Prokaryotic CRISPR–Cas systems are counteracted by phage-encoded anti-CRISPR elements, and how they protect themselves remains enigmatic. A study shows that CRISPR-repressed toxins defend CRISPR–Cas against anti-CRISPR proteins or RNAs by inducing abortive infection.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
27,99 € / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
269,00 € per year
only 22,42 € per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Marraffini, L. A. Nature 526, 55–61 (2015).
Borges, A. L., Davidson, A. R. & Bondy-Denomy, J. Annu. Rev. Virol. 4, 37–59 (2017).
Camara-Wilpert, S. et al. Nature 623, 601–607 (2023).
Shu, X. et al. Nat. Chem. Biol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-024-01693-3 (2024).
Li, M. et al. Science 372, eabe5601 (2021).
Hille, F. et al. Cell 172, 1239–1259 (2018).
Yin, P., Zhang, Y., Yang, L. & Feng, Y. J. Mol. Biol. 435, 167996 (2023).
Georjon, H. & Bernheim, A. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 21, 686–700 (2023).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, Y., Feng, Y. A broad anti-anti-CRISPR strategy. Nat Chem Biol 21, 312–313 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-024-01743-w
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-024-01743-w
