Project description:Small RNAs regulate the genetic networks through a ribonucleoprotein complex called the RNA induced silencing complexes (RISC), which in mammals contains at its center one of four Argonaute proteins (Ago1-4). A key regulatory event in the RNAi and miRNA pathways is Ago loading, where double stranded small RNA duplexes are incorporated into RISC (pre-RISC) and then become single stranded (mature-RISC), a process that is not well understood. The Agos contain an evolutionary conserved PAZ (Piwi/Argonaute/Zwille) domain whose primary function is to bind the 3’-end of small RNAs. We created multiple Paz domain disrupted Ago mutant proteins and studied their biochemical properties and biological functionality in cells. We found that the Paz domain is dispensable for Ago loading of slicing-competent RISC. In contrast, in the absence of slicer activity or slicer substrate duplex RNAs, Paz-disrupted Agos bound duplex siRNAs but were unable to unwind/eject the passenger strand and form functional RISC complexes. We have discovered that the highly conserved Paz domain plays an important role in RISC activation, providing new mechanistic insights into how miRNAs regulate genes, as well as new insights for future design of miRNA and RNAi-based therapeutics. Various Argonautes associated small RNA profiles were generated by deep sequencing the Agos-IP samples in HEK293 Cells transfected with corresponding Argonaute.
Project description:Small RNAs regulate the genetic networks through a ribonucleoprotein complex called the RNA induced silencing complexes (RISC), which in mammals contains at its center one of four Argonaute proteins (Ago1-4). A key regulatory event in the RNAi and miRNA pathways is Ago loading, where double stranded small RNA duplexes are incorporated into RISC (pre-RISC) and then become single stranded (mature-RISC), a process that is not well understood. The Agos contain an evolutionary conserved PAZ (Piwi/Argonaute/Zwille) domain whose primary function is to bind the 3’-end of small RNAs. We created multiple Paz domain disrupted Ago mutant proteins and studied their biochemical properties and biological functionality in cells. We found that the Paz domain is dispensable for Ago loading of slicing-competent RISC. In contrast, in the absence of slicer activity or slicer substrate duplex RNAs, Paz-disrupted Agos bound duplex siRNAs but were unable to unwind/eject the passenger strand and form functional RISC complexes. We have discovered that the highly conserved Paz domain plays an important role in RISC activation, providing new mechanistic insights into how miRNAs regulate genes, as well as new insights for future design of miRNA and RNAi-based therapeutics.
Project description:Argonaute proteins lie at the heart of the RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC), wherein they use small RNA guides to recognize targets. Some Argonaute proteins can directly cleave their targets, whereas others recruit co-factors to repress independently of “slicing.” Prior studies established the architecture of Argonaute proteins; however, we have not yet had a detailed picture of an Argonaute whose biochemical and biological functions were well established. Here we describe the crystal structure of human Argonaute-2 bound to miR-20a at 2.2 Å resolution. Overall architecture and domain organization is shared with its prokaryotic counterparts, though Ago2 is somewhat more open, with its PAZ domain further removed from the other domains. The miRNA is anchored at both ends by the Mid and PAZ domains but makes several kinks and turns along the binding groove. The RNA confers remarkable stability on the Argonaute protein, locking this otherwise flexible enzyme into a stable conformation. total small RNAs (19-29nt) and small RNAs associated with purified hArgonaute2 purified from SF9 cells. These were processed and sequenced on Illumina GA-II platform.
Project description:Argonaute proteins lie at the heart of the RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC), wherein they use small RNA guides to recognize targets. Some Argonaute proteins can directly cleave their targets, whereas others recruit co-factors to repress independently of “slicing.” Prior studies established the architecture of Argonaute proteins; however, we have not yet had a detailed picture of an Argonaute whose biochemical and biological functions were well established. Here we describe the crystal structure of human Argonaute-2 bound to miR-20a at 2.2 Å resolution. Overall architecture and domain organization is shared with its prokaryotic counterparts, though Ago2 is somewhat more open, with its PAZ domain further removed from the other domains. The miRNA is anchored at both ends by the Mid and PAZ domains but makes several kinks and turns along the binding groove. The RNA confers remarkable stability on the Argonaute protein, locking this otherwise flexible enzyme into a stable conformation.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
Project description:We aimed at characterizing the identity of the silencing signal i.e. siRNA or longer dsRNA precursor thereof. We used transgenic dsRNA, endogenous dsRNA or virus infection as sources of siRNAs combined to sophisticated immunoprecipitation-based procedures coupled to deep-sequencing. We found that siRNAs populations are highly similar between incipient and recipient cells in the three systems. Additionally, a significant depletion of 5’U and 5’A content in the recipient cells suggested Argonaute-loading dependent depletion of these siRNAs during their movement over multiple cell layers. Using the PAZ-domain mutants ago1-18 and ago1-42 confirmed that the observed depletion of mobile siRNAs is the result of RISC loading. The results advocate movement of individual siRNA duplexes as opposed to their precursors and that loading into Argonaut proteins renders those small RNAs cell-autonomous.
Project description:We aimed at characterizing the identity of the silencing signal i.e. siRNA or longer dsRNA precursor thereof. We used transgenic dsRNA, endogenous dsRNA or virus infection as sources of siRNAs combined to sophisticated immunoprecipitation-based procedures coupled to deep-sequencing. We found that siRNAs populations are highly similar between incipient and recipient cells in the three systems. Additionally, a significant depletion of 5’U and 5’A content in the recipient cells suggested Argonaute-loading dependent depletion of these siRNAs during their movement over multiple cell layers. Using the PAZ-domain mutants ago1-18 and ago1-42 confirmed that the observed depletion of mobile siRNAs is the result of RISC loading. The results advocate movement of individual siRNA duplexes as opposed to their precursors and that loading into Argonaut proteins renders those small RNAs cell-autonomous.
Project description:Kynureninase is a member of a large family of catalytically diverse but structurally homologous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes known as the aspartate aminotransferase superfamily or alpha-family. The Homo sapiens and other eukaryotic constitutive kynureninases preferentially catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to produce 3-hydroxyanthranilate and l-alanine, while l-kynurenine is the substrate of many prokaryotic inducible kynureninases. The human enzyme was cloned with an N-terminal hexahistidine tag, expressed, and purified from a bacterial expression system using Ni metal ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals classic Michaelis-Menten behavior, with a Km of 28.3 +/- 1.9 microM and a specific activity of 1.75 micromol min-1 mg-1 for 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine. Crystals of recombinant kynureninase that diffracted to 2.0 A were obtained, and the atomic structure of the PLP-bound holoenzyme was determined by molecular replacement using the Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase structure (PDB entry 1qz9) as the phasing model. A structural superposition with the P. fluorescens kynureninase revealed that these two structures resemble the "open" and "closed" conformations of aspartate aminotransferase. The comparison illustrates the dynamic nature of these proteins' small domains and reveals a role for Arg-434 similar to its role in other AAT alpha-family members. Docking of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine into the human kynureninase active site suggests that Asn-333 and His-102 are involved in substrate binding and molecular discrimination between inducible and constitutive kynureninase substrates.
Project description:We aimed at characterizing the identity of the silencing signal i.e. siRNA or longer dsRNA precursor thereof. We used transgenic dsRNA, endogenous dsRNA or virus infection as sources of siRNAs combined to sophisticated immunoprecipitation-based procedures coupled to deep-sequencing. We found that although they are diluted as they move away from their sites of production, siRNAs population are highly similar between incipient and recipient cells in the three systems. Additionally, a significant depletion of 5’U and 5’A content in the recipient cells suggested Argonaute-loading dependent depletion of these siRNAs during their movement over multiple cell layers. Using the PAZ-domain mutants ago1-18 and ago1-42 confirmed that the observed depletion of mobile siRNAs is the result of RISC loading. The results advocate movement of individual siRNA duplexes as opposed to their precursors and that loading into Argonaut proteins renders those small RNAs cell-autonomous.