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CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) enables programmable, reversible, and titratable repression of gene expression (knockdown) in mammalian cells. Initial CRISPRi-mediated genetic screens have showcased the potential to address basic questions in cell biology, genetics, and biotechnology, but wider deployment of CRISPRi screening has been constrained by the large size of single guide RNA (sgRNA) libraries and challenges in generating cell models with consistent CRISPRi-mediated knockdown. Here, we present next-generation CRISPRi sgRNA libraries and effector expression constructs that enable strong and consistent knockdown across mammalian cell models. First, we combine empirical sgRNA selection with a dual-sgRNA library design to generate an ultra-compact (1-3 elements per gene), highly active CRISPRi sgRNA library. Next, we rigorously compare CRISPRi effectors to show that the recently published Zim3-dCas9 provides the best balance between strong on-target knockdown and minimal nonspecific effects on cell growth or the transcriptome. Finally, we engineer a suite of cell lines with stable expression of Zim3-dCas9 and robust on-target knockdown. Our results and publicly available reagents establish best practices for CRISPRi genetic screening.

Anthrax lethal toxin (LT) is a protease that activates the NLRP1b inflammasome sensor in certain rodent strains. Unlike better-studied sensors, relatively little is known about the priming requirements for NLRP1b. In this study, we investigate the rapid and striking priming-independent LT-induced release of IL-1β in mice within hours of toxin challenge. We find IL-1β release to be a NLRP1b- and caspase-1-dependent, NLRP3 and caspase-11-independent event that requires both neutrophils and peptidyl arginine deiminiase-4 (PAD4) activity. The simultaneous LT-induced IL-18 response is neutrophil-independent. Bone marrow reconstitution experiments in mice show toxin-induced IL-1β originates from hematopoietic cells. LT treatment of neutrophils in vitro did not induce IL-1β, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), or pyroptosis. Although platelets interact closely with neutrophils and are also a potential source of IL-1β, they were unable to bind or endocytose LT and did not secrete IL-1β in response to the toxin. LT-treated mice had higher levels of cell-free DNA and HMGB1 in circulation than PBS-treated controls, and treatment of mice with recombinant DNase reduced the neutrophil- and NLRP1-dependent IL-1β release. DNA sensor AIM2 deficiency, however, did not impact IL-1β release. These data, in combination with the findings on PAD4, suggest a possible role for in vivo NETs or cell-free DNA in cytokine induction in response to LT challenge. Our findings suggest a complex interaction of events and/or mediators in LT-treated mice with the neutrophil as a central player in induction of a profound and rapid inflammatory response to toxin.

SummaryTo generate haploid gametes, germ cells undergo two consecutive meiotic divisions requiring key changes to the cell division machinery. Here, we explore the regulatory mechanisms that differentially control meiotic events. We demonstrate that the protease Separase rewires key cell division processes at the meiosis I/II transition by cleaving the meiosis-specific protein Meikin. In contrast to cohesin, which is inactivated by Separase proteolysis, cleaved Meikin remains functional, but results in a distinct activity state. Full-length Meikin and the C-terminal Meikin Separase-cleavage product both localize to kinetochores, bind to Plk1 kinase, and promote Rec8 cleavage, but our results reveal distinct roles for these proteins in controlling meiosis. Mutations that prevent Meikin cleavage or that conditionally inactivate Meikin at anaphase I both result in defective meiosis II chromosome alignment. Thus, Separase cleavage of Meikin creates an irreversible molecular switch to rewire the cell division machinery at the meiosis I/II transition.

To generate haploid gametes, germ cells undergo two consecutive meiotic divisions requiring key changes to the cell division machinery. Here, we demonstrate that the protease separase rewires key cell division processes at the meiosis I/II transition by cleaving the meiosis-specific protein Meikin. Separase proteolysis does not inactivate Meikin but instead alters its function to create a distinct activity state. Full-length Meikin and the C-terminal Meikin separase cleavage product both localize to kinetochores, bind to Plk1 kinase, and promote Rec8 cleavage, but our results reveal distinct roles for these proteins in controlling meiosis. Mutations that prevent Meikin cleavage or that conditionally inactivate Meikin at anaphase I result in defective meiosis II chromosome alignment in mouse oocytes. Finally, as oocytes exit meiosis, C-Meikin is eliminated by APC/C-mediated degradation prior to the first mitotic division. Thus, multiple regulatory events irreversibly modulate Meikin activity during successive meiotic divisions to rewire the cell division machinery at two distinct transitions.

TorsinA is an ER-resident AAA+ ATPase, whose single residue deletion of glutamate E303 results in the genetic neuromuscular disease primary dystonia. TorsinA is a highly unusual AAA+ ATPase in that it needs an external activator. Also, it appears not to thread a peptide substrate through a narrow central channel, in contrast to its closest structural homologs. Here, we examined the oligomerization of TorsinA to get closer to a molecular understanding of the still enigmatic function of it. We observe TorsinA to form helical filaments, which we analyzed by cryo-electron microscopy using helical reconstruction. The 4.4 Å structure reveals long hollow tubes with a helical periodicity of 8.5 subunits per turn, and an inner cavity of ∼4 nm diameter. We further show that the protein is able to induce tubulation of membranes in vitro, an observation that may reflect an entirely new characteristic of AAA+ ATPases. We discuss the implications of these observations for TorsinA function.

