The Many (Inter)faces of Anti-CRISPRs: Modulation of CRISPR-Cas Structure and Dynamics by Mechanistically Diverse Inhibitors

Overview

Journal Biomolecules

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2023 Feb 25

PMID 36830633

Authors

Helen B Belato

George P Lisi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The discovery of protein inhibitors of CRISPR-Cas systems, called anti-CRISPRs (Acrs), has enabled the development of highly controllable and precise CRISPR-Cas tools. Anti-CRISPRs share very little structural or sequential resemblance to each other or to other proteins, which raises intriguing questions regarding their modes of action. Many structure-function studies have shed light on the mechanism(s) of Acrs, which can act as orthosteric or allosteric inhibitors of CRISPR-Cas machinery, as well as enzymes that irreversibly modify CRISPR-Cas components. Only recently has the breadth of diversity of Acr structures and functions come to light, and this remains a rapidly evolving field. Here, we draw attention to a plethora of Acr mechanisms, with particular focus on how their action toward Cas proteins modulates conformation, dynamic (allosteric) signaling, nucleic acid binding, and cleavage ability.

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