CRISPR-Cas Flashcards
Origins and evolution
what are the two outcomes of CRISPR-Cas activity
prevent replication - cleave DNA and RNA
prevent spreading - dormancy and suicide
what is the host-virus arms race?
- The ability of the bacteriophage to continue creating pressure over the cell, the cell creating new ways to overcome the responses
what is the CRISPR array?
the memory of the adaptive immune system
Consist of two to several hundred direct repeats (typically 25–36 bp in size) separated by spacers, some of which are homologous to segments of virus or plasmid genomes.
what is the CRISPR locus?
A typical CRISPR-cas locus consists of a CRISPR array and adjacent cas genes that form one or more operons
what are the three steps of CRISPR-Cas immunity
- foreign DNA acquisition
- CRISPR RNA processing
- RNA-guided targeting of viral element
what is the PAM?
PAM = protospacer adjacent motif, allows for self/non-self discrimination to avoid auto-immunity
in the viral DNA!
a motif close to bound target but not part of the cleavage material
follows the protospacer
what is the major difference between class 1 and class 2 CRISPR-Cas systems?
class 1 uses multi protein effector cascade complexes and class 2 uses single protein effector complexes
give three class 1 CRISPR systems
Types 1, 3 and 4
what makes up the interference module of class 1 CRISPR systems
the effector module (crRNA and target binding)
and target cleavage
what is crRNA?
the transcript of the CRISPR locus
it is processed by Cas proteins - mature crRNA transcripts contain a partial conserved section of repeat and a sequence spacer that is complementary to the target DNA
what is tracrRNA
trans-activating CRISPR RNA
binds crRNA by complementary base pairing in type 2 CRISPR systems to guide Cas9
Type II CRISPR-Cas systems require a tracrRNA which plays a role in the maturation of crRNA.[3] The tracrRNA is partially complementary to and base pairs with a pre-crRNA forming an RNA duplex. This is cleaved by RNase III, an RNA-specific ribonuclease, to form a crRNA/tracrRNA hybrid. This hybrid acts as a guide for the endonuclease Cas9, which cleaves the invading nucleic acid
breifly describe how the type 1 CRISPR system works
The crRNA can form a complex with the Cas proteins in the Cascade and scan the genome until it finds the PAM, then unwinds the DNA forming an R loop, guiding the complex to the target DNA sequence.
Cas3 is recruited for the nuclease-helicase activity.
what cleaves the DNA in a type 1 CRISPR system?
Cas3
what are the roles of Cas5, Cas6 and Cas7 in type 1 CRISPR systems?
in the Cascade
Typically in the Cascade, Cas6 generates the mature crRNAs while Cas5 and Cas7 process and stabilize the crRNA
what is Cascade?
CRISPR-associated complex for antiviral defense
what is the type 1 CRISPR system characterised by
Type-I CRISPR systems are characterized by Cas3, a nuclease-helicase protein, and the multi-subunit Cascade
what type of nucleic acids do type 1 CRISPR systems target?
dsDNA
what are type 3 CRISPR systems characterised by?
Type-III CRISPR systems are characterized by Cas10, an RNA cleaving protein
and csm/cmr complex
what kind of nucleic acids do type 3 CRISPR systems target?
RNA
(but has capacity to target ssDNA too)
once bound to target sequence, what activity is initated by the complex in type 3 CRISPR systems
- RNA cleavage
- ssDNA cleavage
- cyclic oligoadenylate synthesis
creatign death and dormancy
what crispr system involved Csm/Cmr complex
type 3
what crispr system requires tracrRNA
type 2
every protein that has nucleic acid binding capacity has what domain
helix turn helix domain
breifly describe how type 2 CRISPR systems work
crRNA and tracrRNA form a complex known as the guide RNA (gRNA)
The crRNA within the gRNA is what matches up with the target sequence or protospacer after the PAM is found. Once the match is made Cas9 will make a double-stranded break.
what is the PAM sequences for type 2 CRISPR systems?
NGG
what domain guide the dsDNA break in type 2 CRISPR systems
RuvC
what type of nucleic acids do type 2 crispr systems target
dsDNA
what two CRISPR systems use RNA guided RNA cleavage
type 3 and 6
what are type 2 crispr systems characterised by
Type-II CRISPR systems are characterized by the single signature nuclease Cas9.
what nucleic acids can cas12 cleave
ssDNA, dsDNA, and RNA
what is the effector nuclease of the type 5 CRISPR systems
Cas12
how does collateral damage occur in type 6 CRISPR systems
via non specific cleavage (ssRNA) following recognition of target sequence
what is the function of the HEPN domains in type 6 CRISPR systems?
nucleic acid cleavage
describe how the effector cleaves the RNA in type 6 CRISPR systems
Cas13a possesses two HEPN nuclease domains
Binding of target RNA to the crRNA induces a conformational shift that brings the domains in close proximity to form an active HEPN site.
The active site then cleaves RNA in a sequence-independent manner.
what domain is responsible for the nucleolytic activity in Cas12a
RuvC
describe how the effector cleaves the DNA in type 5 CRISPR systems
Upon binding of ssDNA or dsDNA targets to the crRNA , the effector undergoes a conformational shift that exposes and activates the RuvC nuclease domain to license cleavage of the target DNA and non-specific cleavage of ssDNA
what obscures the RuvC domain of Cas12a before target recognition?
the Rec lobe
what are the subclasses of type 3 CRISPR systems?
how are they distinguished
type IIIA (CSM) and type IIIB (CMR), depending on their specificity for DNA or RNA targets respectively
target recognition activates what two domains of Cas 10
- HD domain
- Palm domain
whats the purpose of the HD domain in Cas 10
non-specifically cleaves ssDNA
The ssDNA degraded is confined to the vicinity of the target sequence, because it is part of the transcription bubble formed after RNA polymerase synthesizes the target RNA. Proximity of the complex degrades nonspecifically the ssRNA.
what is the purpose of the palm domain in Cas10
converts ATP into 4 or 6 member rings of cyclic oligoadenylates (cOA). cOA acts as a secondary messenger and activates Csm6
how does cOA cause collateral nucleic acid degredation in type 3a CRISPR systems?
cOA acts as a secondary messenger and activates Csm6 by binding to its CARF domain causing activation of the HEPN domain unleashing non-specific RNA cleavage.