Structural mechanism of the Retron-Eco7 anti-phage defense system.

ABSTRACT: Retrons are prokaryotic genetic elements involved in anti-phage defense and consist of a non-coding RNA, a reverse transcriptase (RT), and various effector proteins. Retron-Eco7 (previously known as Retron-Ec78) from Escherichia coli encodes two effector proteins (the PtuA ATPase and the PtuB nuclease) and degrades the host tRNA^Tyr upon phage infection, thereby protecting host cells against invading phages. However, its defense mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the Retron-Eco7 complex, comprising the RT, multicopy single-stranded DNA (msDNA), PtuA, and PtuB. The Retron-Eco7 structures reveal that the RT-msDNA complex associates with two PtuA-PtuB complexes, potentially inhibiting their nuclease activity and suppressin

SUBMITTER: Ishikawa J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12673091 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature