Structures of the holo CRISPR RNA-guided transposon integration complex

Abstract

CRISPR-associated transposons (CAST) are programmable mobile elements that insert large DNA cargo by an RNA-guided mechanism. Multiple conserved components act in concert at the target site through formation of an integration complex (transpososome). We reconstituted the type V-K CAST transpososome fromScytonema hofmannii(ShCAST) and determined the structure using cryo-EM. Transpososome architecture ensures orientation-specific association: AAA+ regulator TnsC has defined polarity and length, with dedicated interaction interfaces for other CAST components. Interestingly, transposase (TnsB)-TnsC interactions we observe contribute to stimulating TnsC's ATP hydrolysis activity. TnsC deviates from previously observed helical configurations of TnsC, and target DNA does not track with TnsC protomers. Consequently, TnsC makes new, functionally important protein-DNA interactions throughout the transpososome. Finally, two distinct transpososome populations suggests that associations with the CRISPR effector are flexible. These ShCAST transpososome structures significantly enhances our understanding of CAST transposition systems and suggests avenues for improving CAST transposition for precision genome-editing applications.

Structural basis for the assembly of the type V CRISPR-associated transposon complex

“…A recently reported structural analysis of the ShCAST transposon integration holocomplex reveals that TnsB recruitment results in a two-turn ATP-bound TnsC filament instead of a hexameric ADP-bound TnsC ring, providing a mechanistic rationale for insertion site definition. 38 …”