HORMA Domain Proteins and a Trip13-like ATPase Regulate Bacterial cGAS-like Enzymes to Mediate Bacteriophage Immunity.
Ye, Q., Lau, R.K., Mathews, I.T., Birkholz, E.A., Watrous, J.D., Azimi, C.S., Pogliano, J., Jain, M., Corbett, K.D.(2020) Mol Cell 77: 709
- PubMed: 31932165 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2019.12.009
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6P80, 6P82, 6P8J, 6P8O, 6P8P, 6P8R, 6P8S, 6P8U, 6P8V, 6PB3, 6U7B - PubMed Abstract: 
Bacteria are continually challenged by foreign invaders, including bacteriophages, and have evolved a variety of defenses against these invaders. Here, we describe the structural and biochemical mechanisms of a bacteriophage immunity pathway found in a broad array of bacteria, including E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This pathway uses eukaryotic-like HORMA domain proteins that recognize specific peptides, then bind and activate a cGAS/DncV-like nucleotidyltransferase (CD-NTase) to generate a cyclic triadenylate (cAAA) second messenger; cAAA in turn activates an endonuclease effector, NucC. Signaling is attenuated by a homolog of the AAA+ ATPase Pch2/TRIP13, which binds and disassembles the active HORMA-CD-NTase complex. When expressed in non-pathogenic E. coli, this pathway confers immunity against bacteriophage λ through an abortive infection mechanism. Our findings reveal the molecular mechanisms of a bacterial defense pathway integrating a cGAS-like nucleotidyltransferase with HORMA domain proteins for threat sensing through protein detection and negative regulation by a Trip13 ATPase.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.