scholarly journals RNA-guided DNA insertion with CRISPR-associated transposases

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 365 (6448) ◽  
pp. 48-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Strecker ◽  
Alim Ladha ◽  
Zachary Gardner ◽  
Jonathan L. Schmid-Burgk ◽  
Kira S. Makarova ◽  
...  

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

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renjian Xiao ◽  
Shukun Wang ◽  
Ruijie Han ◽  
Zhuang Li ◽  
Clinton Gabel ◽  
...  

The type V-K CRISPR-Cas system, featured by Cas12k effector with a naturally inactivated RuvC domain and associated with Tn7-like transposon for RNA-guided DNA transposition, is a promising tool for precise DNA insertion. To reveal the mechanism underlying target DNA recognition, we determined a cryo-EM structure of Cas12k from cyanobacteria Scytonema hofmanni in complex with a single guide RNA (sgRNA) and a double-stranded target DNA. Coupled with mutagenesis and in vitro DNA transposition assay, our results revealed mechanisms for the recognition of the GGTT PAM sequence and the structural elements of Cas12k critical for RNA-guided DNA transposition. These structural and mechanistic insights should aid in the development of type V-K CRISPR-transposon systems as tools for genome editing.


2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Corral ◽  
Huub Kooijman ◽  
Anthony L. Spek ◽  
Jan Reedijk

1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (2) ◽  
pp. G374-G379 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Spitz ◽  
R. Yuhan ◽  
A. Koutsouris ◽  
C. Blatt ◽  
J. Alverdy ◽  
...  

The mechanism by which enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) causes diarrhea remains elusive. Several alterations within the host cell have been demonstrated to occur following EPEC attachment including increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and rearrangement and phosphorylation of several cytoskeletal proteins. The consequences of these intracellular perturbations on host cell function, however, have not been determined. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of EPEC adherence on intestinal epithelial barrier function. T84 cell monolayers were infected with either wild-type EPEC or a nonadherent isogenic derivative. Transepithelial electrical resistance, a measure of barrier function, decreased 33.5 +/- 6.4% after a 6-h incubation with the wild-type strain. Electron microscopy revealed ultrastructurally normal cells, and lactate dehydrogenase release assays failed to demonstrate cytotoxicity. Dual 22Na+ and [3H]mannitol flux studies localized the permeability defect to tight junctions. In addition, cumulative flux of the paracellular marker mannitol was four- to fivefold greater across monolayers infected with wild-type EPEC. Sequestration of intracellular calcium stores by dantrolene completely abrogated the resistance drop associated with EPEC attachment. These data demonstrate that adherence of EPEC to intestinal epithelial cell monolayers disrupts tight junction barrier function via a calcium-requiring event.


1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.B. Finlay

The interactions that occur between pathogenic micro-organisms and their host cells are complex and intimate. We have used two enteric pathogens, Salmonella typhimurium and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), to examine the interactions that occur between these organisms and epithelial cells. Although these are enteric pathogens, the knowledge and techniques developed from these systems may be applied to the study of dental pathogens. Both S. typhimurium and EPEC disrupt epithelial monolayer integrity, although by different mechanisms. Both pathogens cause loss of microvilli and re-arrangement of the underlying host cytoskeleton. Despite these similarities, both organisms send different signals into the host cell. EPEC signal transduction involves generation of intracellular calcium and inositol phosphate fluxes, and activation of host tyrosine kinases that results in tyrosine phosphorylation of a 90-kDa host protein. Bacterial mutants have been identifed that are deficient in signaling to the host. We propose a sequence of events that occur when EPEC interacts with epithelial cells. Once inside a host cell, S. typhimurium remains within a vacuole. To define some of the parameters of the intracellular environment, we constructed genetic fusions of known genes with lacZ, and used these fusions as reporter probes of the intracellular vacuolar environment. We have also begun to examine the bacterial and host cell factors necessary for S. typhimurium to multiply within epithelial cells. We found that this organism triggers the formation of novel tubular lysosomes, and these structures are linked with intracellular replication.


1963 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gösta Lindeberg ◽  
Aaslaug Lode

When cells of Escherichia coli were suspended in dilute artificial seawater and cooled to various subzero temperatures, a maximum lethal effect occurred around −40 °C. In addition, rapid cooling to −26 °C of bacteria, suspended in concentrated, non-freezing seawater caused a pronounced decrease in viability ("cold shock"). The loss in viability was accompanied by a proportional release from the cells of ultraviolet-absorbing material and by an increase in the ribose and organic phosphorus contents of the suspending liquid. It seems possible that the released material, at least partly, consisted of nucleotides or nucleic acids.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Almaz Nigatu Tesfahun ◽  
Marina Alexeeva ◽  
Miglė Tomkuvienė ◽  
Aysha Arshad ◽  
Prashanna Guragain ◽  
...  

DNA polymerase III mis-insertion may, where not corrected by its 3′→ 5′ exonuclease or the mismatch repair (MMR) function, result in all possible non-cognate base pairs in DNA generating base substitutions. The most thermodynamically unstable base pair, the cytosine (C)⋅C mismatch, destabilizes adjacent base pairs, is resistant to correction by MMR in Escherichia coli, and its repair mechanism remains elusive. We present here in vitro evidence that C⋅C mismatch can be processed by base excision repair initiated by the E. coli formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) protein. The kcat for C⋅C is, however, 2.5 to 10 times lower than for its primary substrate 8-oxoguanine (oxo8G)⋅C, but approaches those for 5,6-dihydrothymine (dHT)⋅C and thymine glycol (Tg)⋅C. The KM values are all in the same range, which indicates efficient recognition of C⋅C mismatches in DNA. Fpg activity was also exhibited for the thymine (T)⋅T mismatch and for N4- and/or 5-methylated C opposite C or T, Fpg activity being enabled on a broad spectrum of DNA lesions and mismatches by the flexibility of the active site loop. We hypothesize that Fpg plays a role in resolving C⋅C in particular, but also other pyrimidine⋅pyrimidine mismatches, which increases survival at the cost of some mutagenesis.


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