Richismita Hazra, Amity University Kolkata
Retrons are specific sequences found in the bacterial genome that consists of reverse transcriptase (RT) and a non-coding RNA (ncRNA). They are often regarded as a hybrid of “half-RNA and half single-stranded DNA” that are found in many bacterial species. Even though the use of retrons for the synthesis of single strands of DNA in the laboratory, they are still considered to be an understudied type of prokaryotic retro-element. Even after 35 years of its discovery, the exact functions of these elements were unknown to us.
Recently a Weizmann Institute of Science team reported on solving the much-awaited mystery. Their studies reported that retrons are guards or escorts who certify or confirm the survival of bacterial colonies while it is infected by viruses. The research uncovered various new Retrons that may, in the future, add to the genome-editing toolkit.
The research team led by Dr. Aude Bernheim and Avigail Stokar, in the lab of Prof. Rotem Sorek of the Institute’s Molecular Genetics Department, did not set out to work on Retrons specifically. Rather, they were searching for new elements of the bacterial immune system that help bacteria in repelling viral infections. Investigations revealed that this defensive unit comprises three components: the RT, the ncRNA, and an effector protein. By abortive infection, which is a cell suicidal process, they conduct defense against a wide range of phages. It was found that the Retrons sense the RecBCD part of the bacterium, which is the bacterium’s first line of defense. If the cell’s RecBCD part is affected by the phage then the retron activates its function of killing the infected cell and protecting the rest of the colony. Sorek and his team believe that their latest research would provide better insights into gene editing.
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Source: Millman, A., et al. (2020) Bacterial Retrons Function In Anti-Phage Defense. Cell. doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.065.
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