• Congratulations to Shuqin Zhang and Yingcan Liu! Our paper was published in Nucleic Acids Research!

    Type VII CRISPR-Cas system utilizes a Cas5-Cas7 Cascade complex for target RNA binding, but instead incorporates a specialized Cas14 ribonuclease for target cleavage. Building on our previous work, we further elucidate how the recruited Cas14 captures the target RNA and undergoes target-mediated activation, which provides a more comprehensive understanding of the type VII system mechanism, laying a mechanistic foundation for RNA-targeting tool development.

    넶0 2026-04-11

  • Congratulations to Tongyao Wang, Zhikun Liu and Yangyue Sun! Our paper was published in Molecular Cell!

    Tandem interspaced guide RNA (TIGR) system leverages TIGR-associated (Tas) protein and tigRNA to engage both strands of the target double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), featuring a dual-spacer arrangement. We characterize the precursor tigRNA maturation and target cleavage mechanisms mediated by TasH dimer. More interestingly, we rationally design a guide RNA-defined nickase through manipulating the conserved box C motif, distinct from conventional protein-based nickase strategies used in genome editing.

    넶17 2026-03-14

  • Congratulations to Qiuqiu He, Bin Liu and Zhikun Liu! Our paper was published in Nature Communications!

    Ec78 is a quaternary retron system that encodes an RT, an ncRNA, and the effector proteins PtuA (an ATPase) and PtuB (a nuclease) for anti-phage defense. We characterize that Ec78 uses a dual-component PtuAB effector complex to perform phage clearance. Shortening of msDNA releases PtuAB and triggers its activation. Our findings delineate the molecular basis of Ec78 system in antiviral defense and highlight the mechanistic diversity of retron systems in prokaryotic immunity.

    넶35 2025-12-07

  • Congratulations to Bin Liu and Shuqin Zhang! Our paper was published in The EMBO Journal!

    Defense-associated reverse transcriptase (DRT) systems are implicated in prokaryotic resistance to viral infections. Here, we characterize a two-component DRT9 system, composed of a reverse transcriptase (RT) and a non-coding RNA (ncRNA), which exhibits a protein-primed DNA synthesis activity upon phage infection. Our findings illuminate the molecular basis of DRT9-mediated antiviral defense and expand the functional and mechanistic diversity of the DRT family.

    넶43 2025-08-20

  • Congratulations to Tongyao Wang and Zhaoyi Long! Our paper was published in Nature Communications!

    Cas9d, the smallest known member of the Cas9 family, employs a compact domain architecture for effective target cleavage. Our findings provide insights into the target recognition and cleavage mechanisms of Cas9d and shed light on the development of high-fidelity mini-CRISPR tools.

    넶37 2025-05-01

  • Congratulations to Xuzichao Li and Lingling Zhang! Our paper was published in The EMBO Journal!

    The type I-F CRISPR variant utilizes a fused HNH nuclease domain to perform substrate cleavage instead of the signature Cas3 nuclease. Our work not only delineates the molecular details for target recognition and activation of the type I-F Cas8-HNH system, but also guides further developments leveraging this system for precise DNA editing.

    넶92 2024-09-10

  • Congratulations to Fumeng Liao and Zhikun Liu! Our paper was published in Nucleic Acids Research!

    The identified SIR2 NADase and HerA ATPase/helicase participate in antiviral process through NAD+ degradation, ATP hydrolysis, and DNA cleavage. Our study not only provides a structural basis for the functional communications between SIR2 and HerA proteins, but also unravels a novel concerted antiviral mechanism of SIR2–HerA system.

    넶58 2024-09-05

  • Congratulations to Xuzichao Li, Qiuqiu He, Xiaoshen Wang and Tongyao Wang! Our paper was published in Nature!

    The newly identified type VII CRISPR–Cas candidate system uses a CRISPR RNA-guided ribonucleoprotein complex formed by Cas5 and Cas7 proteins to target RNA. Our study elucidates critical molecular details underlying the assembly of the interference complex and substrate cleavage in the type VII CRISPR–Cas system, which may help rational engineering of the type VII CRISPR–Cas system for biotechnological applications.

    넶109 2024-08-29

  • Congratulations to Xuzichao Li and Xiaoshen Wang! Our paper was published in Nature Communications!

    The Silent Information Regulator 2 (SIR2) protein is implicated in antiviral response by depleting the cellular metabolite NAD+. The defense-associated sirtuin 2 (DSR2) effector, a SIR2 domain-containing protein, protects bacteria from phage infection by depleting NAD+, while an anti-DSR2 protein (DSAD1) is employed by some phages to evade this host defense. Our results provide molecular insights into the regulatory mechanism of SIR2-dependent NAD+ depletion in antiviral immunity.

    넶45 2024-08-29

  • Congratulations to Yongjian Ma and Xuzichao Li! Our paper was published in PLOS Biology!

    Here, we systematically screened Variovorax iad operon products and identified 2 proteins, IadK2 and IadD, that directly associate with auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), identified the key components and underlying mechanisms involved in IAA transformation by Variovorax and brings new insights into the bacterial turnover of plant hormones, which would provide the basis for potential applications in rhizosphere optimization and ecological agriculture.

    넶173 2023-08-08

  • Congratulations to Xiaoshen Wang, Xuzichao Li and Lingling Zhang! Our paper was published in Cell Research!

    Short prokaryotic Argonaute proteins are associated with NADase domain-containing proteins (TIR-APAZ or SIR2-APAZ). They confer immunity against mobile genetic elements, by inducing NAD+ depletion upon recognition of target nucleic acids. Here, we report multiple cryo-EM structures of NADase/Ago complexes from two distinct systems (TIR-APAZ/Ago and SIR2-APAZ/Ago) and reveal the mechanistic diversity and similarity of Ago protein-associated NADase systems in prokaryotic immune response.

    넶155 2023-08-08
넳 넲