RESUMEN
Tn3 family transposons are a widespread group of replicative transposons, notorious for contributing to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance, particularly the global prevalence of carbapenem resistance. The transposase (TnpA) of these elements catalyzes DNA breakage and rejoining reactions required for transposition. However, the molecular mechanism for target site selection with these elements remains unclear. Here, we identify a QLxxLR motif in N-terminal of Tn3 TnpAs and demonstrate that this motif allows interaction between TnpA of Tn3 family transposon Tn1721 and the host ß-sliding clamp (DnaN), the major processivity factor of the DNA replication machinery. The TnpA-DnaN interaction is essential for Tn1721 transposition. Our work unveils a mechanism whereby Tn3 family transposons can bias transposition into certain replisomes through an interaction with the host replication machinery. This study further expands the diversity of mobile elements that use interaction with the host replication machinery to bias integration.
RESUMEN
The Tn7 family of transposons is notable for its highly regulated integration mechanisms, including programmable RNA-guided transposition. The targeting pathways rely on dedicated target selection proteins from the TniQ family and the AAA+ adaptor TnsC to recruit and activate the transposase at specific target sites. Here, we report the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of TnsC bound to the TniQ domain of TnsD from prototypical Tn7 and unveil key regulatory steps stemming from unique behaviors of ATP- versus ADP-bound TnsC. We show that TnsD recruits ADP-bound dimers of TnsC and acts as an exchange factor to release one protomer with exchange to ATP. This loading process explains how TnsC assembles a heptameric ring unidirectionally from the target site. This unique loading process results in functionally distinct TnsC protomers within the ring, providing a checkpoint for target immunity and explaining how insertions at programmed sites precisely occur in a specific orientation across Tn7 elements.
Asunto(s)
Adenosina Difosfato , Adenosina Trifosfato , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Elementos Transponibles de ADN , Transposasas , Elementos Transponibles de ADN/genética , Adenosina Trifosfato/metabolismo , Transposasas/metabolismo , Transposasas/genética , Transposasas/química , Adenosina Difosfato/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Modelos Moleculares , Multimerización de Proteína , Sitios de UniónRESUMEN
Mobile genetic elements play an important role in the acquisition of antibiotic and biocide resistance, especially through the formation of resistance islands in bacterial chromosomes. We analyzed the contribution of Tn7-like transposons to island formation and diversification in the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii and identified four separate families that recognize different integration sites. One integration site is within the comM gene and coincides with the previously described Tn6022 elements suggested to account for the AbaR resistance island. We established Tn6022 in a heterologous E. coli host and confirmed basic features of transposition into the comM attachment site and the use of a novel transposition protein. By analyzing population features within Tn6022 elements we identified two potential novel transposon-encoded diversification mechanisms with this dynamic genetic island. The activities of these diversification features were confirmed in E. coli. One was a novel natural gain-of-activity allele that could function to broaden transposition targeting. The second was a transposon-encoded hybrid dif-like site that parasitizes the host dimer chromosome resolution system to function with its own tyrosine recombinase. This work establishes a highly active Tn7-like transposon that harnesses novel features allowing the spread and diversification of genetic islands in pathogenic bacteria.
Asunto(s)
Acinetobacter baumannii , Elementos Transponibles de ADN , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Variación Genética , Islas Genómicas , Acinetobacter baumannii/genética , Elementos Transponibles de ADN/genética , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , Escherichia coli/genética , Variación Genética/genética , Genoma Bacteriano/genética , Islas Genómicas/genéticaRESUMEN
CRISPR-associated transposons (CASTs) are natural RNA-directed transposition systems. We demonstrate that transposon protein TniQ plays a central role in promoting R-loop formation by RNA-guided DNA-targeting modules. TniQ residues, proximal to CRISPR RNA (crRNA), are required for recognizing different crRNA categories, revealing an unappreciated role of TniQ to direct transposition into different classes of crRNA targets. To investigate adaptations allowing CAST elements to utilize attachment sites inaccessible to CRISPR-Cas surveillance complexes, we compared and contrasted PAM sequence requirements in both I-F3b CAST and I-F1 CRISPR-Cas systems. We identify specific amino acids that enable a wider range of PAM sequences to be accommodated in I-F3b CAST elements compared with I-F1 CRISPR-Cas, enabling CAST elements to access attachment sites as sequences drift and evade host surveillance. Together, this evidence points to the central role of TniQ in facilitating the acquisition of CRISPR effector complexes for RNA-guided DNA transposition.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Asociadas a CRISPR , ARN , ADN/genética , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Proteínas Asociadas a CRISPR/genéticaRESUMEN
Tn7 transposable elements are unique for their highly specific, and sometimes programmable, target-site selection mechanisms and precise insertions. All the elements in the Tn7 family utilize an AAA+ adaptor (TnsC) to coordinate target-site selection with transpososome assembly and to prevent insertions at sites already containing a Tn7 element. Owing to its multiple functions, TnsC is considered the linchpin in the Tn7 element. Here we present the high-resolution cryo-EM structure of TnsC bound to DNA using a gain-of-function variant of the protein and a DNA substrate that together recapitulate the recruitment to a specific DNA target site. TnsC forms an asymmetric ring on target DNA that segregates target-site selection and interaction with the paired-end complex to opposite faces of the ring. Unlike most AAA+ ATPases, TnsC uses a DNA distortion to find the target site but does not remodel DNA to activate transposition. By recognizing pre-distorted substrates, TnsC creates a built-in regulatory mechanism where ATP hydrolysis abolishes ring formation proximal to an existing element. This work unveils how Tn7 and Tn7-like elements determine the strict spacing between the target and integration sites.
Asunto(s)
Elementos Transponibles de ADN/genética , ADN Bacteriano/metabolismo , Sitios de Unión/genética , Cristalografía por Rayos X , ADN Bacteriano/química , ADN Bacteriano/genética , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/química , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/genética , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/metabolismo , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/química , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Modelos Moleculares , Dominios y Motivos de Interacción de Proteínas , Estructura Cuaternaria de Proteína , Especificidad por Sustrato , Transposasas/química , Transposasas/genética , Transposasas/metabolismoRESUMEN
CRISPR-associated transposition systems allow guide RNA-directed integration of a single DNA cargo in one orientation at a fixed distance from a programmable target sequence. We used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to define the mechanism that underlies this process by characterizing the transposition regulator, TnsC, from a type V-K CRISPR-transposase system. In this scenario, polymerization of adenosine triphosphate-bound TnsC helical filaments could explain how polarity information is passed to the transposase. TniQ caps the TnsC filament, representing a universal mechanism for target information transfer in Tn7/Tn7-like elements. Transposase-driven disassembly establishes delivery of the element only to unused protospacers. Finally, TnsC transitions to define the fixed point of insertion, as revealed by structures with the transition state mimic ADPâ¢AlF3 These mechanistic findings provide the underpinnings for engineering CRISPR-associated transposition systems for research and therapeutic applications.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Proteínas Asociadas a CRISPR/química , Cianobacterias/química , Elementos Transponibles de ADN , Adenosina Difosfato/metabolismo , Adenosina Trifosfato/metabolismo , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Proteínas Asociadas a CRISPR/metabolismo , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Cianobacterias/genética , Cianobacterias/metabolismo , ADN Bacteriano/metabolismo , Modelos Moleculares , Conformación Proteica , Pliegue de Proteína , ARN Bacteriano/metabolismo , Transposasas/química , Transposasas/metabolismoRESUMEN
CRISPR-Cas defense systems have been coopted multiple times in nature for guide RNA-directed transposition by Tn7-like elements. Prototypic Tn7 uses dedicated proteins for two targeting pathways: one targeting a neutral and conserved attachment site in the chromosome and a second directing transposition into mobile plasmids facilitating cell-to-cell transfer. We show that Tn7-CRISPR-Cas elements evolved a system of guide RNA categorization to accomplish the same two-pathway lifestyle. Multiple mechanisms allow functionally distinct guide RNAs for transposition: a conventional system capable of acquiring guide RNAs to new plasmid and phage targets and a second providing long-term memory for access to chromosomal sites upon entry into a new host. Guide RNAs are privatized to be recognized only by the transposon-adapted system via sequence specialization, mismatch tolerance, and selective regulation to avoid toxic self-targeting by endogenous CRISPR-Cas defense systems. This information reveals promising avenues to engineer guide RNAs for enhanced CRISPR-Cas functionality for genome modification.
Asunto(s)
Sistemas CRISPR-Cas/genética , Elementos Transponibles de ADN/genética , ARN Guía de Kinetoplastida/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Secuencia de Bases , Gammaproteobacteria/metabolismo , Filogenia , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas/genética , Factores de Transcripción/metabolismo , Cigoto/metabolismoRESUMEN
Horizontally acquired genetic information in bacterial chromosomes accumulates in blocks termed genomic islands. Tn7-like transposons form genomic islands at a programmed insertion site in bacterial chromosomes, attTn7. Transposition involves five transposon-encoded genes (tnsABCDE) including an atypical heteromeric transposase. One transposase subunit, TnsB, is from the large family of bacterial transposases, the second, TnsA, is related to endonucleases. A regulator protein, TnsC, functions with different target site selecting proteins to recognize different targets. TnsD directs transposition into attTn7, while TnsE encourages horizontal transmission by targeting mobile plasmids. Recent work suggests that distantly related elements with heteromeric transposases exist with alternate targeting pathways that also facilitate the formation of genomic islands. Tn6230 and related elements can be found at a single position in a gene of unknown function (yhiN) in various bacteria as well as in mobile plasmids. Another group we term Tn6022-like elements form pathogenicity islands in the Acinetobacter baumanniiâ comM gene. We find that Tn6022-like elements also appear to have an uncharacterized mechanism for provoking internal transposition and deletion events that serve as a conduit for evolving new elements. As a group, heteromeric transposase elements utilize diverse target site selection mechanisms adapted to the spread and rearrangement of genomic islands.