Type III-B CRISPR-Cas cascade of proteolytic cleavages

Science. 2024 Feb 2;383(6682):512-519. doi: 10.1126/science.adk0378. Epub 2024 Feb 1.

Abstract

The generation of cyclic oligoadenylates and subsequent allosteric activation of proteins that carry sensory domains is a distinctive feature of type III CRISPR-Cas systems. In this work, we characterize a set of associated genes of a type III-B system from Haliangium ochraceum that contains two caspase-like proteases, SAVED-CHAT and PCaspase (prokaryotic caspase), co-opted from a cyclic oligonucleotide-based antiphage signaling system (CBASS). Cyclic tri-adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-induced oligomerization of SAVED-CHAT activates proteolytic activity of the CHAT domains, which specifically cleave and activate PCaspase. Subsequently, activated PCaspase cleaves a multitude of proteins, which results in a strong interference phenotype in vivo in Escherichia coli. Taken together, our findings reveal how a CRISPR-Cas-based detection of a target RNA triggers a cascade of caspase-associated proteolytic activities.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins* / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins* / genetics
  • CRISPR-Associated Proteins* / genetics
  • CRISPR-Associated Proteins* / metabolism
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems*
  • Caspases* / chemistry
  • Caspases* / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Myxococcales* / enzymology
  • Myxococcales* / genetics
  • Protein Domains
  • Proteolysis*
  • RNA / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Caspases
  • CRISPR-Associated Proteins
  • RNA

Supplementary concepts

  • Haliangium ochraceum