Project description:V. cholerae A50 has a functional CRISPR-cas system with a conserved boxA sequence. Plasmids harboring protospacers that are perfect targets for each spacer of the array are introduced into wt and boxA mutant V. cholerae. After a period of growth without selection, cells are collected and the protospacer plasmids are sequenced in a high throughput manner.
Project description:Plasmids were constructed harboring protospacers that are perfect targets for spacers #4 and #21 of the array, but contain NNN (all possible PAM combinations) immediately upstream of the protospacer. The plasmids were introduced into V. cholerae with or without a functional CRISPR-cas system and cells were plated on selective media. Cells were collected and the protospacer plasmids were sequenced in a high throughput manner. PAMs were counted using a custom python script
Project description:CRISPR-Cas immune systems function to defend prokaryotes against potentially harmful mobile genetic elements including viruses and plasmids. The multiple CRISPR-Cas systems (Types I, II, III) each recognize and target destruction of foreign invader nucleic acids via structurally and functionally diverse effector complexes (crRNPs). CRISPR-Cas effector complexes are comprised of CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) that contain sequences homologous to the invading nucleic acids and Cas proteins specific to each immune system type. We have previously characterized a crRNP in Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu) that contains Cmr proteins (Type III-B) associated with one of two primary size forms of crRNAs and functions through homology-dependent cleavage of target RNAs. In the current study, we have isolated and characterized two additional native Pfu CRISPR-Cas complexes containing either Csa (Type I-A) or Cst (Type I-G) proteins and distinct profiles of associated crRNAs. For each complex, the Cas proteins were identified by tandem mass spectrometry and immunoblotting and the crRNAs by RNA deep sequencing and Northern blot analysis. The crRNAs associated with both the Csa and Cst complexes originate from each of seven total CRISPR loci and contain identical 5’ ends (8-nt CRISPR RNA repeat-derived 5’ tag sequences) but heterogeneous 3’ ends (containing variable amounts of downstream repeat sequences). These crRNA forms are distinct from Cmr-associated crRNAs, indicating different 3’ end processing pathways following primary cleavage of common pre-crRNAs. We predict that the newly identified Pfu Type I-A (Csa) and Type I-G (Cst)-containing crRNPs, like other previously characterized Type I CRISPR-Cas effector complexes, each function by carrying out crRNA-guided DNA targeting of invading mobile genetic elements. Taken together, our in-depth characterization of the three isolated native complexes provides clear evidence for three compositionally distinct crRNPs containing either Cmr, Csa, or Cst Cas proteins that together make up an impressive arsenal of CRISPR-Cas defense for a single organism. 4 Samples: Protein-associated small RNAs
Project description:We generated a collection of 13 plasmids, with each plasmid containing a variant of a CRISPR protospacer targeted by spacer 8 of the E. coli CRISPR-I array. We transformed the plasmids as a pool into delta cas3 E. coli cells expressing all other cas genes constitutively. We then transformed these cells with either an empty vector or a plasmid expressing the Cas3 nuclease. DNA surrounding the protospacers was PCR-amplified and sequenced.
Project description:Bacteria protect themselves from infection by bacteriophages (phages) using different defence systems, such as CRISPR-Cas. Although CRISPR-Cas provides phage resistance, fitness costs are incurred, such as through autoimmunity. CRISPR-Cas regulation can optimise defence and minimise these costs. We recently developed a genome-wide functional genomics approach (SorTn-seq) for high-throughput discovery of regulators of bacterial gene expression. Here, we applied SorTn-seq to identify loci influencing expression of the two type III-A Serratia CRISPR arrays. Multiple genes affected CRISPR expression, including those involved in outer membrane and lipopolysaccharide synthesis. By comparing loci affecting type III CRISPR arrays and cas operon expression, we identified PigU (LrhA) as a repressor that co-ordinately controls both arrays and cas genes. By repressing type III-A CRISPR-Cas expression, PigU shuts off CRISPR-Cas interference against plasmids and phages. PigU also represses interference and CRISPR adaptation by the type I-F system, which is also present in Serratia. RNA sequencing demonstrated that PigU is a global regulator that controls secondary metabolite production and motility, in addition to CRISPR-Cas immunity. Increased PigU also resulted in elevated expression of three Serratia prophages, indicating their likely induction upon sensing PigU-induced cellular changes. In summary, PigU is a major regulator of CRISPR-Cas immunity in Serratia.
Project description:We generated a collection of 13 plasmids, with each plasmid containing a variant of a CRISPR protospacer targeted by spacer 8 of the E. coli CRISPR-I array. We transformed the plasmids as a pool into delta cas3 E. coli cells expressing all other cas genes constitutively, with FLAG-tagged casA. We then used ChIP to enrich for CasA-bound protospacers. DNA surrounding the protospacers was PCR-amplified from input (pre-immunocrecipitation) and ChIP (post-immunoprecipitation) samples and sequenced.
Project description:We report the PAMs of diverse type I-E CRISPR- Cas systems and the type I-C and the type I-F1 CRISPR-Cas systems from Xanthomonas albilineans. Furthermore, we report PAMs of two type I-B CRISPR transposons (CASTs) and the Vibrio cholerae type I-F CAST. For identification of the PAMs, we used a cell-free TXTL-based PAM screen we named PAM-DETECT. By adding a 5N randomized PAM library and plasmids encoding for Cascade genes and gRNAs, recognized PAMs were bound by Cascade and protected from cleavage by a restriction enzyme that has it's recognition site within the target region. By amplifying the non-cleaved target plasmid, we used next-generation sequencing to analyze the enrichment of functional PAMs of the studied CRISPR-Cas systems. We additionally assessed the insertion sites of crRNA-dependent and crRNA-independent transposition of the Rippkaea orientalis type I-B CAST in TXTL and E. coli.
Project description:CRISPR-Cas constitutes an adaptive prokaryotic defence system against invasive nucleic acids like viruses and plasmids. Beyond their role in immunity, CRISPR-Cas systems have been shown to closely interact with components of cellular DNA repair pathways either by regulating their expression or via direct protein-protein contact or enzymatic activity. The integrase Cas1 is usually involved in the adaptation phase of CRISPR-Cas immunity but its function in cellular DNA repair pathways has been proposed before. Here, we analysed the capacity of an archaeal Cas1 from Haloferax volcanii to compensate DNA damage induced by oxidative stress and found that a deletion of the cas1 gene led to severe growth defects after stress induction. In addition, our results indicate that Cas1 is directly involved in DNA damage repair as the enzymatically active site of the protein is crucial for growth rescue under oxidative conditions. Based on biochemical cleavage assays, we propose a mechanism in which Cas1 exerts a similar function like the DNA repair protein Fen1 by resolving branched repair intermediate structures. Overall, the present study broadens our understanding of the functional link between CRISPR-Cas immunity and DNA repair by demonstrating that Cas1 and Fen1 display commutable roles during archaeal DNA damage repair.