RESUMEN
The CRISPR-Cas type III-E RNA-targeting effector complex gRAMP/Cas7-11 is associated with a caspase-like protein (TPR-CHAT/Csx29) to form Craspase (CRISPR-guided caspase). Here, we use cryo-electron microscopy snapshots of Craspase to explain its target RNA cleavage and protease activation mechanisms. Target-guide pairing extending into the 5' region of the guide RNA displaces a gating loop in gRAMP, which triggers an extensive conformational relay that allosterically aligns the protease catalytic dyad and opens an amino acid side-chain-binding pocket. We further define Csx30 as the endogenous protein substrate that is site-specifically proteolyzed by RNA-activated Craspase. This protease activity is switched off by target RNA cleavage by gRAMP and is not activated by RNA targets containing a matching protospacer flanking sequence. We thus conclude that Craspase is a target RNA-activated protease with self-regulatory capacity.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Bacterianas , Proteínas Asociadas a CRISPR , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Caspasas , Planctomicetos , ARN Guía de Kinetoplastida , Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Proteínas Asociadas a CRISPR/química , Caspasas/química , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Planctomicetos/enzimología , Conformación Proteica , ARN Guía de Kinetoplastida/químicaRESUMEN
Cas1 integrase associates with Cas2 to insert short DNA fragments into a CRISPR array, establishing nucleic acid memory in prokaryotes. Here we applied single-molecule FRET methods to the Enterococcus faecalis (Efa) Cas1-Cas2 system to establish a kinetic framework describing target-searching, integration, and post-synapsis events. EfaCas1-Cas2 on its own is not able to find the CRISPR repeat in the CRISPR array; it only does so after prespacer loading. The leader sequence adjacent to the repeat further stabilizes EfaCas1-Cas2 contacts, enabling leader-side integration and subsequent spacer-side integration. The resulting post-synaptic complex (PSC) has a surprisingly short mean lifetime. Remarkably, transcription effectively resolves the PSC, and we predict that this is a conserved mechanism that ensures efficient and directional spacer integration in many CRISPR systems. Overall, our study provides a complete model of spacer acquisition, which can be harnessed for DNA-based information storage and cell lineage tracing technologies.
Asunto(s)
Repeticiones Palindrómicas Cortas Agrupadas y Regularmente Espaciadas , Enterococcus faecalis/enzimología , Integrasas/metabolismo , Electroporación , Enterococcus faecalis/genética , Escherichia coli/genética , Transferencia Resonante de Energía de Fluorescencia , Integrasas/genética , Cinética , Microorganismos Modificados Genéticamente , Mutación , Transcripción GenéticaRESUMEN
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and the cas (CRISPR-associated) operon form an RNA-based adaptive immune system against foreign genetic elements in prokaryotes. Type I accounts for 95% of CRISPR systems, and has been used to control gene expression and cell fate. During CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-guided interference, Cascade (CRISPR-associated complex for antiviral defence) facilitates the crRNA-guided invasion of double-stranded DNA for complementary base-pairing with the target DNA strand while displacing the non-target strand, forming an R-loop. Cas3, which has nuclease and helicase activities, is subsequently recruited to degrade two DNA strands. A protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence flanking target DNA is crucial for self versus foreign discrimination. Here we present the 2.45 Å crystal structure of Escherichia coli Cascade bound to a foreign double-stranded DNA target. The 5'-ATG PAM is recognized in duplex form, from the minor groove side, by three structural features in the Cascade Cse1 subunit. The promiscuity inherent to minor groove DNA recognition rationalizes the observation that a single Cascade complex can respond to several distinct PAM sequences. Optimal PAM recognition coincides with wedge insertion, initiating directional target DNA strand unwinding to allow segmented base-pairing with crRNA. The non-target strand is guided along a parallel path 25 Å apart, and the R-loop structure is further stabilized by locking this strand behind the Cse2 dimer. These observations provide the structural basis for understanding the PAM-dependent directional R-loop formation process.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Asociadas a CRISPR/química , Proteínas Asociadas a CRISPR/metabolismo , Repeticiones Palindrómicas Cortas Agrupadas y Regularmente Espaciadas/genética , ADN/química , ADN/metabolismo , Escherichia coli/química , ARN Bacteriano/química , Emparejamiento Base , Secuencia de Bases , Cristalografía por Rayos X , ADN Helicasas/química , ADN Helicasas/metabolismo , Escherichia coli/genética , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/química , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Modelos Moleculares , Conformación Molecular , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Complejos Multiproteicos/química , Complejos Multiproteicos/metabolismo , Motivos de Nucleótidos , Subunidades de Proteína/química , Subunidades de Proteína/metabolismo , ARN Bacteriano/genética , ARN Bacteriano/metabolismoRESUMEN
The CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) system is a prokaryotic RNA-based adaptive immune system against extrachromosomal genetic elements. Cas2 is a universally conserved core CRISPR-associated protein required for the acquisition of new spacers for CRISPR adaptation. It was previously characterized as an endoribonuclease with preference for single-stranded (ss)RNA. Here, we show using crystallography, mutagenesis, and isothermal titration calorimetry that the Bacillus halodurans Cas2 (Bha_Cas2) from the subtype I-C/Dvulg CRISPR instead possesses metal-dependent endonuclease activity against double-stranded (ds)DNA. This activity is consistent with its putative function in producing new spacers for insertion into the 5'-end of the CRISPR locus. Mutagenesis and isothermal titration calorimetry studies revealed that a single divalent metal ion (Mg(2+) or Mn(2+)), coordinated by a symmetric Asp pair in the Bha_Cas2 dimer, is involved in the catalysis. We envision that a pH-dependent conformational change switches Cas2 into a metal-binding competent conformation for catalysis. We further propose that the distinct substrate preferences among Cas2 proteins may be determined by the sequence and structure in the ß1-α1 loop.
Asunto(s)
Bacillus/enzimología , Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/química , Endodesoxirribonucleasas/química , Multimerización de Proteína , Bacillus/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/genética , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/metabolismo , Endodesoxirribonucleasas/genética , Endodesoxirribonucleasas/metabolismo , Secuencias Invertidas Repetidas , Magnesio/química , Magnesio/metabolismo , Manganeso/química , Manganeso/metabolismo , Mutagénesis , Estructura Cuaternaria de Proteína , Estructura Secundaria de ProteínaRESUMEN
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs), together with an operon of CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins, form an RNA-based prokaryotic immune system against exogenous genetic elements. Cas5 family proteins are found in several type I CRISPR-Cas systems. Here, we report the molecular function of subtype I-C/Dvulg Cas5d from Bacillus halodurans. We show that Cas5d cleaves pre-crRNA into unit length by recognizing both the hairpin structure and the 3' single stranded sequence in the CRISPR repeat region. Cas5d structure reveals a ferredoxin domain-based architecture and a catalytic triad formed by Y46, K116, and H117 residues. We further show that after pre-crRNA processing, Cas5d assembles with crRNA, Csd1, and Csd2 proteins to form a multi-sub-unit interference complex similar to Escherichia coli Cascade (CRISPR-associated complex for antiviral defense) in architecture. Our results suggest that formation of a crRNA-presenting Cascade-like complex is likely a common theme among type I CRISPR subtypes.
