RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Structural basis for target-site selection in RNA-guided DNA transposition systems JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2021.05.25.445634 DO 10.1101/2021.05.25.445634 A1 Jung-Un Park A1 Amy Tsai A1 Eshan Mehrotra A1 Michael T. Petassi A1 Shan-Chi Hsieh A1 Ailong Ke A1 Joseph E. Peters A1 Elizabeth H. Kellogg YR 2021 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/05/25/2021.05.25.445634.abstract AB CRISPR-associated transposition systems allow guide RNA-directed integration of a single DNA insertion in one orientation at a fixed distance from a programmable target sequence. We define the mechanism explaining this process by characterizing the transposition regulator, TnsC, from a Type V-K CRISPR-transposase system using cryo-EM. Polymerization of ATP-bound TnsC helical filaments explains how polarity information is passed to the transposase. Our Cryo-EM structure of TniQ-TnsC reveals that TniQ caps the TnsC filament, establishing a universal mechanism for target information transfer in Tn7/Tn7-like elements. Transposase-driven disassembly establishes delivery of the element only to unused protospacers. Finally, structures with the transition state mimic, ADP·AlF3, reveals how TnsC transitions to define the fixed point of insertion. These mechanistic findings provide the underpinnings for engineering CRISPR-associated transposition systems for research and therapeutic applications.One Sentence Summary Cryo-EM studies reveals the role of the AAA+ regulator TnsC for target-site selection in CRISPR-associated transposition systems.Competing Interest StatementThe Peters lab has corporate funding for research that is not directly related to the work in this publication. Cornell University has filed patent applications with J.E.P. as inventor involving CRISPR-Cas systems associated with transposons that is not directly related to this work.