The subtype I-F CRISPR–Cas system influences pathogenicity island retention in Pectobacterium atrosepticum via crRNA generation and Csy complex formation

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) arrays and Cas (CRISPR-associated) proteins confer acquired resistance against mobile genetic elements in a wide range of bacteria and archaea. The phytopathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 encodes a single subtype I-F CRISPR system, which is composed of three CRISPR arrays and the cas operon encoding Cas1, Cas3 (a Cas2–Cas3 fusion), Csy1, Csy2, Csy3 and Cas6f (Csy4). The CRISPR arrays are transcribed into pre-crRNA (CRISPR RNA) and then processed by Cas6f to generate crRNAs. Furthermore, the formation of Cas protein complexes has been implicated in both the interference and acquisition stages of defence. In the present paper, we discuss the development of tightly controlled ‘programmable’ CRISPR arrays as tools to investigate CRISPR–Cas function and the effects of chromosomal targeting. Finally, we address how chromosomal targeting by CRISPR–Cas can cause large-scale genome deletions, which can ultimately influence bacterial evolution and pathogenicity.