Bacterial Retrons Function In Anti-Phage Defense.
Cell
; 183(6): 1551-1561.e12, 2020 12 10.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33157039
Retrons are bacterial genetic elements comprised of a reverse transcriptase (RT) and a non-coding RNA (ncRNA). The RT uses the ncRNA as template, generating a chimeric RNA/DNA molecule in which the RNA and DNA components are covalently linked. Although retrons were discovered three decades ago, their function remained unknown. We report that retrons function as anti-phage defense systems. The defensive unit is composed of three components: the RT, the ncRNA, and an effector protein. We examined multiple retron systems and show that they confer defense against a broad range of phages via abortive infection. Focusing on retron Ec48, we show evidence that it "guards" RecBCD, a complex with central anti-phage functions in bacteria. Inhibition of RecBCD by phage proteins activates the retron, leading to abortive infection and cell death. Thus, the Ec48 retron forms a second line of defense that is triggered if the first lines of defense have collapsed.
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Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Bacterias
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Bacteriófagos
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ADN Polimerasa Dirigida por ARN
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ARN no Traducido
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Cell
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Israel