LAUSR

Structural Biology The CRISPR adaptive immune systems defend bacteria against invaders. Type I CRISPR-Cas systems, the most prevalent type, use a Cascade complex to search the target DNA that is then degraded by Cas3 protein. Xiao et al. report cryo–electron microscopy structures of the Type I-E Cascade/Cas3 complex in the pre– and post–DNA-nicking states. These structures reveal how Cas3 captures Cascade only in its correct conformation to reduce off-targeting and how Cas3 switches from the initial DNA-nicking mode to the processive DNA degradation mode. Science , this issue p. [eaat0839][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aat0839