The inflammasomes are intracellular complexes that have an important role in cytosolic innate immune sensing and pathogen defense. Inflammasome sensors detect a diversity of intracellular microbial ligands and endogenous danger signals and activate caspase-1, thus initiating maturation and release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and interleukin-18. These events, although crucial to the innate immune response, have also been linked to the pathology of several inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The natural isothiocyanate sulforaphane, present in broccoli sprouts and available as a dietary supplement, has gained attention for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive properties. We discovered that sulforaphane inhibits caspase-1 autoproteolytic activation and interleukin-1β maturation and secretion downstream of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor leucine-rich repeat proteins NLRP1 and NLRP3, NLR family apoptosis inhibitory protein 5/NLR family caspase-1 recruitment domain-containing protein 4 (NAIP5/NLRC4), and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome receptors. Sulforaphane does not inhibit the inflammasome by direct modification of active caspase-1 and its mechanism is not dependent on protein degradation by the proteasome or de novo protein synthesis. Furthermore, sulforaphane-mediated inhibition of the inflammasomes is independent of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like factor 2 (Nrf2) and the antioxidant response-element pathway, to which many of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of sulforaphane have been attributed. Sulforaphane was also found to inhibit cell recruitment to the peritoneum and interleukin-1β secretion in an in vivo peritonitis model of acute gout and to reverse NLRP1-mediated murine resistance to Bacillus anthracis spore infection. These findings demonstrate that sulforaphane inhibits the inflammasomes through a novel mechanism and contributes to our understanding of the beneficial effects of sulforaphane.

Inflammasomes are cytosolic protein complexes that respond to diverse danger signals by activating caspase-1. The sensor components of the inflammasome, often proteins of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain–like receptor (NLR) family, detect stress, danger stimuli, and pathogen-associated molecular patterns. We report that the eicosanoid 15-deoxy-Δ12,14–PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2) and related cyclopentenone PGs inhibit caspase-1 activation by the NLR family leucine-rich repeat protein (NLRP)1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes. This inhibition was independent of the well-characterized role of 15d-PGJ2 as a peroxisome proliferator receptor-γ agonist, its activation of NF erythroid 2–related factor 2, or its anti-inflammatory function as an inhibitor of NF-κB. Instead, 15d-PGJ2 prevents the autoproteolytic activation of caspase-1 and the maturation of IL-1β through induction of a cellular state inhibitory to caspase-1 proteolytic function. The eicosanoid does not directly modify or inactivate the caspase-1 enzyme. Rather, inhibition is dependent on de novo protein synthesis. In a mouse peritonitis model of gout, using monosodium urate crystals to activate NLRP3, 15d-PGJ2 caused a significant inhibition of cell recruitment and associated IL-1β release. Furthermore, in a murine anthrax infection model, 15d-PGJ2 reversed anthrax lethal toxin-mediated NLRP1-dependent resistance. The findings reported in this study suggest a novel mechanism for the anti-inflammatory properties of the cyclopentenone PGs through inhibition of caspase-1 and the inflammasome.

Inflammasomes are large cytoplasmic multiprotein complexes that activate caspase-1 in response to diverse intracellular danger signals. Inflammasome components termed nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain–like receptor (NLR) proteins act as sensors for pathogen-associated molecular patterns, stress, or danger stimuli. We discovered that arsenicals, including arsenic trioxide and sodium arsenite, inhibited activation of the NLRP1, NLRP3, and NAIP5/NLRC4 inflammasomes by their respective activating signals, anthrax lethal toxin, nigericin, and flagellin. These compounds prevented the autoproteolytic activation of caspase-1 and the processing and secretion of IL-1β from macrophages. Inhibition was independent of protein synthesis induction, proteasome-mediated protein breakdown, or kinase signaling pathways. Arsenic trioxide and sodium arsenite did not directly modify or inhibit the activity of preactivated recombinant caspase-1. Rather, they induced a cellular state inhibitory to both the autoproteolytic and substrate cleavage activities of caspase-1, which was reversed by the reactive oxygen species scavenger N-acetylcysteine but not by reducing agents or NO pathway inhibitors. Arsenicals provided protection against NLRP1-dependent anthrax lethal toxin–mediated cell death and prevented NLRP3-dependent neutrophil recruitment in a monosodium urate crystal inflammatory murine peritonitis model. These findings suggest a novel role in inhibition of the innate immune response for arsenical compounds that have been used as therapeutics for a few hundred years.

Anthrax lethal factor (LF) is the protease component of anthrax lethal toxin (LT). LT induces pyroptosis in macrophages of certain inbred mouse and rat strains, while macrophages from other inbred strains are resistant to the toxin. In rats, the sensitivity of macrophages to toxin-induced cell death is determined by the presence of an LF cleavage sequence in the inflammasome sensor Nlrp1. LF cleaves rat Nlrp1 of toxin-sensitive macrophages, activating caspase-1 and inducing cell death. Toxin-resistant macrophages, however, express Nlrp1 proteins which do not harbor the LF cleavage site. We report here that mouse Nlrp1b proteins are also cleaved by LF. In contrast to the situation in rats, sensitivity and resistance of Balb/cJ and NOD/LtJ macrophages does not correlate to the susceptibility of their Nlrp1b proteins to cleavage by LF, as both proteins are cleaved. Two LF cleavage sites, at residues 38 and 44, were identified in mouse Nlrp1b. Our results suggest that the resistance of NOD/LtJ macrophages to LT, and the inability of the Nlrp1b protein expressed in these cells to be activated by the toxin are likely due to polymorphisms other than those at the LF cleavage sites.