and spacers as well as CRISPR-accessory proteins in all 53 genomes available to date. Interestingly, we find that CRISPR type III and the DNA-degrading CRISPR type I complexes co-exist in more than two thirds of these genomes. Furthermore, we identified ring nuclease candidates in all but two genomes and found that they generally co-exist with the above-mentioned CARF domain ribonucleases Csx1/Csm6. These observations, together with published literature allowed us to draft a working model of how CRISPR-Cas systems and accessory proteins cross talk to establish native CRISPR anti-virus immunity in a Sulfolobales cell.
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42
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Kazlauskas D, Krupovic M, Guglielmini J, Forterre P, Venclovas Č. Diversity and evolution of B-family DNA polymerases. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:10142-10156. [PMID: 32976577 PMCID: PMC7544198 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
B-family DNA polymerases (PolBs) represent the most common replicases. PolB enzymes that require RNA (or DNA) primed templates for DNA synthesis are found in all domains of life and many DNA viruses. Despite extensive research on PolBs, their origins and evolution remain enigmatic. Massive accumulation of new genomic and metagenomic data from diverse habitats as well as availability of new structural information prompted us to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the PolB sequences, structures, domain organizations, taxonomic distribution and co-occurrence in genomes. Based on phylogenetic analysis, we identified a new, widespread group of bacterial PolBs that are more closely related to the catalytically active N-terminal half of the eukaryotic PolEpsilon (PolEpsilonN) than to Escherichia coli Pol II. In Archaea, we characterized six new groups of PolBs. Two of them show close relationships with eukaryotic PolBs, the first one with PolEpsilonN, and the second one with PolAlpha, PolDelta and PolZeta. In addition, structure comparisons suggested common origin of the catalytically inactive C-terminal half of PolEpsilon (PolEpsilonC) and PolAlpha. Finally, in certain archaeal PolBs we discovered C-terminal Zn-binding domains closely related to those of PolAlpha and PolEpsilonC. Collectively, the obtained results allowed us to propose a scenario for the evolution of eukaryotic PolBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darius Kazlauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio av. 7, Vilnius 10257, Lithuania
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Julien Guglielmini
- Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique - Département Biologie Computationnelle, Institut Pasteur, USR 3756 CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Forterre
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Česlovas Venclovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio av. 7, Vilnius 10257, Lithuania
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The CARF Protein MM_0565 Affects Transcription of the Casposon-Encoded cas1-solo Gene in Methanosarcina mazei Gö1. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10081161. [PMID: 32784796 PMCID: PMC7465815 DOI: 10.3390/biom10081161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) loci are found in bacterial and archaeal genomes where they provide the molecular machinery for acquisition of immunity against foreign DNA. In addition to the cas genes fundamentally required for CRISPR activity, a second class of genes is associated with the CRISPR loci, of which many have no reported function in CRISPR-mediated immunity. Here, we characterize MM_0565 associated to the type I-B CRISPR-locus of Methanosarcina mazei Gö1. We show that purified MM_0565 composed of a CRISPR-Cas Associated Rossmann Fold (CARF) and a winged helix-turn-helix domain forms a dimer in solution; in vivo, the dimeric MM_0565 is strongly stabilized under high salt stress. While direct effects on CRISPR-Cas transcription were not detected by genetic approaches, specific binding of MM_0565 to the leader region of both CRISPR-Cas systems was observed by microscale thermophoresis and electromobility shift assays. Moreover, overexpression of MM_0565 strongly induced transcription of the cas1-solo gene located in the recently reported casposon, the gene product of which shows high similarity to classical Cas1 proteins. Based on our findings, and taking the absence of the expressed CRISPR locus-encoded Cas1 protein into account, we hypothesize that MM_0565 might modulate the activity of the CRISPR systems on different levels.
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44
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Flament-Simon SC, de Toro M, Chuprikova L, Blanco M, Moreno-González J, Salas M, Blanco J, Redrejo-Rodríguez M. High diversity and variability of pipolins among a wide range of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12452. [PMID: 32719405 PMCID: PMC7385651 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69356-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-synthesizing transposons are integrative mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that encode their own B-family DNA polymerase (PolB). Discovered a few years ago, they are proposed as key players in the evolution of several groups of DNA viruses and virus–host interaction machinery. Pipolins are the most recent addition to the group, are integrated in the genomes of bacteria from diverse phyla and also present as circular plasmids in mitochondria. Remarkably, pipolins-encoded PolBs are proficient DNA polymerases endowed with DNA priming capacity, hence the name, primer-independent PolB (piPolB). We have now surveyed the presence of pipolins in a collection of 2,238 human and animal pathogenic Escherichia coli strains and found that, although detected in only 25 positive isolates (1.1%), they are present in E. coli strains from a wide variety of pathotypes, serotypes, phylogenetic groups and sequence types. Overall, the pangenome of strains carrying pipolins is highly diverse, despite the fact that a considerable number of strains belong to only three clonal complexes (CC10, CC23 and CC32). Comparative analysis with a set of 67 additional pipolin-harboring genomes from GenBank database spanning strains from diverse origin, further confirmed these results. The genetic structure of pipolins shows great flexibility and variability, with the piPolB gene and the attachment sites being the only common features. Most pipolins contain one or more recombinases that would be involved in excision/integration of the element in the same conserved tRNA gene. This mobilization mechanism might explain the apparent incompatibility of pipolins with other integrative MGEs such as integrons. In addition, analysis of cophylogeny between pipolins and pipolin-harboring strains showed a lack of congruence between several pipolins and their host strains, in agreement with horizontal transfer between hosts. Overall, these results indicate that pipolins can serve as a vehicle for genetic transfer among circulating E. coli and possibly also among other pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia-Camille Flament-Simon
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. Coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - María de Toro
- Plataforma de Genómica y Bioinformática, CIBIR (Centro de Investigación Biomédica de La Rioja), La Rioja, 26006, Logroño, Spain
| | - Liubov Chuprikova
- Departamento de Bioquímica & Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols" CSIC-UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. Coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Juan Moreno-González
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Margarita Salas
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. Coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Modesto Redrejo-Rodríguez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain. .,Departamento de Bioquímica & Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols" CSIC-UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28029, Madrid, Spain.
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45
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Sasnauskas G, Siksnys V. CRISPR adaptation from a structural perspective. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 65:17-25. [PMID: 32570107 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial CRISPR-Cas systems provide adaptive immunity against viruses and other mobile genome elements. During the adaptation step cells become immunized by insertion of short fragments of foreign DNA, termed spacers, into the genomic region called a CRISPR array. Selection, processing and insertion of new spacers is an elaborate and precisely orchestrated reaction, which relies on the Cas1-Cas2 integrase complex and accessory proteins that vary among different types of CRISPR-Cas systems. This review focuses on CRISPR adaptation from the structural perspective, with the spotlight on adaptation proteins employed by type I and type II CRISPR-Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giedrius Sasnauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Sauletekio Av. 7, Vilnius 10257, Lithuania
| | - Virginijus Siksnys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Sauletekio Av. 7, Vilnius 10257, Lithuania.
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46
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Makarova KS, Karamycheva S, Shah SA, Vestergaard G, Garrett RA, Koonin EV. Predicted highly derived class 1 CRISPR-Cas system in Haloarchaea containing diverged Cas5 and Cas7 homologs but no CRISPR array. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 366:5472869. [PMID: 30993331 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnz079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Screening of genomic and metagenomic databases for new variants of CRISPR-Cas systems increasingly results in the discovery of derived variants that do not seem to possess the interference capacity and are implicated in functions distinct from adaptive immunity. We describe an extremely derived putative class 1 CRISPR-Cas system that is present in many Halobacteria and consists of distant homologs of the Cas5 and Cas7 protein along with an uncharacterized conserved protein and various nucleases. We hypothesize that, although this system lacks typical CRISPR effectors or a CRISPR array, it functions as a RNA-dependent defense mechanism that, unlike other derived CRISPR-Cas, utilizes alternative nucleases to cleave invader genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira S Makarova
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Svetlana Karamycheva
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Shiraz A Shah
- Danish Archaea Centre, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Danish Archaea Centre, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, Copenhagen , DK-2200 Denmark
| | - Gisle Vestergaard
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Anker Engelunds Vej 1, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Roger A Garrett
- Danish Archaea Centre, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Danish Archaea Centre, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, Copenhagen , DK-2200 Denmark
| | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
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47
