Dataset Information

CRISPR-Cas systems preferentially target the leading regions of MOBF conjugative plasmids.

ABSTRACT: Most prokaryotes contain CRISPR-Cas immune systems that provide protection against mobile genetic elements. We have focused on the ability of CRISPR-Cas to block plasmid conjugation, and analyzed the position of target sequences (protospacers) on conjugative plasmids. The analysis reveals that protospacers are non-uniformly distributed over plasmid regions in a pattern that is determined by the plasmid's mobilization type (MOB). While MOBP plasmids are most frequently targeted in the region entering the recipient cell last (lagging region), MOBF plasmids are mostly targeted in the region entering the recipient cell first (leading region). To explain this protospacer distribution bias, we propose two mutually non-exclusive hypotheses: (1) spacers are acquired more frequently from either the leading or lagging region depending on the MOB type (2) CRISPR-interference is more efficient when spacers target these preferred regions. To test the latter hypothesis, we analyzed Type I-E CRISPR-interference against MOBF prototype plasmid F in Escherichia coli. Our results show that plasmid conjugation is effectively inhibited, but the level of immunity is not affected by targeting the plasmid in the leading or lagging region. Moreover, CRISPR-immunity levels do not depend on whether the incoming single-stranded plasmid DNA, or the DNA strand synthesized in the recipient is targeted. Our findings indicate that single-stranded DNA may not be a target for Type I-E CRISPR-Cas systems, and suggest that the protospacer distribution bias might be due to spacer acquisition preferences.

SUBMITTER: Westra ER

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3737333 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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CRISPR-Cas systems preferentially target the leading regions of MOBF conjugative plasmids.

Westra Edze R ER Staals Raymond H J RH Gort Gerrit G Høgh Søren S Neumann Sarah S de la Cruz Fernando F Fineran Peter C PC Brouns Stan J J SJ

RNA biology 20130327 5

Most prokaryotes contain CRISPR-Cas immune systems that provide protection against mobile genetic elements. We have focused on the ability of CRISPR-Cas to block plasmid conjugation, and analyzed the position of target sequences (protospacers) on conjugative plasmids. The analysis reveals that protospacers are non-uniformly distributed over plasmid regions in a pattern that is determined by the plasmid's mobilization type (MOB). While MOBP plasmids are most frequently targeted in the region ente ...[more]

PMID: 23535265

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Project description:Novel CRISPR-Cas systems possess substantial potential for genome editing and manipulation of gene expression. The types and numbers of CRISPR-Cas systems vary substantially between different organisms. Some filamentous cyanobacteria harbor > 40 different putative CRISPR repeat-spacer cassettes, while the number of cas gene instances is much lower. Here we addressed the types and diversity of CRISPR-Cas systems and of CRISPR-like repeat-spacer arrays in 171 publicly available genomes of multicellular cyanobacteria. The number of 1328 repeat-spacer arrays exceeded the total of 391 encoded Cas1 proteins suggesting a tendency for fragmentation or the involvement of alternative adaptation factors. The model cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 contains only three cas1 genes but hosts three Class 1, possibly one Class 2 and five orphan repeat-spacer arrays, all of which exhibit crRNA-typical expression patterns suggesting active transcription, maturation and incorporation into CRISPR complexes. The CRISPR-Cas system within the element interrupting the Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 fdxN gene, as well as analogous arrangements in other strains, occupy the genetic elements that become excised during the differentiation-related programmed site-specific recombination. This fact indicates the propensity of these elements for the integration of CRISPR-cas systems and points to a previously not recognized connection. The gene all3613 resembling a possible Class 2 effector protein is linked to a short repeat-spacer array and a single tRNA gene, similar to its homologs in other cyanobacteria. The diversity and presence of numerous CRISPR-Cas systems in DNA elements that are programmed for homologous recombination make filamentous cyanobacteria a prolific resource for their study. Abbreviations: Cas: CRISPR associated sequences; CRISPR: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats; C2c: Class 2 candidate; SDR: small dispersed repeat; TSS: transcriptional start site; UTR: untranslated region.

Dataset Information

CRISPR-Cas systems preferentially target the leading regions of MOBF conjugative plasmids.

Publications

CRISPR-Cas systems preferentially target the leading regions of MOBF conjugative plasmids.

Similar Datasets

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