Phage-related Cas12p enzymes need to attach to bacterial thioredoxin to become active and cut target DNA

A cryo-EM-based structural analysis revealed the Cas12p-TrxA-sgRNA-dsDNA complex at 2.67 Å.

• Phage-associated nuclease Cas12p forms complexes with the bacterial protein TrxA to facilitate target DNA degradation.
• This interaction indicates that bacteriophages can utilize bacterial factors to enhance their own genome degradation capabilities.
• TrxA is shown to directly bind to and activate Cas12p, which is linked to its nuclease activity.
• The study highlights the complex interactions between phages and bacteria, particularly in the context of CRISPR immunity.

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