A programmable pAgo nuclease with universal guide and target specificity from the mesophilic bacterium Kurthia massiliensis.

ABSTRACT: Argonaute proteins are programmable nucleases that are found in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes and provide defense against invading genetic elements. Although some prokaryotic argonautes (pAgos) were shown to recognize RNA targets in vitro, the majority of studied pAgos have strict specificity toward DNA, which limits their practical use in RNA-centric applications. Here, we describe a unique pAgo nuclease, KmAgo, from the mesophilic bacterium Kurthia massiliensis that can be programmed with either DNA or RNA guides and can precisely cleave both DNA and RNA targets. KmAgo binds 16-20 nt long 5'-phosphorylated guide molecules with no strict specificity for their sequence and is active in a wide range of temperatures. In bacterial cells, KmAgo is loaded with small DNAs with no obvious seque

SUBMITTER: Kropocheva E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8053121 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature