Prokaryotic Argonautes – variations on the RNA interference theme
The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) has been a major scientific breakthrough. This RNA-guided RNA interference system plays a crucial role in a wide range of regulatory and defense mechanisms in eukaryotes. The key enzyme of the RNAi system is Argonaute (Ago), an endo-ribonuclease that uses a s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Shared Science Publishers OG
2014-04-01
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| Series: | Microbial Cell |
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| Online Access: | http://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/prokaryotic-argonautes-variations-on-the-rna-interference-theme/ |
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| _version_ | 1850053147956871168 |
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| author | John van der Oost Daan C. Swarts Matthijs M. Jore |
| author_facet | John van der Oost Daan C. Swarts Matthijs M. Jore |
| author_sort | John van der Oost |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) has been a major scientific breakthrough. This RNA-guided RNA interference system plays a crucial role in a wide range of regulatory and defense mechanisms in eukaryotes. The key enzyme of the RNAi system is Argonaute (Ago), an endo-ribonuclease that uses a small RNA guide molecule to specifically target a complementary RNA transcript. Two functional classes of eukaryotic Ago have been described: catalytically active Ago that cleaves RNA targets complementary to its guide, and inactive Ago that uses its guide to bind target RNA to down-regulate translation efficiency. A recent comparative genomics study has revealed that Argonaute-like proteins are also encoded by prokaryotic genomes. Interestingly, there is a lot of variation among these prokaryotic Argonaute (pAgo) proteins with respect to domain architecture: some resemble the eukaryotic Ago (long pAgo) containing a complete or disrupted catalytic site, while others are truncated versions (short pAgo) that generally contain an incomplete catalytic site. Prokaryotic Agos with an incomplete catalytic site often co-occur with (predicted) nucleases. Based on this diversity, and on the fact that homologs of other RNAi-related protein components (such as Dicer nucleases) have never been identified in prokaryotes, it has been predicted that variations on the eukaryotic RNAi theme may occur in prokaryotes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-52ad00ceaa37422084898a1b248c74e7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2311-2638 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-04-01 |
| publisher | Shared Science Publishers OG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbial Cell |
| spelling | doaj-art-52ad00ceaa37422084898a1b248c74e72025-08-20T02:52:37ZengShared Science Publishers OGMicrobial Cell2311-26382014-04-011515815910.15698/mic2014.05.144Prokaryotic Argonautes – variations on the RNA interference themeJohn van der Oost0Daan C. Swarts1Matthijs M. Jore2Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 10, 6703 HB Wageningen, Netherlands.Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 10, 6703 HB Wageningen, Netherlands.Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 10, 6703 HB Wageningen, Netherlands.The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) has been a major scientific breakthrough. This RNA-guided RNA interference system plays a crucial role in a wide range of regulatory and defense mechanisms in eukaryotes. The key enzyme of the RNAi system is Argonaute (Ago), an endo-ribonuclease that uses a small RNA guide molecule to specifically target a complementary RNA transcript. Two functional classes of eukaryotic Ago have been described: catalytically active Ago that cleaves RNA targets complementary to its guide, and inactive Ago that uses its guide to bind target RNA to down-regulate translation efficiency. A recent comparative genomics study has revealed that Argonaute-like proteins are also encoded by prokaryotic genomes. Interestingly, there is a lot of variation among these prokaryotic Argonaute (pAgo) proteins with respect to domain architecture: some resemble the eukaryotic Ago (long pAgo) containing a complete or disrupted catalytic site, while others are truncated versions (short pAgo) that generally contain an incomplete catalytic site. Prokaryotic Agos with an incomplete catalytic site often co-occur with (predicted) nucleases. Based on this diversity, and on the fact that homologs of other RNAi-related protein components (such as Dicer nucleases) have never been identified in prokaryotes, it has been predicted that variations on the eukaryotic RNAi theme may occur in prokaryotes.http://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/prokaryotic-argonautes-variations-on-the-rna-interference-theme/ArgonauteRNAiBacteriaArchaea |
| spellingShingle | John van der Oost Daan C. Swarts Matthijs M. Jore Prokaryotic Argonautes – variations on the RNA interference theme Microbial Cell Argonaute RNAi Bacteria Archaea |
| title | Prokaryotic Argonautes – variations on the RNA interference theme |
| title_full | Prokaryotic Argonautes – variations on the RNA interference theme |
| title_fullStr | Prokaryotic Argonautes – variations on the RNA interference theme |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prokaryotic Argonautes – variations on the RNA interference theme |
| title_short | Prokaryotic Argonautes – variations on the RNA interference theme |
| title_sort | prokaryotic argonautes variations on the rna interference theme |
| topic | Argonaute RNAi Bacteria Archaea |
| url | http://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/prokaryotic-argonautes-variations-on-the-rna-interference-theme/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnvanderoost prokaryoticargonautesvariationsonthernainterferencetheme AT daancswarts prokaryoticargonautesvariationsonthernainterferencetheme AT matthijsmjore prokaryoticargonautesvariationsonthernainterferencetheme |