| Structural highlights
Function
[CAS9_STRP1] CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) is an adaptive immune system that provides protection against mobile genetic elements (viruses, transposable elements and conjugative plasmids). CRISPR clusters contain spacers, sequences complementary to antecedent mobile elements, and target invading nucleic acids. CRISPR clusters are transcribed and processed into CRISPR RNA (crRNA) (Probable). In type II CRISPR systems correct processing of pre-crRNA requires a trans-encoded small RNA (tracrRNA), endogenous ribonuclease 3 (rnc) and this protein. The tracrRNA serves as a guide for ribonuclease 3-aided processing of pre-crRNA. Subsequently Cas9/crRNA/tracrRNA endonucleolytically cleaves linear or circular dsDNA target complementary to the spacer. The target strand not complementary to crRNA is first cut endonucleolytically, then trimmed by 3'-5' exonucleolytically. DNA-binding requires protein and both RNA species. Cas9 probably recognizes a short motif in the CRISPR repeat sequences (the PAM or protospacer adjacent motif) to help distinguish self versus nonself.[1] [2]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
CRISPR-Cas9 technology has been widely used for genome engineering. Its RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9 binds specifically to target DNA and then cleaves the two DNA strands with HNH and RuvC nuclease domains. However, structural information regarding the DNA cleavage-activating state of two nuclease domains remains sparse. Here, we report a 5.2 A cryo-EM structure of Cas9 in complex with sgRNA and target DNA. This structure reveals a conformational state of Cas9 in which the HNH domain is closest to the DNA cleavage site. Compared with two known HNH states, our structure shows that the HNH active site moves toward the cleavage site by about 25 and 13 A, respectively. In combination with EM-based molecular dynamics simulations, we show that residues of the nuclease domains in our structure could form cleavage-compatible conformations with the target DNA. Together, these results strongly suggest that our cryo-EM structure resembles a DNA cleavage-activating architecture of Cas9.
Structural insights into DNA cleavage activation of CRISPR-Cas9 system.,Huai C, Li G, Yao R, Zhang Y, Cao M, Kong L, Jia C, Yuan H, Chen H, Lu D, Huang Q Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 9;8(1):1375. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01496-2. PMID:29123204[3]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
See Also
References
- ↑ Deltcheva E, Chylinski K, Sharma CM, Gonzales K, Chao Y, Pirzada ZA, Eckert MR, Vogel J, Charpentier E. CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small RNA and host factor RNase III. Nature. 2011 Mar 31;471(7340):602-7. doi: 10.1038/nature09886. PMID:21455174 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature09886
- ↑ Jinek M, Chylinski K, Fonfara I, Hauer M, Doudna JA, Charpentier E. A programmable dual-RNA-guided DNA endonuclease in adaptive bacterial immunity. Science. 2012 Aug 17;337(6096):816-21. doi: 10.1126/science.1225829. Epub 2012, Jun 28. PMID:22745249 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1225829
- ↑ Huai C, Li G, Yao R, Zhang Y, Cao M, Kong L, Jia C, Yuan H, Chen H, Lu D, Huang Q. Structural insights into DNA cleavage activation of CRISPR-Cas9 system. Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 9;8(1):1375. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01496-2. PMID:29123204 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01496-2
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