The CRISPR effector Cam1 mediates membrane depolarization for phage defence Journal Article


Authors: Baca, C. F.; Yu, Y.; Rostøl, J. T.; Majumder, P.; Patel, D. J.; Marraffini, L. A.
Article Title: The CRISPR effector Cam1 mediates membrane depolarization for phage defence
Abstract: Prokaryotic type III CRISPR–Cas systems provide immunity against viruses and plasmids using CRISPR-associated Rossman fold (CARF) protein effectors1–5. Recognition of transcripts of these invaders with sequences that are complementary to CRISPR RNA guides leads to the production of cyclic oligoadenylate second messengers, which bind CARF domains and trigger the activity of an effector domain6,7. Whereas most effectors degrade host and invader nucleic acids, some are predicted to contain transmembrane helices without an enzymatic function. Whether and how these CARF–transmembrane helix fusion proteins facilitate the type III CRISPR–Cas immune response remains unknown. Here we investigate the role of cyclic oligoadenylate-activated membrane protein 1 (Cam1) during type III CRISPR immunity. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal that the CARF domains of a Cam1 dimer bind cyclic tetra-adenylate second messengers. In vivo, Cam1 localizes to the membrane, is predicted to form a tetrameric transmembrane pore, and provides defence against viral infection through the induction of membrane depolarization and growth arrest. These results reveal that CRISPR immunity does not always operate through the degradation of nucleic acids, but is instead mediated via a wider range of cellular responses. © 2024, The Author(s).
Journal Title: Nature
Volume: 625
Issue: 7996
ISSN: 0028-0836
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2024-01-25
Start Page: 797
End Page: 804
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06902-y
PUBMED: 38200316
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC10808066
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PDF -- MSK corresponding author is Dinshaw Patel -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Dinshaw J Patel
    477 Patel
  2. You Yu
    8 Yu