The evolutionary journey of Argonaute proteins Journal Article


Authors: Swarts, D. C.; Makarova, K.; Wang, Y. L.; Nakanishi, K.; Ketting, R. F.; Koonin, E. V.; Patel, D. J.; Van Der Oost, J.
Article Title: The evolutionary journey of Argonaute proteins
Abstract: Argonaute proteins are conserved throughout all domains of life. Recently characterized prokaryotic Argonaute proteins (pAgos) participate in host defense by DNA interference, whereas eukaryotic Argonaute proteins (eAgos) control a wide range of processes by RNA interference. Here we review molecular mechanisms of guide and target binding by Argonaute proteins, and describe how the conformational changes induced by target binding lead to target cleavage. On the basis of structural comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of pAgos and eAgos, we reconstruct the evolutionary journey of the Argonaute proteins through the three domains of life and discuss how different structural features of pAgos and eAgos relate to their distinct physiological roles.
Keywords: rna; recognition; crystal-structure; structural basis; guide; slicer activity; piwi-interacting rnas; paz domain; eukaryote trypanosoma-brucei; germline gene-expression; seed-target; dicer-like proteins
Journal Title: Nature Structural and Molecular Biology
Volume: 21
Issue: 9
ISSN: 1545-9993
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2014-09-01
Start Page: 743
End Page: 753
Language: English
ACCESSION: WOS:000341404200003
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2879
PROVIDER: wos
PUBMED: 25192263
PMCID: PMC4691850
Notes: Review -- Source: Wos
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Dinshaw J Patel
    478 Patel