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Dual nuclease activity of a Cas2 protein in CRISPR –Cas subtype I‐B of Leptospira interrogans
Author(s) -
Dixit Bhuvan,
Ghosh Karukriti Kaushik,
Fernandes Gary,
Kumar Pankaj,
Gogoi Prerana,
Kumar Manish
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1002/1873-3468.12124
Subject(s) - leptospira interrogans , nuclease , crispr , gene , dna , biology , rna , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , leptospira , serotype
Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain Fiocruz L1–130 carries a set of cas genes associated with CRISPR –Cas subtype I‐B. Herein, we report for the first time active transcription of a set of cas genes ( cas 1 to cas 8) of L. interrogans where cas4, cas1 , cas2 and cas6 , cas3 , cas8 , cas7 , cas5 are clustered together in two independent operons. As an initial step toward comprehensive understanding of CRISPR –Cas system in spirochete, the biochemical study of one of the core Leptospira Cas2 proteins (Lep_Cas2) showed nuclease activity on both DNA and RNA in a nonspecific manner. Additionally, unlike other known Cas2 proteins, Lep_Cas2 showed metal‐independent RN ase activity and preferential activity on RNA over DNA . These results provide insight for understanding Cas2 diversity existing in the prokaryotic adaptive immune system.