Work

Octameric dGTPase assemblies mediate broad anti-phage defense

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Deoxyguanosine triphosphatases (dGTPases) are nucleotide-depleting enzymes known to play a role in antiviral defense. While their enzymatic mechanism is established, the structural and functional diversity of dGTPases remains poorly understood. Here, we report a systematic analysis of dGTPase homologs across bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes, revealing their widespread distribution and association with diverse immune-related domains. Through integrative bioinformatics and structural mining, we identify a class of bacterial dGTPases that assemble into stable octameric and higher-order oligomeric structures. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we resolve the octameric and 16-mer assemblies of a representative Vibrio dGTPase (Vdg) and further captured filamentous forms. Functional assays demonstrate that octamer formation is essential and sufficient for antiviral activity, while higher-order assemblies are dispensable. We also identify dAMP as an allosteric regulator, underscoring the functional versatility of dGTPases. Our findings provide insights into the modular architecture, oligomerization-driven activation, and immune function of bacterial dGTPases, and broaden our understanding of nucleotide depletion-based antiviral strategies.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75805-z