title: Molecular dissection of human Argonaute proteins by DNA shuffling.
abstract: A paramount task in RNA interference research is to decipher the complex biology of cellular effectors, exemplified in humans by four pleiotropic Argonaute proteins (Ago1-Ago4). Here, we exploited DNA family shuffling, a molecular evolution technology, to generate chimeric Ago protein libraries for dissection of intricate phenotypes independently of prior structural knowledge. Through shuffling of human Ago2 and Ago3, we discovered two N-terminal motifs that govern RNA cleavage in concert with the PIWI domain. Structural modeling predicts an impact on protein rigidity and/or RNA-PIWI alignment, suggesting new mechanistic explanations for Ago3's slicing deficiency. Characterization of hybrids including Ago1 and Ago4 solidifies that slicing requires the juxtaposition and combined action of multiple disseminated modules. We also present a Gateway library of codon-optimized chimeras of human Ago1-Ago4 and molecular evolution analysis software as resources for future investigations into RNA interference sequence-structure-function relationships.
authors.affiliation: Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schürmann
authors.forename: Leonardo G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Trabuco
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grimm
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D032621:DNA Shuffling; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000235:genetics; D019020:Directed Molecular Evolution; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: C115848:AGO1 protein, human; C466422:AGO2 protein, human; C517143:AGO3 protein, human; C517144:AGO4 protein, human; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins