BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:BroadCASTing DNA in bacteria: Mechanisms of CRISPR-associated tran
 sposons - Irma Querques
DTSTART:20250225T120000Z
DTEND:20250225T130000Z
UID:TALK220168@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:90994
DESCRIPTION:CRISPR-associated transposons (CASTs) are a unique class of ba
 cterial mobile genetic elements that combine the mobility of transposons w
 ith the precision of CRISPR-Cas systems\, enabling RNA-guided DNA insertio
 n at specific genomic sites. This property holds great promise for applica
 tions in genome editing. Our research focused on type V CASTs\, which rely
  on the pseudonuclease Cas12k\, the transposase TnsB\, the zinc-finger pro
 tein TniQ\, and the ATPase TnsC to facilitate targeted DNA integration.\nB
 y employing an integrative structural and biochemical approach\, we have c
 haracterized the key molecular interactions within the CRISPR-Cas12k compl
 ex and the TnsC protein filament. Our findings reveal how the arrangement 
 of guide RNAs and the assembly of TnsC filaments induce structural changes
  in DNA\, offering mechanistic insights into the RNA-guided DNA targeting 
 process.\nIn our most recent work\, we discovered an unexpected interactio
 n between the CRISPR machinery and the ribosomal protein S15\, unveiling a
  novel regulatory role for S15 that goes beyond its traditional function i
 n ribosome assembly. This discovery adds an additional layer of control ov
 er transposon activity and has important implications for harnessing CASTs
  as programmable tools for gene insertion.\nIn this talk\, I will share ou
 r findings on the structural basis of RNA-mediated DNA transposition and d
 iscuss the broader implications of CASTs in natural horizontal gene transf
 er and their potential applications in biotechnology.\n
LOCATION:Jean Thomas Lecture theatre\, Sanger Building\, Tennis Court Road
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR