Bacterial Schlafen proteins mediate phage defence - PubMed
3 days ago
- #Schlafen proteins
- #bacteriophage defense
- #tRNA cleavage
- Human Schlafen proteins restrict viral replication by cleaving tRNA, suppressing protein synthesis.
- Prokaryotic Schlafen nucleases are widespread antiviral effectors protecting bacteria from bacteriophages.
- Schlafen nucleases are fused to diverse phage-sensing domains.
- Two out of seven Enterobacterales Schlafen systems in E. coli confer defense against coliphages.
- One Schlafen system recognizes tail assembly chaperones of T5-like phages via an immunoglobulin-like sensor domain.
- Activated Schlafen nuclease cleaves both E. coli and phage-encoded tRNAs, reducing T5 phage burst size.
- Schlafens are an ancient, conserved family of immune effectors with deep evolutionary roots in tRNA-targeting antiviral immunity.