DNA interference by a mesophilic Argonaute protein, CbcAgo [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
Background: The search for putative enzymes that can facilitate gene editing has recently focused its attention on Argonaute proteins from prokaryotes (pAgos). Though they are structural homologues of human Argonaute protein, which uses RNA guides to interfere with RNA targets, pAgos use ssDNA guide...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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F1000 Research Ltd
2020-01-01
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| Series: | F1000Research |
| Online Access: | https://f1000research.com/articles/8-321/v2 |
| _version_ | 1818821212131819520 |
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| author | Nieves García-Quintans Laurie Bowden José Berenguer Mario Mencía |
| author_facet | Nieves García-Quintans Laurie Bowden José Berenguer Mario Mencía |
| author_sort | Nieves García-Quintans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The search for putative enzymes that can facilitate gene editing has recently focused its attention on Argonaute proteins from prokaryotes (pAgos). Though they are structural homologues of human Argonaute protein, which uses RNA guides to interfere with RNA targets, pAgos use ssDNA guides to identify and, in many cases, cut a complementary DNA target. Thermophilic pAgos from Thermus thermophilus, Pyrococcus furiosus and Methanocaldococcus jasmanii have been identified and thoroughly studied, but their thermoactivity makes them of little use in mesophilic systems such as mammalian cells. Methods: Here we search for and identify CbcAgo, a prokaryotic Argonaute protein from a mesophilic bacterium, and characterize in vitro its DNA interference activity. Results: CbcAgo efficiently uses 5’P-ssDNA guides as small as 11-mers to cut ssDNA targets, requires divalent cations (preferentially, Mn2+) and has a maximum activity between 37 and 42 °C, remaining active up to 55 °C. Nicking activity on supercoiled dsDNA was shown. However, no efficient double-strand breaking activity could be demonstrated. Conclusions: CbcAgo can use gDNA guides as small as 11 nucleotides long to cut complementary ssDNA targets at 37ºC, making it a promising starting point for the development of new gene editing tools for mammalian cells. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:04:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-092c62f865ca43be836a23a81c75bbfc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-1402 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:04:36Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | F1000 Research Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | F1000Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-092c62f865ca43be836a23a81c75bbfc2022-12-21T20:48:29ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022020-01-01810.12688/f1000research.18445.224144DNA interference by a mesophilic Argonaute protein, CbcAgo [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]Nieves García-Quintans0Laurie Bowden1José Berenguer2Mario Mencía3Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Madrid, 28049, SpainCentro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Madrid, 28049, SpainCentro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Madrid, 28049, SpainCentro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Madrid, 28049, SpainBackground: The search for putative enzymes that can facilitate gene editing has recently focused its attention on Argonaute proteins from prokaryotes (pAgos). Though they are structural homologues of human Argonaute protein, which uses RNA guides to interfere with RNA targets, pAgos use ssDNA guides to identify and, in many cases, cut a complementary DNA target. Thermophilic pAgos from Thermus thermophilus, Pyrococcus furiosus and Methanocaldococcus jasmanii have been identified and thoroughly studied, but their thermoactivity makes them of little use in mesophilic systems such as mammalian cells. Methods: Here we search for and identify CbcAgo, a prokaryotic Argonaute protein from a mesophilic bacterium, and characterize in vitro its DNA interference activity. Results: CbcAgo efficiently uses 5’P-ssDNA guides as small as 11-mers to cut ssDNA targets, requires divalent cations (preferentially, Mn2+) and has a maximum activity between 37 and 42 °C, remaining active up to 55 °C. Nicking activity on supercoiled dsDNA was shown. However, no efficient double-strand breaking activity could be demonstrated. Conclusions: CbcAgo can use gDNA guides as small as 11 nucleotides long to cut complementary ssDNA targets at 37ºC, making it a promising starting point for the development of new gene editing tools for mammalian cells.https://f1000research.com/articles/8-321/v2 |
| spellingShingle | Nieves García-Quintans Laurie Bowden José Berenguer Mario Mencía DNA interference by a mesophilic Argonaute protein, CbcAgo [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] F1000Research |
| title | DNA interference by a mesophilic Argonaute protein, CbcAgo [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full | DNA interference by a mesophilic Argonaute protein, CbcAgo [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_fullStr | DNA interference by a mesophilic Argonaute protein, CbcAgo [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full_unstemmed | DNA interference by a mesophilic Argonaute protein, CbcAgo [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_short | DNA interference by a mesophilic Argonaute protein, CbcAgo [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_sort | dna interference by a mesophilic argonaute protein cbcago version 2 peer review 2 approved |
| url | https://f1000research.com/articles/8-321/v2 |
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