Argonaute Proteins and Mechanisms of RNA Interference in Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes

Noncoding RNAs play essential roles in genetic regulation in all organisms. In eukaryotic cells, many small non-coding RNAs act in complex with Argonaute proteins and regulate gene expression by recognizing complementary RNA targets. The complexes of Argonaute proteins with small RNAs also play a ke...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemistry (Moscow) 2018-05, Vol.83 (5), p.483-497
Main Authors: Olina, A. V., Kulbachinskiy, A. V., Aravin, A. A., Esyunina, D. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Archaea
Argonaute Proteins - metabolism
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Bioorganic Chemistry
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Eukaryota - metabolism
Eukaryotes
Gene expression
Gene silencing
Genetic aspects
Genomes
Humans
Interference
Life Sciences
Microbiology
Molecular chains
Molecular modelling
Nucleic acids
Observations
Prokaryotes
Prokaryotic Cells - metabolism
Proteins
Review
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
RNA Interference
RNA-mediated interference
Therapeutic applications
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Summary:Noncoding RNAs play essential roles in genetic regulation in all organisms. In eukaryotic cells, many small non-coding RNAs act in complex with Argonaute proteins and regulate gene expression by recognizing complementary RNA targets. The complexes of Argonaute proteins with small RNAs also play a key role in silencing of mobile genetic elements and, in some cases, viruses. These processes are collectively called RNA interference. RNA interference is a powerful tool for specific gene silencing in both basic research and therapeutic applications. Argonaute proteins are also found in prokaryotic organisms. Recent studies have shown that prokaryotic Argonautes can also cleave their target nucleic acids, in particular DNA. This activity of prokaryotic Argonautes might potentially be used to edit eukaryotic genomes. However, the molecular mechanisms of small nucleic acid biogenesis and the functions of Argonaute proteins, in particular in bacteria and archaea, remain largely unknown. Here we briefly review available data on the RNA interference processes and Argonaute proteins in eukaryotes and prokaryotes.
ISSN:0006-2979
1608-3040
DOI:10.1134/S0006297918050024