Phage-encoded CasPRs transcriptionally silence diverse CRISPR-Cas systems [ChIP-seq]

Most Acrs neutralize their cognate Cas proteins via direct physical interaction. Here we describe CasPRs, a particularly widespread family of DNA-binding Acrs that recognize specific sequence motifs within cas gene coding regions, thereby blocking RNA polymerase and silencing transcription.

We demonstrate that eight diverse CasPRs bind to the cas8b gene to repress the type I-B CRISPR-Cas system in its native host, Listeria seeligeri. Meanwhile, a CasPR from Streptococcus dysgalactiae silences type II-A CRISPR-Cas immunity by binding to the cas9 coding sequence. We found that one CasPR is required to inhibit CRISPR immunity during lysogeny by its host prophage.