The CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) and Cas (CRISPR-associated) genes are widely spread in bacteria and archaea, representing an intracellular defence system against invading viruses and plasmids. In the system, fragments from foreign DNA are captured and integrated into the host genome at the CRISPR locus. The locus is transcribed and the resulting RNAs are processed by Cas6 into small crRNAs (CRISPR RNAs) that guide a variety of effector complexes to degrade the invading genetic elements. Many bacteria and archaea have one major type of effector complex. However, Sulfolobus solfataricus strain P2 has six CRISPR loci with two families of repeats, four cas6 genes and three different types of effector complex. These features make S. solfataricus an important model for studying CRISPR–Cas systems. In the present article, we review our current understanding of crRNA biogenesis and its effector complexes, subtype I-A and subtype III-B, in S. solfataricus. We also discuss the differences in terms of mechanisms between the subtype III-B systems in S. solfataricus and Pyrococcus furiosus.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
December 2013
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
November 20 2013
Hot and crispy: CRISPR–Cas systems in the hyperthermophile Sulfolobus solfataricus
Jing Zhang;
Jing Zhang
1
*Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, U.K.
1Correspondence may be addressed to either author (emailjz21@st-andrews.ac.uk or mfw2@st-andrews.ac.uk).
Search for other works by this author on:
Malcolm F. White
Malcolm F. White
1
*Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, U.K.
1Correspondence may be addressed to either author (emailjz21@st-andrews.ac.uk or mfw2@st-andrews.ac.uk).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
July 09 2013
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2013 Biochemical Society
2013
Biochem Soc Trans (2013) 41 (6): 1422–1426.
Article history
Received:
July 09 2013
Citation
Jing Zhang, Malcolm F. White; Hot and crispy: CRISPR–Cas systems in the hyperthermophile Sulfolobus solfataricus. Biochem Soc Trans 1 December 2013; 41 (6): 1422–1426. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20130031
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.