Functional Characterization of Entamoeba histolytica Argonaute Proteins Reveals a Repetitive DR-Rich Motif Region That Controls Nuclear Localization.

ABSTRACT: The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway regulates gene expression in many eukaryotic organisms. Argonaute (Ago) proteins, together with bound small RNAs (sRNAs), are key effectors that mediate gene silencing function. However, there is limited knowledge of Ago proteins and their functions in nonmodel systems. In the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, RNAi is a robust means for stable gene silencing mediated via large populations of antisense sRNAs. Here, we report functional characterization of three Ago proteins in E. histolytica (EhAgo2-1, EhAgo2-2, and EhAgo2-3). Our data show that each EhAgo protein has a distinct subcellular localization and binds 27-nucleotide (nt) sRNAs and that the localization of EhAgo proteins is altered in resp

SUBMITTER: Zhang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6796981 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature