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DNA-guided DNA interference by a prokaryotic Argonaute.

DNA-guided DNA interference by a prokaryotic Argonaute.

Authors :
Swarts DC
Jore MM
Westra ER
Zhu Y
Janssen JH
Snijders AP
Wang Y
Patel DJ
Berenguer J
Brouns SJJ
van der Oost J
Source :
Nature [Nature] 2014 Mar 13; Vol. 507 (7491), pp. 258-261. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Feb 16.
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

RNA interference is widely distributed in eukaryotes and has a variety of functions, including antiviral defence and gene regulation. All RNA interference pathways use small single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) molecules that guide proteins of the Argonaute (Ago) family to complementary ssRNA targets: RNA-guided RNA interference. The role of prokaryotic Ago variants has remained elusive, although bioinformatics analysis has suggested their involvement in host defence. Here we demonstrate that Ago of the bacterium Thermus thermophilus (TtAgo) acts as a barrier for the uptake and propagation of foreign DNA. In vivo, TtAgo is loaded with 5'-phosphorylated DNA guides, 13-25 nucleotides in length, that are mostly plasmid derived and have a strong bias for a 5'-end deoxycytidine. These small interfering DNAs guide TtAgo to cleave complementary DNA strands. Hence, despite structural homology to its eukaryotic counterparts, TtAgo functions in host defence by DNA-guided DNA interference.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1476-4687
Volume :
507
Issue :
7491
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Nature
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
24531762
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12971