RNA-triggered Cas12a3 cleaves tRNA tails to execute bacterial immunity.

ABSTRACT: In all domains of life, tRNAs mediate the transfer of genetic information from mRNAs to proteins. As their depletion suppresses translation and, consequently, viral replication, tRNAs represent long-standing and increasingly recognized targets of innate immunity^1-5. Here we report Cas12a3 effector nucleases from type V CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems in bacteria that preferentially cleave tRNAs after recognition of target RNA. Cas12a3 orthologues belong to one of two previously unreported nuclease clades that exhibit RNA-mediated cleavage of non-target RNA, and are distinct from all other known type V systems. Through cell-based and biochemical assays and direct RNA sequencing, we demonstrate that recognition of a complementary target RNA by the CRISPR RNA triggers Cas12a3 to

SUBMITTER: Dmytrenko O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12851939 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature