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CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small RNA and host factor RNase III.

ABSTRACT: CRISPR/Cas systems constitute a widespread class of immunity systems that protect bacteria and archaea against phages and plasmids, and commonly use repeat/spacer-derived short crRNAs to silence foreign nucleic acids in a sequence-specific manner. Although the maturation of crRNAs represents a key event in CRISPR activation, the responsible endoribonucleases (CasE, Cas6, Csy4) are missing in many CRISPR/Cas subtypes. Here, differential RNA sequencing of the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes uncovered tracrRNA, a trans-encoded small RNA with 24-nucleotide complementarity to the repeat regions of crRNA precursor transcripts. We show that tracrRNA directs the maturation of crRNAs by the activities of the widely conserved endogenous RNase III and the CRISPR-associated Csn1 protein; all these components are essential to protect S. pyogenes against prophage-derived DNA. Our study reveals a novel pathway of small guide RNA maturation and the first example of a host factor (RNase III) required for bacterial RNA-mediated immunity against invaders.

SUBMITTER: Deltcheva E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3070239 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small RNA and host factor RNase III.

Deltcheva Elitza E Chylinski Krzysztof K Sharma Cynthia M CM Gonzales Karine K Chao Yanjie Y Pirzada Zaid A ZA Eckert Maria R MR Vogel Jörg J Charpentier Emmanuelle E

Nature 20110301 7340

CRISPR/Cas systems constitute a widespread class of immunity systems that protect bacteria and archaea against phages and plasmids, and commonly use repeat/spacer-derived short crRNAs to silence foreign nucleic acids in a sequence-specific manner. Although the maturation of crRNAs represents a key event in CRISPR activation, the responsible endoribonucleases (CasE, Cas6, Csy4) are missing in many CRISPR/Cas subtypes. Here, differential RNA sequencing of the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes ...[more]

PMID: 21455174

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Dataset Information

CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small RNA and host factor RNase III.

Publications

CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small RNA and host factor RNase III.

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