Targeted repression of DNA topoisomerase I by CRISPRi reveals a critical function for it in the Chlamydia trachomatis developmental cycle.

ABSTRACT: Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that is responsible for the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infections. Changes in DNA topology in this pathogen have been linked to its pathogenicity-associated developmental cycle. Here, evidence is provided that the balanced activity of DNA topoisomerases (Topos) contributes to Chlamydia developmental processes. Utilizing catalytically inactivated Cas12 (dCas12) based-clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference (CRISPRi) technology, we demonstrate targeted knockdown of chromosomal topA transcription in C. trachomatis without detected toxicity of dCas12. Repression of topA impaired the growth of C. trachomatis mostly through disruption of its dif

SUBMITTER: Shen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10054935 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature