Argonaute proteins: key players in RNA silencing

TY - JOUR

T1 - Argonaute proteins

T2 - key players in RNA silencing

AU - Hutvagner, Gyorgy

AU - Simard, Martin J

PY - 2008/1

Y1 - 2008/1

N2 - During the past decade, small non-coding RNAs have rapidly emerged as important contributors to gene regulation. To carry out their biological functions, these small RNAs require a unique class of proteins called Argonautes. The discovery and our comprehension of this highly conserved protein family is closely linked to the study of RNA-based gene silencing mechanisms. With their functional domains, Argonaute proteins can bind small non-coding RNAs and control protein synthesis, affect messenger RNA stability and even participate in the production of a new class of small RNAs, Piwi-interacting RNAs.

AB - During the past decade, small non-coding RNAs have rapidly emerged as important contributors to gene regulation. To carry out their biological functions, these small RNAs require a unique class of proteins called Argonautes. The discovery and our comprehension of this highly conserved protein family is closely linked to the study of RNA-based gene silencing mechanisms. With their functional domains, Argonaute proteins can bind small non-coding RNAs and control protein synthesis, affect messenger RNA stability and even participate in the production of a new class of small RNAs, Piwi-interacting RNAs.

KW - Animals

KW - Arabidopsis Proteins

KW - Argonaute Proteins

KW - Drosophila Proteins

KW - Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2

KW - Eukaryotic Initiation Factors

KW - Evolution, Molecular

KW - Germ Cells

KW - Humans

KW - Plants

KW - Protein Structure, Tertiary

KW - RNA Interference

KW - RNA Stability

KW - RNA, Small Interfering

KW - RNA, Untranslated

U2 - 10.1038/nrm2321

DO - 10.1038/nrm2321

M3 - Article

C2 - 18073770

SN - 1471-0072

VL - 9

SP - 22

EP - 32

JO - Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

JF - Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

IS - 1

ER -