TY - JOUR

T1 - Evolutionary classification of CRISPR-Cas systems: a burst of class 2 and derived variants

AU - Makarova, Kira S

AU - Wolf, Yuri I

AU - Iranzo, Jaime

AU - Shmakov, Sergey A

AU - Alkhnbashi, Omer S

AU - Brouns, Stan J J

AU - Charpentier, Emmanuelle

AU - Cheng, David

AU - Haft, Daniel H

AU - Horvath, Philippe

AU - Moineau, Sylvain

AU - Mojica, Francisco J M

AU - Scott, David

AU - Shah, Shiraz A

AU - Siksnys, Virginijus

AU - Terns, Michael P

AU - Venclovas, Česlovas

AU - White, Malcolm F

AU - Yakunin, Alexander F

AU - Yan, Winston

AU - Zhang, Feng

AU - Garrett, Roger A

AU - Backofen, Rolf

AU - van der Oost, John

AU - Barrangou, Rodolphe

AU - Koonin, Eugene V

PY - 2020/2

Y1 - 2020/2

N2 - The number and diversity of known CRISPR-Cas systems have substantially increased in recent years. Here, we provide an updated evolutionary classification of CRISPR-Cas systems and cas genes, with an emphasis on the major developments that have occurred since the publication of the latest classification, in 2015. The new classification includes 2 classes, 6 types and 33 subtypes, compared with 5 types and 16 subtypes in 2015. A key development is the ongoing discovery of multiple, novel class 2 CRISPR-Cas systems, which now include 3 types and 17 subtypes. A second major novelty is the discovery of numerous derived CRISPR-Cas variants, often associated with mobile genetic elements that lack the nucleases required for interference. Some of these variants are involved in RNA-guided transposition, whereas others are predicted to perform functions distinct from adaptive immunity that remain to be characterized experimentally. The third highlight is the discovery of numerous families of ancillary CRISPR-linked genes, often implicated in signal transduction. Together, these findings substantially clarify the functional diversity and evolutionary history of CRISPR-Cas.

AB - The number and diversity of known CRISPR-Cas systems have substantially increased in recent years. Here, we provide an updated evolutionary classification of CRISPR-Cas systems and cas genes, with an emphasis on the major developments that have occurred since the publication of the latest classification, in 2015. The new classification includes 2 classes, 6 types and 33 subtypes, compared with 5 types and 16 subtypes in 2015. A key development is the ongoing discovery of multiple, novel class 2 CRISPR-Cas systems, which now include 3 types and 17 subtypes. A second major novelty is the discovery of numerous derived CRISPR-Cas variants, often associated with mobile genetic elements that lack the nucleases required for interference. Some of these variants are involved in RNA-guided transposition, whereas others are predicted to perform functions distinct from adaptive immunity that remain to be characterized experimentally. The third highlight is the discovery of numerous families of ancillary CRISPR-linked genes, often implicated in signal transduction. Together, these findings substantially clarify the functional diversity and evolutionary history of CRISPR-Cas.

KW - Archaea/genetics

KW - Bacteria/genetics

KW - CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics

KW - Evolution, Molecular

KW - Gene Expression Regulation, Archaeal/physiology

KW - Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology

U2 - 10.1038/s41579-019-0299-x

DO - 10.1038/s41579-019-0299-x

M3 - Review article

C2 - 31857715

VL - 18

SP - 67

EP - 83

JO - Nature reviews. Microbiology

JF - Nature reviews. Microbiology

SN - 1740-1526

IS - 2

ER -