Anti-CRISPR蛋白AcrVA2的结构生物学研究

大多数古生菌及半数细菌都含有成簇有规律间隔的短回文重复序列(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPR)和CRISPR相关(CRISPR-associated,Cas)蛋白质构成的适应性免疫系统,来抵御外界噬菌体的入侵.而噬菌体为了对抗这种免疫系统,也进化出许多抗CRISPR (anti-CRISPR,Acr)的蛋白质,使得CRISPR-Cas系统受到抑制.来自牛眼莫拉氏菌(Moraxella bovoculi)的AcrVA2是目前发现的可抑制V-A型CRISPR-Cas系统效应蛋白Cas12a发挥切割活性的Acr蛋白之一,其作用机理尚不清楚.本文解析了自由状态的AcrVA2和MbCas12a^620-636-AcrVA2复合物的晶体结构,发现AcrVA2蛋白采用了一种新的α-β折叠结构,且只与自由状态的Cas12a结合.此外,AcrVA2与MbCas12a^620-636的结合主要依靠氢键和盐桥的相互作用力,并通过疏水界面得到进一步稳定.这些结果提示,AcrV...     

细菌CRISPR-Cas 系统功能及其与噬菌体相互作用

摘要:近来研究发现,细菌CRISPR-Cas 系统在宿主菌抵抗可移动基因元件(mobile genetic elements,MGEs)的过程中发挥重要作用。CRISPR-Cas还参与宿主菌群体行为和毒力基因调控、DNA修复和基因组进化过程。本文着重综述细菌CRISPR-Cas系统的结构、类型、作用机制及其适应性免疫之外的其他功能(如对内源性基因表达的调控、促进基因组进化、DNA修复等);概述噬菌体抵抗CRISPR-Cas系统的机制,并对噬菌体-宿主菌相互作用进行探讨和展望。     

CRISPR-Cas系统与细菌和噬菌体的共进化

细菌在适应噬菌体攻击的过程中,进化了多种防御系统,噬菌体在细菌的选择压力下,也在不断进化反防御策略,双方的这种进化关系与发生机制一直尚不完全清楚。近年在细菌和古细菌中发现一种新的免疫防御系统,即CRISPR-Cas(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated system)系统。在对其功能和作用机制深入研究的同时,也不断地揭示了细菌和噬菌体之间的共进化关系。为此,文章在介绍原核细胞中CRISPR-Cas系统介导的免疫机制基础上,重点综述了CRISPR系统在细菌和噬菌体进化中的作用。     

基于CRISPR-Cas9技术的基因治疗研究进展

CRISPR-Cas9系统是细菌在与噬菌体抗争的进化过程中产生的一种抵御外源DNA入侵的机制,能有效识别并剪切外源DNA。基于其识别切除外源DNA的原理,CRISPR-Cas9系统被开发成为新一代基因编辑工具。与ES打靶、ZFN、TALEN等技术途径相比,CRISPR-Cas9系统操作简便、效率高、成本低,有着极其广阔的应用前景。本文整理了近年内有关CRISPR-Cas9系统的最新文献报道,对该系统工作原理以及针对基因治疗的研究进展进行综述。     

基于CRISPR-Cas系统的基因组定点修饰新技术

CRISPR(clustered regulatory interspersed short palindromic repeat)序列源于原核生物的一种获得性免疫系统,协同Cas(CRISPR-associated)蛋白家族参与抵抗噬菌体或其它病毒的二次感染,广泛存在于细菌(60%)和古菌(90%)中.病菌和宿主的共同进化导致了CRISPR-Cas系统具有多样性,可分为3大类(Ⅰ-Ⅲ),又分为10亚类.在Ⅱ型CRISPR-Cas系统基础上建立了RNA介导的CRISPR-Cas系统来修饰(删除、添加、激活、抑制)靶细胞中特定的基因序列,现已在人类细胞、小鼠、斑马鱼、酵母、细菌、果蝇、线虫、拟南芥中得以应用.本文主要介绍了Ⅱ型CRISPR-Cas系统的结构特点、作用机理及作为新型基因组定点修饰技术的研究进展,分析该技术优势,并展望CRISPRCas系统的应用前景.     

针对第2大类CRISPR-Cas系统的acr基因的发现及Acr蛋白多样化的抑制机制

CRISPR-Cas系统是细菌和古细菌来源的RNA介导的适应性免疫系统,利用RNA介导的核酸酶活性抵抗以噬菌体为代表的外源核酸的入侵.为逃避这种来源于宿主的免疫反应,噬菌体进化出了较小的anti-CRISPR蛋白(Acr). Acrs采用不同的抑制策略,将Cas效应蛋白限制在不同的阶段,从而使其失活.随着Cas蛋白在生物技术领域和临床上的广泛应用, Acr已被开发为有用的调控工具.对Acr的研究不仅可以加深人们对Cas蛋白别构调控的理解,而且可以为开发新型的基于Acr的调控工具打下基础.利用实验和生物信息学的手段,越来越多的Acr被发现,其中第2大类CRISPR-Cas系统目前有大约50种.本综述聚焦于第2大类CRISPR-Cas系统的Acr,从基因发现、抑制机制和技术应用三个方面对其进行总结,并对未来的研究方向做出展望.     

以CasX为例简述新型CRISPR-Cas系统的基本属性和研究方法

在细菌与古菌中广泛存在的CRISPR-Cas系统,作为目前发现的原核生物唯一的适应性免疫系统,抵御着病毒和质粒的入侵。自20世纪80年代首次被发现至今,CRISPR-Cas系统的基本情况逐渐清晰,包括名称缩写、分类、进化关系等方面。近年来,由于第二类CRISPR-Cas系统作为一种有潜力的基因编辑工具而逐渐成为应用研究被关注,对CRISPR-Cas系统的基础研究热度也持久不衰。为了使此类基因编辑工具在实际应用领域更加安全便捷,针对已发现的CRISPR-Cas系统在根据基础研究领域的成果进行优化的同时,对新型CRISPR-Cas系统的发掘工作也同等重要。本文以2017年发现的CasX为例,简要概述针对一种新发现的CRISPR-Cas系统需要研究确定的基本属性及相关研究方法。     

细菌CRISPR-Cas系统的研究进展

获得性免疫长期以来被视为真核生物所独有,而CRISPR-Cas系统的发现则打破了这一定论。它是广泛存在于细菌和古菌中的一种获得性免疫系统,通过捕获整合初次感染的外源核酸片段,在Cas蛋白与cr RNA(CRISPR RNAs)的共同作用下抵御相同核酸的再次入侵,以保护宿主免受侵扰。近些年,CRISPR-Cas系统得到广泛的关注和研究。本文主要从细菌微生物角度,对系统分类、作用机制及原核领域应用等取得重要突破的研究进行扼要阐述,为CRISPR-Cas系统的深入探究和应用拓展提供有价值的参考信息。     

宿主菌抗噬菌体机制的研究进展

噬菌体又称细菌病毒,是公认最丰富的微生物,也是最多样性的,这种多样性是适应所面对选择性压力例如普遍存在宿主菌的噬菌体抗性机制。噬菌体通过6步(吸附、注入、复制、转录翻译、组装和释放)侵入细菌并使之裂解,但是当噬菌体感染细菌,就会面临细菌抗噬菌体的机制,宿主菌能够进化出多种抗噬菌体的机制来避免噬菌体的侵染和裂解。本文就对宿主菌抗噬菌体各种机制作一综述。     

嗜盐古菌中Ⅰ-B亚型CRISPR-Cas系统的分子机制和应用进展

嗜盐古菌是一类应用前景广阔的微生物资源,但由于缺乏高效灵活的遗传操作工具,限制了这类生物在科学研究和工业生产方面的应用。CRISPR-Cas系统存在于绝大多数古菌中,应用其内源性CRISPR-Cas系统进行遗传操作是一种兼具可行性和简便性的策略。近年来,人们对Ⅰ-B亚型CRISPR-Cas系统的研究已从模式古菌沃氏富盐菌(Haloferax volcanii)拓展到其他嗜盐古菌中。本文总结了Ⅰ-B亚型CRISPR-Cas系统的分子机制,并介绍了利用这种内源性CRISPR-Cas系统在嗜盐古菌中进行遗传操作的研究进展。     

Non-canonical inhibition strategies and structural basis of anti-CRISPR proteins targeting type I CRISPR-Cas systems

