Open AccessPersistence of plasmids targeted by CRISPR interference in bacterial populations
Author(s) -
Viktor Mamontov,
Alexander Martynov,
Natalia Morozova,
Anton Bukatin,
Dmitry B. Staroverov,
Konstantin A. Lukyanov,
Yaroslav Ispolatov,
Ekaterina Semenova,
Konstantin Severinov
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2114905119
Subject(s) - crispr , plasmid , mobile genetic elements , crispr interference , biology , genetics , computational biology , cas9 , population , escherichia coli , gene , demography , sociology
Significance RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas nucleases efficiently protect bacterial cells from phage infection and plasmid transformation. Yet, the efficiency of CRISPR-Cas defense is not absolute. Mutations in either CRISPR-Cas components of the host or mobile genetic elements regions targeted by CRISPR-Cas inactivate the defensive action. Here, we show that even at conditions of active CRISPR-Cas and unaltered targeted plasmids, a kinetic equilibrium between CRISPR-Cas nucleases action and plasmid replication processes allows for existence of a small subpopulation of plasmid-bearing cells on the background of cells that have been cured from the plasmid. In nature, the observed diversification of phenotypes may allow rapid changes in the population structure to meet the demands of the environment.