Cas3 is a single-stranded DNA nuclease and ATP-dependent helicase in the CRISPR/Cas immune system

Tomas Sinkunas, Giedrius Gasiunas, Christophe Fremaux, Rodolphe Barrangou, Philippe Horvath, Virginijus Siksnys

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

329 Scopus citations

Abstract

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) is a recently discovered adaptive prokaryotic immune system that provides acquired immunity against foreign nucleic acids by utilizing small guide crRNAs (CRISPR RNAs) to interfere with invading viruses and plasmids. In Escherichia coli, Cas3 is essential for crRNA-guided interference with virus proliferation. Cas3 contains N-terminal HD phosphohydrolase and C-terminal Superfamily 2 (SF2) helicase domains. Here, we provide the first report of the cloning, expression, purification and in vitro functional analysis of the Cas3 protein of the Streptococcus thermophilus CRISPR4 (Ecoli subtype) system. Cas3 possesses a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-stimulated ATPase activity, which is coupled to unwinding of DNA/DNA and RNA/DNA duplexes. Cas3 also shows ATP-independent nuclease activity located in the HD domain with a preference for ssDNA substrates. To dissect the contribution of individual domains, Cas3 separation-of-function mutants (ATPase+/nuclease- and ATPase-/nuclease+) were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis. We propose that the Cas3 ATPase/helicase domain acts as a motor protein, which assists delivery of the nuclease activity to Cascade-crRNA complex targeting foreign DNA.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1335-1342
Number of pages8
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume30
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 6 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Immunology and Microbiology(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cas3 is a single-stranded DNA nuclease and ATP-dependent helicase in the CRISPR/Cas immune system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this