Journal: Nat Commun / Year: 2025 Title: Anti-phage defense mechanism involving phage-encoded DNA binding protein and bacterial reverse transcriptase DRT4. Authors: Yong Wang / Hao Wu / Jinyue Li / Qiyin An / Zhenhua Tian / Zengqin Deng / Abstract: Prokaryotic defense-associated reverse transcriptase (DRT) systems confer host resistance to viral infection through DNA synthesis; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their function remain ...Prokaryotic defense-associated reverse transcriptase (DRT) systems confer host resistance to viral infection through DNA synthesis; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their function remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that DRT4, a single-gene anti-phage defense system, synthesizes single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) products of random sequences in a template-independent manner. High-resolution cryo-EM structures of DRT4 in multiple functional states elucidate its oligomeric architecture, catalytic metal ion coordination, and substrate/DNA product binding, offering mechanistic insights into its promiscuous polymerization activity. Structural and biochemical analyses further identify a conserved tyrosine residue that acts as the priming site for the initiation of DNA synthesis. Upon phage infection, a phage-encoded DNA-binding protein, ORF55, protects the 3' end of the DRT4-synthesized ssDNA from host exonuclease degradation, likely resulting in toxic ssDNA accumulation that leads to cell death. Remarkably, ORF55 also activates DRT6, a structural homolog of DRT4, suggesting a conserved activation mechanism among related DRT systems. These findings provide structural and mechanistic insights into DRT4-mediated antiviral defense, establishing a distinct paradigm for antiviral reverse transcriptase in bacterial immunity.
History
Deposition
Jun 9, 2025
Deposition site: PDBJ / Processing site: PDBC
Revision 1.0
Nov 12, 2025
Provider: repository / Type: Initial release
Revision 1.0
Nov 12, 2025
Data content type: EM metadata / Data content type: EM metadata / Provider: repository / Type: Initial release
Revision 1.0
Nov 12, 2025
Data content type: FSC / Data content type: FSC / Provider: repository / Type: Initial release
Revision 1.0
Nov 12, 2025
Data content type: Half map / Part number: 1 / Data content type: Half map / Provider: repository / Type: Initial release
Revision 1.0
Nov 12, 2025
Data content type: Half map / Part number: 2 / Data content type: Half map / Provider: repository / Type: Initial release
Revision 1.0
Nov 12, 2025
Data content type: Image / Data content type: Image / Provider: repository / Type: Initial release
Revision 1.0
Nov 12, 2025
Data content type: Primary map / Data content type: Primary map / Provider: repository / Type: Initial release
Data content type: EM metadata / Data content type: EM metadata / EM metadata / Group: Database references / Experimental summary / Data content type: EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata / Category: citation / citation_author / em_admin Data content type: EM metadata / EM metadata ...EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata / EM metadata Item: _citation.country / _citation.journal_abbrev ..._citation.country / _citation.journal_abbrev / _citation.journal_id_CSD / _citation.journal_id_ISSN / _citation.journal_volume / _citation.page_first / _citation.page_last / _citation.pdbx_database_id_DOI / _citation.pdbx_database_id_PubMed / _citation.title / _citation.year / _em_admin.last_update
A: Reverse transcriptase domain-containing protein B: Reverse transcriptase domain-containing protein C: Reverse transcriptase domain-containing protein D: Reverse transcriptase domain-containing protein E: Reverse transcriptase domain-containing protein F: Reverse transcriptase domain-containing protein
In the structure databanks used in Yorodumi, some data are registered as the other names, "COVID-19 virus" and "2019-nCoV". Here are the details of the virus and the list of structure data.
Jan 31, 2019. EMDB accession codes are about to change! (news from PDBe EMDB page)
EMDB accession codes are about to change! (news from PDBe EMDB page)
The allocation of 4 digits for EMDB accession codes will soon come to an end. Whilst these codes will remain in use, new EMDB accession codes will include an additional digit and will expand incrementally as the available range of codes is exhausted. The current 4-digit format prefixed with “EMD-” (i.e. EMD-XXXX) will advance to a 5-digit format (i.e. EMD-XXXXX), and so on. It is currently estimated that the 4-digit codes will be depleted around Spring 2019, at which point the 5-digit format will come into force.
The EM Navigator/Yorodumi systems omit the EMD- prefix.
Related info.:Q: What is EMD? / ID/Accession-code notation in Yorodumi/EM Navigator
Yorodumi is a browser for structure data from EMDB, PDB, SASBDB, etc.
This page is also the successor to EM Navigator detail page, and also detail information page/front-end page for Omokage search.
The word "yorodu" (or yorozu) is an old Japanese word meaning "ten thousand". "mi" (miru) is to see.
Related info.:EMDB / PDB / SASBDB / Comparison of 3 databanks / Yorodumi Search / Aug 31, 2016. New EM Navigator & Yorodumi / Yorodumi Papers / Jmol/JSmol / Function and homology information / Changes in new EM Navigator and Yorodumi