University of Otago researchers discover a new regulatory mechanism in phage proteins interacting with bacteria's CRISPR-Cas system.

Researchers from the University of Otago have uncovered a new regulatory mechanism in proteins used by phages, viruses that infect bacteria. This mechanism, discovered by Professor Peter Fineran's team, sheds light on how phages interact with bacteria's CRISPR-Cas immune system. The HTH domain of the protein, previously thought to only bind DNA, can now also bind its RNA transcript, potentially leading to new alternatives to antibiotics and a deeper understanding of gene regulation.

July 10, 2024
4 Articles