Specificity of DNA targeting by RNA-guided pAgo nucleases.

ABSTRACT: Argonautes are an evolutionarily conserved family of proteins that use guide oligonucleotides for specific recognition of nucleic acid targets. While eukaryotic Argonautes share a conserved structure and act in RNA interference, prokaryotic Argonautes (pAgos) display remarkable structural and functional variations, including various guide and target specificities. Most studied catalytically active pAgos use 5'-phosphorylated DNA guides to recognize and cleave DNA targets. Here, we describe a new group of pAgos from mesophilic bacteria that use RNA guides to cleave DNA targets and are active at physiological temperatures. In contrast to most characterized pAgo nucleases, these proteins can utilize guides of varying lengths containing either a 5'-phosphate or a 5'-hydroxyl group with similar

SUBMITTER: Lisitskaya L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12865457 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature