mBio (Apr 2021)

SspABCD-SspFGH Constitutes a New Type of DNA Phosphorothioate-Based Bacterial Defense System

  • Shiwei Wang,
  • Mengping Wan,
  • Ruolin Huang,
  • Yujing Zhang,
  • Yuqing Xie,
  • Yue Wei,
  • Mustafa Ahmad,
  • Dan Wu,
  • Yue Hong,
  • Zixin Deng,
  • Shi Chen,
  • Zhiqiang Li,
  • Lianrong Wang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00613-21
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 2

Abstract

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We recently found that SspABCD, catalyzing single-stranded (ss) DNA phosphorothioate (PT) modification, coupled with SspE provides protection against phage infection. SspE performs both PT-simulated NTPase and DNA-nicking nuclease activities to damage phage DNA, rendering SspA-E a PT-sensing defense system.