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as bacteriophages and their host prokaryotes are trapped in an eternal battle against each other. To cope with foreign infection, bacteria and archaea have evolved multiple immune strategies, out of which CRISPR-Cas system is up to now the only discovered adaptive system in prokaryotes. Despite the fact that CRISPR-Cas system provides powerful and delicate protection against MGEs, MGEs have also evolved anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs) to counteract the CRISPR-Cas immune defenses. To date, 46 families of Acrs targeting type I CRISPR-Cas system have been characterized, out of which structure information of 21 families have provided insights on their inhibition strategies. Here, we review the non-canonical inhibition strategies adopted by Acrs targeting type I CRISPR-Cas systems based on their structure information by incorporating the most recent advances in this field, and discuss our current understanding and future perspectives. The delicate interplay between type I CRISPR-Cas systems and their Acrs provides us with important insights into the ongoing fierce arms race between prokaryotic hosts and their predators.     

Phage Against the Machine: Discovery and Mechanism of Type V Anti-CRISPRs

The discovery of diverse bacterial CRISPR-Cas systems has reignited interest in understanding bacterial defense pathways while yielding exciting new tools for genome editing. CRISPR-Cas systems are widely distributed in prokaryotes, found in 40% of bacteria and 90% of archaea, where they function as adaptive immune systems against bacterial viruses (phage) and other mobile genetic elements. In turn, phage have evolved inhibitors, called anti-CRISPR proteins, to prevent targeting. Type V CRISPR-Cas12 systems have emerged as a particularly exciting arena in this co-evolutionary arms race. Type V anti-CRISPRs have highly diverse and novel mechanisms of action, some of which appear to be unusually potent or widespread. In this review, we discuss the discovery and mechanism of these anti-CRISPRs as well as future areas for exploration.     

Diverse Mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas9 Inhibition by Type II Anti-CRISPR Proteins

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas (CRISPR-associated proteins) systems provide bacteria and archaea with an adaptive immune response against invasion by mobile genetic elements like phages, plasmids, and transposons. These systems have been repurposed as very powerful biotechnological tools for gene editing applications in both bacterial and eukaryotic systems. The discovery of natural off-switches for CRISPR-Cas systems, known as anti-CRISPR proteins, provided a mechanism for controlling CRISPR-Cas activity and opened avenues for the development of more precise editing tools. In this review, we focus on the inhibitory mechanisms of anti-CRISPRs that are active against type II CRISPR-Cas systems and briefly discuss their biotechnological applications.     

Molecular basis of dual anti-CRISPR and auto-regulatory functions of AcrIF24

CRISPR-Cas systems are adaptive immune systems in bacteria and archaea that provide resistance against phages and other mobile genetic elements. To fight against CRISPR-Cas systems, phages and archaeal viruses encode anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins that inhibit CRISPR-Cas systems. The expression of acr genes is controlled by anti-CRISPR-associated (Aca) proteins encoded within acr-aca operons. AcrIF24 is a recently identified Acr that inhibits the type I-F CRISPR-Cas system. Interestingly, AcrIF24 was predicted to be a dual-function Acr and Aca. Here, we elucidated the crystal structure of AcrIF24 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and identified its operator sequence within the regulated acr-aca operon promoter. The structure of AcrIF24 has a novel domain composition, with wing, head and body domains. The body domain is responsible for recognition of promoter DNA for Aca regulatory activity. We also revealed that AcrIF24 directly bound to type I-F Cascade, specifically to Cas7 via its head domain as part of its Acr mechanism. Our results provide new molecular insights into the mechanism of a dual functional Acr-Aca protein.     

