title: Bacterial argonaute samples the transcriptome to identify foreign DNA.
abstract: Eukaryotic Argonautes bind small RNAs and use them as guides to find complementary RNA targets and induce gene silencing. Though homologs of eukaryotic Argonautes are present in many bacteria and archaea, their small RNA partners and functions are unknown. We found that the Argonaute of Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RsAgo) associates with 15-19 nt RNAs that correspond to the majority of transcripts. RsAgo also binds single-stranded 22-24 nt DNA molecules that are complementary to the small RNAs and enriched in sequences derived from exogenous plasmids as well as genome-encoded foreign nucleic acids such as transposons and phage genes. Expression of RsAgo in the heterologous E. coli system leads to formation of plasmid-derived small RNA and DNA and plasmid degradation. In a R. sphaeroides mutant lacking RsAgo, expression of plasmid-encoded genes is elevated. Our results indicate that RNAi-related processes found in eukaryotes are also conserved in bacteria and target foreign nucleic acids.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, 147-75, 1200E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kurchatov Square 2, Moscow 123182, Russia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olovnikov
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sachidanandam
authors.forename: Dianne K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Alexei A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aravin
mesh_terms: D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012242:Rhodobacter sphaeroides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
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