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Molecular mechanism of target RNA transcript recognition by Argonaute-guide complexes

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 22:23 authored by Mark Roe, D Barford, J Parker
Argonaute proteins participate in conferring all known functions of RNA-mediated gene silencing phenomena. However, prior to structural investigations of this evolutionarily conserved family of proteins, there was little information concerning their mechanisms of action. Here, we describe our crystallographic analysis of the PIWI domain of an archaeal Argonaute homolog, AfPiwi. Our structural analysis revealed that the Argonaute PIWI fold incorporates both an RNase-H-like catalytic domain and an anchor site for the obligatory 5' phosphate of the RNA guide strand. RNA-AfPiwi binding assays combined with crystallographic studies demonstrated that AfPiwi interacts with RNA via a conserved region centered on the carboxyl terminus of the protein, utilizing a novel metal-binding site. A model of the PIWI domain of Argonaute in complex with a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-like duplex is consistent with much of the existing biochemical and genetic data, explaining the specificity of the RNA-directed RNA endonuclease reaction and the importance of the 5' region of microRNAs (miRNAs) (the "seed") to nucleate target RNA recognition and provide high-affinity guide-target interactions.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Cold Spring Harbour Symposium on Quantitative Biology

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

Volume

71

Page range

45-50

Department affiliated with

  • Biochemistry Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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