Catalytically active prokaryotic Argonautes employ phospholipase D family proteins to strengthen immunity against different genetic invaders
- PMID: 39359674
- PMCID: PMC11442185
- DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12138
Catalytically active prokaryotic Argonautes employ phospholipase D family proteins to strengthen immunity against different genetic invaders
Abstract
Prokaryotic Argonautes (pAgos) provide bacteria and archaea with immunity against plasmids and viruses. Catalytically active pAgos utilize short oligonucleotides as guides to directly cleave foreign nucleic acids, while inactive pAgos lacking catalytic residues employ auxiliary effectors, such as nonspecific nucleases, to trigger abortive infection upon detection of foreign nucleic acids. Here, we report a unique group of catalytically active pAgo proteins that frequently associate with a phospholipase D (PLD) family protein. We demonstrate that this particular system employs the catalytic center of the associated PLD protein rather than that of pAgo to restrict plasmid DNA, while interestingly, its immunity against a single-stranded DNA virus relies on the pAgo catalytic center and is enhanced by the PLD protein. We also find that this system selectively suppresses viral DNA propagation without inducing noticeable abortive infection outcomes. Moreover, the pAgo protein alone enhances gene editing, which is unexpectedly inhibited by the PLD protein. Our data highlight the ability of catalytically active pAgo proteins to employ auxiliary proteins to strengthen the targeted eradication of different genetic invaders and underline the trend of PLD nucleases to participate in host immunity.
Keywords: Argonaute; DNA interference; PLD protein; genome editing; phage defense.
© 2024 The Author(s). mLife published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Conflict of interest statement
Ming Li, Feiyue Cheng, Aici Wu, and Zhihua Li have filed a related patent.
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