Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 26, 2026
09:51
Enhanced Genome Editing with Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein in Diverse Cells and Organisms
Published on: May 25, 2018
36.0K
Prokaryotic Argonaute proteins: novel genome-editing tools?
Jorrit W Hegge1, Daan C Swarts2, John van der Oost1
1Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|July 25, 2017
Summary
Prokaryotic Argonaute (pAgo) proteins are key in host defense against foreign nucleic acids. Long pAgo variants show promise for advancing genome editing technologies.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Argonaute proteins are crucial for RNA interference in eukaryotes.
- Homologous prokaryotic Argonaute proteins (pAgos) exist in bacteria and archaea.
- pAgos are involved in nucleic acid-guided defense mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- Focus on long prokaryotic Argonaute variants (pAgos).
- Discuss the role of pAgos in host defense against invading nucleic acids.
- Explore the potential applications of pAgos in genome editing.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Argonaute proteins.
- Analysis of the structure and function of long pAgo variants.
- Comparative study of eukaryotic and prokaryotic Argonaute systems.
Main Results:
- Long pAgo variants are integral to prokaryotic defense systems.
- These proteins exhibit nucleic acid-guided activity.
- Significant potential for pAgos in developing novel genome editing tools.
Conclusions:
- Long pAgo variants represent a significant class of prokaryotic defense proteins.
- Their mechanisms offer insights into nucleic acid regulation.
- pAgos hold considerable promise for future genome editing applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:28CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing
2.1K
The CRISPR-Cas system serves as a bacterial defense mechanism against invading genetic elements such as viruses and plasmids, forming the foundation for its adaptation as a powerful genome-editing tool. Originally discovered in prokaryotes, this system has been repurposed to revolutionize genetic engineering across a wide range of organisms, including plants, animals, and humans. The core component, Cas9, is an endonuclease derived from Streptococcus pyogenes, capable of introducing...
2.1K
02:26Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins
14.8K
Protein domains are small structurally independent units that are part of a single amino acid chain. Although these domains are often structurally independent, they may rely on synergistic effects to perform their functions as part of a larger protein. Protein domains may be conserved within the same organism, as well as across different organisms.
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to...
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to...
14.8K
02:23RNA Editing
10.0K
RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification where a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) nucleotide sequence is changed by base insertion, deletion, or modification. The extent of RNA editing varies from a few hundred bases, in mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, to a just single base, in nuclear genes of mammals. Even a single base change in the pre-mRNA can convert a codon for one amino acid into the codon for another amino acid or a stop codon. This type of re-coding can significantly affect the...
10.0K
02:53CRISPR and crRNAs
19.3K
Bacteria and archaea are susceptible to viral infections just like eukaryotes; therefore, they have developed a unique adaptive immune system to protect themselves. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) are present in more than 45% of known bacteria and 90% of known archaea.
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
19.3K
01:59CRISPR
58.2K
Genome editing technologies allow scientists to modify an organism’s DNA via the addition, removal, or rearrangement of genetic material at specific genomic locations. These types of techniques could potentially be used to cure genetic disorders such as hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. One popular and widely used DNA-editing research tool that could lead to safe and effective cures for genetic disorders is the CRISPR-Cas9 system. CRISPR-Cas9 stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced...
58.2K
02:31Homologous Recombination
64.3K
The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...
64.3K