CRISPR-Cas9介导的基因组编辑技术的研究进展

CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated proteins)系统为细菌与古生菌中抵御外源病毒或质粒DNA入侵的获得性免疫系统。该系统在crRNA的指导下,使核酸酶Cas识别并降解外源DNA。其中,Ⅱ型CRISPR-Cas系统最为简单,仅包括一个核酸酶Cas9与tracrRNA：crRNA二聚体便可完成其生物功能。基于CRISPR-Cas9的基因组编辑技术的核心为将tracrRNA:crRNA设计为引导RNA,在引导RNA的指导下Cas9定位于特定DNA序列上,进行DNA双链切割,实现基因组的定向编辑。CRISPR-Cas9系统以设计操纵简便、编辑高效与通用性广等优势成为新一代基因组编辑技术,为基因组定向改造调控与应用等带来突破性革命。从CRISPR-Cas9介导的基因组编辑技术的发展与应用等方面综述其最新研究进展,并着重介绍该技术的关键影响因素,为相关研究者提供参考。     

CRISPR-Cas系统及anti-CRISPR蛋白在微生物中的研究进展

CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISP) and CRISPR associated proteins)系统是细菌用来防御病毒、质粒等外源核酸入侵的一种获得性免疫防御系统。随着研究的深入,CRISPR-Cas系统已发展为一种重要的基因编辑工具,并成功应用于动物、植物和微生物的基因改造中。但该基因编辑方法有时存在基因脱靶效应,从而限制了其推广应用。最近,通过将1种新发现的抗CRISPR蛋白(Anti-CRISPR protein,ACP)与CRISPR-Cas系统相结合,已成功开发出可控制基因脱靶效率的CRISPR-Cas基因编辑工具。本文首先对CRISPR-Cas系统及ACP进行了简要介绍,然后就CRISPR-Cas基因编辑工具及ACP在微生物基因改造的应用现状进行了综述,并对ACP介导的CRISPR-Cas基因编辑方法(ACP-CRISPR-Cas)在微生物基因编辑中的应用前景进行了讨论。     

Inhibition mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas9 by AcrIIA17 and AcrIIA18

Mobile genetic elements such as phages and plasmids have evolved anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs) to suppress CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems. Recently, several phage and non-phage derived Acrs including AcrIIA17 and AcrIIA18 have been reported to inhibit Cas9 through modulation of sgRNA. Here, we show that AcrIIA17 and AcrIIA18 inactivate Cas9 through distinct mechanisms. AcrIIA17 inhibits Cas9 activity through interference with Cas9-sgRNA binary complex formation. In contrast, AcrIIA18 induces the truncation of sgRNA in a Cas9-dependent manner, generating a shortened sgRNA incapable of triggering Cas9 activity. The crystal structure of AcrIIA18, combined with mutagenesis studies, reveals a crucial role of the N-terminal β-hairpin in AcrIIA18 for sgRNA cleavage. The enzymatic inhibition mechanism of AcrIIA18 is different from those of the other reported type II Acrs. Our results add new insights into the mechanistic understanding of CRISPR-Cas9 inhibition by Acrs, and also provide valuable information in the designs of tools for conditional manipulation of CRISPR-Cas9.     

CRISPR-Induced Distributed Immunity in Microbial Populations

In bacteria and archaea, viruses are the primary infectious agents, acting as virulent, often deadly pathogens. A form of adaptive immune defense known as CRISPR-Cas enables microbial cells to acquire immunity to viral pathogens by recognizing specific sequences encoded in viral genomes. The unique biology of this system results in evolutionary dynamics of host and viral diversity that cannot be fully explained by the traditional models used to describe microbe-virus coevolutionary dynamics. Here, we show how the CRISPR-mediated adaptive immune response of hosts to invading viruses facilitates the emergence of an evolutionary mode we call distributed immunity - the coexistence of multiple, equally-fit immune alleles among individuals in a microbial population. We use an eco-evolutionary modeling framework to quantify distributed immunity and demonstrate how it emerges and fluctuates in multi-strain communities of hosts and viruses as a consequence of CRISPR-induced coevolution under conditions of low viral mutation and high relative numbers of viral protospacers. We demonstrate that distributed immunity promotes sustained diversity and stability in host communities and decreased viral population density that can lead to viral extinction. We analyze sequence diversity of experimentally coevolving populations of Streptococcus thermophilus and their viruses where CRISPR-Cas is active, and find the rapid emergence of distributed immunity in the host population, demonstrating the importance of this emergent phenomenon in evolving microbial communities.     

CRISPR RNA-guided DNA cleavage by reconstituted Type I-A immune effector complexes

Extremophiles - Diverse CRISPR-Cas immune systems protect archaea and bacteria from viruses and other mobile genetic elements. All CRISPR-Cas systems ultimately function by sequence-specific...