Structural and evolutionary determinants of Argonaute function.

ABSTRACT: Members of the Argonaute protein superfamily adopt functions ranging from host-defense to mediating elaborate and multicomponent post-transcriptional and epigenetic systems of control. Despite this diversity of biological roles, the Argonaute structural fold is highly conserved throughout all domains of life. This raises questions about how Argonautes evolved to adapt to this increasing complexity of function, while conserving features that are broadly shared across the phylogenetic tree. Integrating structural, sequence, phylogenetic data, and disease-related mutational data, we compiled a comprehensive study of the Argonaute evolutionary trajectory. By comparing Argonaute proteins across a diverse set of lineages and extensive evolutionary timescale, we identified universal and clade-spe

SUBMITTER: Wallmann A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12477606 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature