Science· 2026Q1
VIPR RNA-guided DNA recognition by noncontiguous geometric triplex formation
- 2citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
VIPR systems utilize a novel mechanism of RNA-guided DNA recognition, forming a geometric triplex by skipping every third nucleotide in the RNA-DNA hybrid.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- VIPR systems use a noncontiguous RNA code for DNA targeting.
- Vipr proteins oligomerize on vrRNA to form a helical filament.
- DNA binding creates a gapped RNA-DNA hybrid helix by skipping every third nucleotide.
- This process forms a geometric triplex, encircling the nontarget DNA strand.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Viral interference programmable repeat (VIPR) systems use a noncontiguous code for RNA-guided transcriptional silencing. How the Vipr protein and a VIPR RNA (vrRNA) comprising alternating GGY and NN segments achieve precise DNA targeting is unknown. Here, we present 21 cryo–electron microscopy structures that help explain the mechanism of target engagement. Vipr protomers oligomerize along the vrRNA to form a right-handed helical filament, sequestering each GGY motif and positioning the adjacent NN bases for target base pairing. DNA binding, in which every third nucleotide is skipped, results in a gapped vrRNA-DNA hybrid helix that encircles the nontarget DNA strand to form a geometric triplex. These findings suggest that triplex-mediated target-strand handoff could enable noncontiguous and programmable RNA-guided DNA recognition in VIPR systems.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Science, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Molecular Biology
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology