Summary information and primary citation

PDB-id
8q72; SNAP-derived features in text and JSON formats; DNAproDB
Class
DNA binding protein
Method
cryo-EM (4.17 Å)
Summary
E. coli plasmid-borne jetabcd(e248a) core in a cleavage-competent state
Reference
Roisne-Hamelin F, Liu HW, Taschner M, Li Y, Gruber S (2024): "Structural basis for plasmid restriction by SMC JET nuclease." Mol.Cell, 84, 883. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.01.009.
Abstract
DNA loop-extruding SMC complexes play crucial roles in chromosome folding and DNA immunity. Prokaryotic SMC Wadjet (JET) complexes limit the spread of plasmids through DNA cleavage, yet the mechanisms for plasmid recognition are unresolved. We show that artificial DNA circularization renders linear DNA susceptible to JET nuclease cleavage. Unlike free DNA, JET cleaves immobilized plasmid DNA at a specific site, the plasmid-anchoring point, showing that the anchor hinders DNA extrusion but not DNA cleavage. Structures of plasmid-bound JetABC reveal two presumably stalled SMC motor units that are drastically rearranged from the resting state, together entrapping a U-shaped DNA segment, which is further converted to kinked V-shaped cleavage substrate by JetD nuclease binding. Our findings uncover mechanical bending of residual unextruded DNA as molecular signature for plasmid recognition and non-self DNA elimination. We moreover elucidate key elements of SMC loop extrusion, including the motor direction and the structure of a DNA-holding state.

Cartoon-block schematics in six views (download the tarball)

PyMOL session file Download PDB file View in 3Dmol.js