Netherlands, March 5 -- Project Id: 125663
Description: Project description
Role of Argonaute proteins in prokaryotes
Argonaute proteins are components of the RNA-induced gene silencing known as RNA interference. They bind different classes of small non-coding RNAs, which guide them to specific targets, leading to mRNA cleavage or translation inhibition. Yet, their evolutionary origin lies in prokaryotes. The EU-funded COMPASS project will map the function of unexplored prokaryotic Argonaute protein (pAgo) systems, in which pAgos associate with auxiliary proteins. The hypothesis is that pAgos bind exogenous DNA sequences, resulting in the recruitment of the auxiliary proteins and fulfilling completely novel roles ranging from stimulating...