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Béguin P, Chekli Y, Sezonov G, Forterre P, Krupovic M. Sequence motifs recognized by the casposon integrase of Aciduliprofundum boonei. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:6386-6395. [PMID: 31114911 PMCID: PMC6614799 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Casposons are a group of bacterial and archaeal DNA transposons encoding a specific integrase, termed casposase, which is homologous to the Cas1 enzyme responsible for the integration of new spacers into CRISPR loci. Here, we characterized the sequence motifs recognized by the casposase from a thermophilic archaeon Aciduliprofundum boonei. We identified a stretch of residues, located in the leader region upstream of the actual integration site, whose deletion or mutagenesis impaired the concerted integration reaction. However, deletions of two-thirds of the target site were fully functional. Various single-stranded 6-FAM-labelled oligonucleotides derived from casposon terminal inverted repeats were as efficiently incorporated as duplexes into the target site. This result suggests that, as in the case of spacer insertion by the CRISPR Cas1–Cas2 integrase, casposon integration involves splaying of the casposon termini, with single-stranded ends being the actual substrates. The sequence critical for incorporation was limited to the five terminal residues derived from the 3′ end of the casposon. Furthermore, we characterize the casposase from Nitrosopumilus koreensis, a marine member of the phylum Thaumarchaeota, and show that it shares similar properties with the A. boonei enzyme, despite belonging to a different family. These findings further reinforce the mechanistic similarities and evolutionary connection between the casposons and the adaptation module of the CRISPR–Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Béguin
- Unité Biologie Moléculaire du Gène chez les Extrêmophiles, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Dr. Roux 75724 Paris cedex 15, France
| | - Yankel Chekli
- Unité Biologie Moléculaire du Gène chez les Extrêmophiles, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Dr. Roux 75724 Paris cedex 15, France
| | - Guennadi Sezonov
- UMRS 1138 - Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, 15, rue de l'École de Médecine, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Patrick Forterre
- Unité Biologie Moléculaire du Gène chez les Extrêmophiles, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Dr. Roux 75724 Paris cedex 15, France.,Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris- Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, Paris, France
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Unité Biologie Moléculaire du Gène chez les Extrêmophiles, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Dr. Roux 75724 Paris cedex 15, France
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48
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Hickman AB, Kailasan S, Genzor P, Haase AD, Dyda F. Casposase structure and the mechanistic link between DNA transposition and spacer acquisition by CRISPR-Cas. eLife 2020; 9:50004. [PMID: 31913120 PMCID: PMC6977970 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Key to CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity is maintaining an ongoing record of invading nucleic acids, a process carried out by the Cas1-Cas2 complex that integrates short segments of foreign genetic material (spacers) into the CRISPR locus. It is hypothesized that Cas1 evolved from casposases, a novel class of transposases. We show here that the Methanosarcina mazei casposase can integrate varied forms of the casposon end in vitro, and recapitulates several properties of CRISPR-Cas integrases including site-specificity. The X-ray structure of the casposase bound to DNA representing the product of integration reveals a tetramer with target DNA bound snugly between two dimers in which single-stranded casposon end binding resembles that of spacer 3'-overhangs. The differences between transposase and CRISPR-Cas integrase are largely architectural, and it appears that evolutionary change involved changes in protein-protein interactions to favor Cas2 binding over tetramerization; this in turn led to preferred integration of single spacers over two transposon ends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison B Hickman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Shweta Kailasan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Pavol Genzor
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Astrid D Haase
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Fred Dyda
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
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49
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Makarova KS, Wolf YI, Iranzo J, Shmakov SA, Alkhnbashi OS, Brouns SJJ, Charpentier E, Cheng D, Haft DH, Horvath P, Moineau S, Mojica FJM, Scott D, Shah SA, Siksnys V, Terns MP, Venclovas Č, White MF, Yakunin AF, Yan W, Zhang F, Garrett RA, Backofen R, van der Oost J, Barrangou R, Koonin EV. Evolutionary classification of CRISPR–Cas systems: a burst of class 2 and derived variants. Nat Rev Microbiol 2019; 18:67-83. [DOI: 10.1038/s41579-019-0299-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 797] [Impact Index Per Article: 159.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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50
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González-Delgado A, Mestre MR, Martínez-Abarca F, Toro N. Spacer acquisition from RNA mediated by a natural reverse transcriptase-Cas1 fusion protein associated with a type III-D CRISPR-Cas system in Vibrio vulnificus. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:10202-10211. [PMID: 31504832 PMCID: PMC6821258 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The association of reverse transcriptases (RTs) with CRISPR–Cas system has recently attracted interest because the RT activity appears to facilitate the RT-dependent acquisition of spacers from RNA molecules. However, our understanding of this spacer acquisition process remains limited. We characterized the in vivo acquisition of spacers mediated by an RT-Cas1 fusion protein linked to a type III-D system from Vibrio vulnificus strain YJ016, and showed that the adaptation module, consisting of the RT-Cas1 fusion, two different Cas2 proteins (A and B) and one of the two CRISPR arrays, was completely functional in a heterologous host. We found that mutations of the active site of the RT domain significantly decreased the acquisition of new spacers and showed that this RT-Cas1-associated adaptation module was able to incorporate spacers from RNA molecules into the CRISPR array. We demonstrated that the two Cas2 proteins of the adaptation module were required for spacer acquisition. Furthermore, we found that several sequence-specific features were required for the acquisition and integration of spacers derived from any region of the genome, with no bias along the 5′and 3′ends of coding sequences. This study provides new insight into the RT-Cas1 fusion protein-mediated acquisition of spacers from RNA molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro González-Delgado
- Structure, Dynamics and Function of Rhizobacterial Genomes, Grupo de Ecología Genética de la Rizosfera, Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/ Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Mario Rodríguez Mestre
- Structure, Dynamics and Function of Rhizobacterial Genomes, Grupo de Ecología Genética de la Rizosfera, Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/ Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Martínez-Abarca
- Structure, Dynamics and Function of Rhizobacterial Genomes, Grupo de Ecología Genética de la Rizosfera, Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/ Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Nicolás Toro
- Structure, Dynamics and Function of Rhizobacterial Genomes, Grupo de Ecología Genética de la Rizosfera, Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/ Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
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