CRISPR--a widespread system that provides acquired resistance against phages in bacteria and archaea.

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CRISPR--a widespread system that provides acquired resistance against phages in bacteria and archaea.

Sorek R, Kunin V, Hugenholtz P

Nat Rev Microbiol. 2008 Mar; 6(3): 181-6.

Abstract

Arrays of clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) are widespread in the genomes of many bacteria and almost all archaea. These arrays are composed of direct repeats that are separated by similarly sized non-repetitive spacers. CRISPR arrays, together with a group of associated proteins, confer resistance to phages, possibly by an RNA-interference-like mechanism. This Progress discusses the structure and function of this newly recognized antiviral mechanism.

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Arbel Tadmor (Caltech) is following this article in Caltech Ge/Bi 246: Environmental Viruses: Interesting Virus-Related Articles Found by Group Members

February 7, 2010
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Postgenomic

by MerryWhen you're outnumbered five or ten to one, strategy counts. Bacteria and archaea are master strategists, thriving despite the omnipresent hordes of phage. For some time, it has been known that prokaryotic cells have ploys for blocking phage adsorption,

http://schaechter.asmblog.org/schaechter/2008/02/getting-crispr.html

A putative RNA-interference-based immune system in prokaryotes: computational analysis of the predicted enzymatic machinery, functional analogies with eukaryotic RNAi, and hypothetical mechanisms of action. Makarova KS (2006) Biol Direct.
CRISPR--a widespread system that provides acquired resistance against phages in bacteria and archaea. Sorek R (2008) Nat Rev Microbiol.
CRISPR provides acquired resistance against viruses in prokaryotes. Barrangou R (2007) Science.

February 21, 2008
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