Cas9 specifies functional viral targets during CRISPR-Cas adaptation

Nature. 2015 Mar 12;519(7542):199-202. doi: 10.1038/nature14245. Epub 2015 Feb 18.

Abstract

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) loci and their associated (Cas) proteins provide adaptive immunity against viral infection in prokaryotes. Upon infection, short phage sequences known as spacers integrate between CRISPR repeats and are transcribed into small RNA molecules that guide the Cas9 nuclease to the viral targets (protospacers). Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 cleavage of the viral genome requires the presence of a 5'-NGG-3' protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence immediately downstream of the viral target. It is not known whether and how viral sequences flanked by the correct PAM are chosen as new spacers. Here we show that Cas9 selects functional spacers by recognizing their PAM during spacer acquisition. The replacement of cas9 with alleles that lack the PAM recognition motif or recognize an NGGNG PAM eliminated or changed PAM specificity during spacer acquisition, respectively. Cas9 associates with other proteins of the acquisition machinery (Cas1, Cas2 and Csn2), presumably to provide PAM-specificity to this process. These results establish a new function for Cas9 in the genesis of prokaryotic immunological memory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • CRISPR-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems* / immunology
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats / genetics*
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats / immunology
  • DNA, Viral / genetics*
  • DNA, Viral / immunology
  • DNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleotide Motifs
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / enzymology*
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / genetics*
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / immunology
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / virology
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • CRISPR-Associated Proteins
  • DNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KP209285