Structural Foundations of RNA Silencing by Argonaute

Overview

Journal J Mol Biol

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Microbiology
Molecular Biology

Date 2017 Aug 1

PMID 28757069

Citations 77

Authors

Jessica Sheu-Gruttadauria

Ian J MacRae

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Nearly every cell in the human body contains a set of programmable gene-silencing proteins named Argonaute. Argonaute proteins mediate gene regulation by small RNAs and thereby contribute to cellular homeostasis during diverse physiological process, such as stem cell maintenance, fertilization, and heart development. Over the last decade, remarkable progress has been made toward understanding Argonaute proteins, small RNAs, and their roles in eukaryotic biology. Here, we review current understanding of Argonaute proteins from a structural prospective and discuss unanswered questions surrounding this fascinating class of enzymes.

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