EAGER: Prokaryotic Adaptive Immunity and the CRISPR Associated Complex for Antiviral Defense (CASCADE)

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Adaptive immune systems in mammals and other eukaryotes have been known for many years, but the fact that single celled bacteria and archaea also have adaptive immune systems has only recently been established. The molecular machinery that underlies this prokaryotic adaptive immune system, known as CRISPR/Cas, is fundamentally different than that employed by eukaryotes. This project seeks to investigate the functions of the genes and protein machinery that constitute the CRISPR/Cas system, by studying how these proteins recognize invading viruses and terminate the viral infection. The approach includes a structural technique known as X-ray crystallography, in which the CRISPR/Cas proteins are analyzed to determine their three dimensional structure. These structures are then studied for clues about how these proteins impart immunity to viruses that might otherwise infect and kill the bacteria and archaea that have the CRISPR/Cas system. Sulfolobus solfataricus has been chosen as the model organism for these studies for several reasons. First, this organism is a thermophilic archaeal organism that lives at temperatures near 200 degrees Fahrenheit in places like the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park. Its ability to survive in a high temperature environment is due to its very stable proteins that are not deactivated at these extreme temperatures. Such thermostable proteins can be easier to study, and it has already been shown that this system has significant similarities to that of bacteria like E. coli. Thus, while studying a heat stable CRISPR/Cas system, it is possible to learn about CRISPR/Cas in other organisms as well. Second, S. solfataricus is also of interest because it is a host for hyperthermophilic viruses, and studying these viruses will help answer fundamental questions in virology. These include questions such as: What is a virus? How long have they been around; billions of years? Where did they come from? How have viruses evolved over time? How have viruses contributed to the evolution of their hosts, including higher organisms? Understanding CRISPR/Cas is directly relevant to understanding these hyperthermophilic viruses.Broader Impacts. The proposed work will make seminal contributions to our understanding of viruses and virus-host interactions in single celled organisms, a research area that is expected to give rise to a number of industrial and biotechnology applications. In addition, the Lawrence laboratory is a member of the Montana State University Thermal Biology Institute (TBI). As such, the results of our ongoing work is communicated to the general public by TBI outreach programs. These outreach efforts to K-12, tribal colleges, other undergraduate institutions, and the general public will continue. In addition, TBI also partners with the National Park Service /Yellowstone National Park in outreach to the general public, with activities that include preparation and review of materials for public presentation within the Park. The Park System is increasingly aware, as is the general public, of the unique microbial organisms inhabiting these world famous thermal features, and has worked to increase the educational signage within the park that describes these organisms. There is also strong integration of the proposed research with educational goals. Students and teachers at the high school, undergraduate, doctoral and post-doctoral levels will receive significant training in biochemistry, structural biology and thermal biology. The involvement of under represented groups, particularly women and Native Americans, is actively encouraged.