Molecular snapshots reveal how viral enzymes switch between inserting and removing DNA
Bacteriophages, or viruses that infect bacteria, have a fiendishly simple purpose in life: attach to a bacterial cell, inject their DNA and then use the host's genetic machinery to reproduce. In doing so, they may have evolved some of the most efficient gene-editing tools ever seen in nature.
Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, have evolved highly efficient gene-editing tools. Scientists at the University of Chicago have uncovered how these viruses use enzymes to insert and remove DNA with precision. The study, published in Molecular Cell, reveals how bacteriophage enzymes switch between insertion and removal modes, leaving no DNA damage in the process.
Cryo-electron microscopy helped researchers visualize the molecular switch in action, showing how the enzymes change shape to control DNA directionality. These insights could lead to more precise genome engineering and synthetic biology tools.
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