Reverse transcription has frequently been co-opted for cellular functions and in prokaryotes is associated with protection against viral infection, but the underlying mechanisms of defense are generally unknown. Here, we show that in the DRT2 defense system the reverse transcriptase binds a neighboring pseudoknotted noncoding RNA. Upon bacteriophage infection, a template region of this RNA is reverse transcribed into an array of tandem repeats that reconstitute a promoter and open reading frame, allowing expression of a toxic repetitive protein and an abortive infection response. Biochemical reconstitution of this activity and cryogenic electron microscopy provide a molecular basis for repeat synthesis. Gene synthesis from a noncoding RNA is a new mode of genetic regulation in prokaryotes.

中文翻译：

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噬菌体触发的逆转录从非编码 RNA 组装有毒重复基因


逆转录经常被用于细胞功能，并且在原核生物中与防止病毒感染有关，但潜在的防御机制通常未知。在这里，我们证明在 DRT2 防御系统中，逆转录酶结合邻近的假结非编码 RNA。噬菌体感染后，该 RNA 的模板区域被逆转录成一系列串联重复序列，重新构成启动子和开放阅读框，从而允许有毒重复蛋白的表达和无效的感染反应。这种活性的生化重建和低温电子显微镜为重复合成提供了分子基础。非编码RNA的基因合成是原核生物遗传调控的一种新模式。