Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yongjun Chu, Shinnichi Yokota, Jing Liu, Audrius Kilikevicius, Krystal C. Johnson, David R. Corey
Summary: Research has shown that AGO2 protein binding sites are mainly located on microRNAs (miRNAs), and most miRNAs are distributed similarly between the cytoplasm and nucleus, with no evidence of mechanisms facilitating miRNA localization in different compartments.
Article
Agronomy
Arnaud Segers, Joachim Carpentier, Frederic Francis, Rudy Caparros Megido
Summary: This study investigated the potential use of RNA interference (RNAi) as a biotechnological tool for controlling the bruchid pest Callosobruchus maculatus. The researchers identified key proteins and genes involved in the RNAi mechanism and successfully reduced the expression of laccase 1 in C. maculatus using dsRNA injections. While no significant mortalities were observed, this study supports RNAi as a potential method for controlling bruchid pests.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thomas Welte, Alison Goulois, Michael B. Stadler, Daniel Hess, Charlotte Soneson, Anca Neagu, Chiara Azzi, Marlena J. Wisser, Jan Seebacher, Isabel Schmidt, David Estoppey, Florian Nigsch, John Reece-Hoyes, Dominic Hoepfner, Helge Grosshans
Summary: The RNA-binding protein TRIM71/LIN-41, a highly conserved developmental regulator, plays important roles in mammalian stem cell reprogramming, brain development, and cancer. It has been discovered that TRIM71 represses its target mRNAs by interacting with TNRC6/GW182, a key component of the miRNA-induced silencing complex. AGO2, TRIM71, and UPF1 recruit TNRC6 to specific transcripts and silence them. Competition occurs among different silencing pathways due to limited cellular TNRC6 levels, and loss of AGO proteins or AGO binding to TNRC6 enhances the activities of other pathways. Therefore, a miRNA-like silencing activity is shared among different mRNA silencing pathways through the use of TNRC6 as a central hub.
Review
Cell Biology
Pierre-Marc Frederick, Martin J. Simard
Summary: miRNAs play a key role in gene expression regulation by forming the miRNA induced silencing complex (miRISC) with Argonaute protein to target specific mRNAs. The regulation of miRISC functions in animals involves post-translational modifications, 3' UTR environment, and interactions with other proteins. Subcellular localization and vesicular trafficking also play important roles in modulating miRISC function.
WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ryohei Kajino, Shuichi Sakamoto, Yoshihito Ueno
Summary: In this study, the synthesis of (S)-5'-C-aminopropyl-2'-O-methyladenosine and (S)-5'-C-aminopropyl-2'-O-methylguanosine phosphoramidites was reported, and the properties of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) containing four (S)-5'-C-aminopropyl-2'-O-methylnucleosides were investigated. The results showed that siRNAs containing (S)-5'-C-aminopropyl-nucleosides at the 3'- and 5'-regions of the passenger strand exhibited good tolerance for RNA interference (RNAi) activity, while the (S)-5'-C-aminopropyl modification in the central region of the passenger strand decreased the RNAi activity. Furthermore, siRNAs containing three or four consecutive (S)-5'-C-aminopropyl-2'-O-methylnucleosides at the 3'- and 5'-regions of the passenger strand showed RNAi activity similar to that of the corresponding 2'-O-methyl-modified siRNAs. Finally, it was observed that (S)-5'-C-aminopropyl modifications effectively improved the serum stability of the siRNAs compared with 2'-O-methyl modifications.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinho Yoon, Minkyu Shin, Ji-Young Lee, Sang-Nam Lee, Jin-Ha Choi, Jeong-Woo Choi
Summary: RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics have not been used for cancer treatment due to their instability and microRNA (miRNA) delivery challenges. Plasmonic nanoparticle-based RNAi nanotherapeutics have been developed with specific properties for accurate cancer diagnosis and strong therapeutic effects. This review presents recent strategies and advances in plasmonic nanoparticle-based miRNA delivery for cancer detection and treatment, and discusses the challenges and potential opportunities in the field of RNAi-based theragnosis.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samantha T. Johnson, Yongjun Chu, Jing Liu, David R. Corey
Summary: The TNRC6 paralogs have largely redundant functions in RNA-mediated control of gene expression, showing high correlation with AGO paralogs. They play roles in the RNA interference machinery.
Article
Microbiology
Hanbang Zhang, Juliana Veira, Sarah Twitty Bauer, Christopher Yip, Upinder Singh
Summary: This study characterizes, for the first time, the components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) in Entamoeba, revealing multiple functional protein components and novel nuclear assembly protein-interacting partners. The research further enhances our understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of RNAi in this parasite.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yao Xiao, TingYu M. Liu, Ian J. MacRae
Summary: Argonaute (AGO) proteins use microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to regulate gene expression. The functional distinction between AGOs in plants and animals depends on a minor structural difference in the PIWI domain. Swapping a 9-amino acid loop in the PIWI domain can alter the targeting properties and silencing efficiency of AGO proteins.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vivek Nilesh Shah, Julia Neumeier, Miguel Quevillon Huberdeau, Daniela M. Zeitler, Astrid Bruckmann, Gunter Meister, Martin J. Simard
Summary: The conserved serine/threonine kinases CK1A1 and CK2 regulate a phosphorylation cluster on the miRNA-specific AGO protein ALG-1, which is essential for miRISC-target RNA binding and silencing in Caenorhabditis elegans and humans.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Krystal C. Johnson, David R. Corey
Summary: RNA interference is associated with post-transcriptional silencing in the cytoplasm, but nuclear miRNAs and RNAi protein factors have been found, suggesting the potential of nuclear RNAi in gene regulation and therapeutic development. Designed small duplex RNAs can modulate nuclear processes, providing leads for therapeutic discovery.
Article
Biology
Brianna Bibel, Elad Elkayam, Steve Silletti, Elizabeth A. Komives, Leemor Joshua-Tor
Summary: Argonaute (Ago) proteins play a crucial role in post-transcriptional gene regulation through RNA interference. Phosphorylation by CK1 alpha can alleviate miRNA-mediated repression by promoting target release, allowing Ago to target additional mRNAs.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
John Paul Tsu Ouyang, Geraldine Seydoux
Summary: This article discusses the structure and function of Nuage as an RNA condensate and investigates the cellular compartmentalization of silencing small RNA pathways. The study finds that Nuage condensates may play a crucial role in balancing the activity of different sRNA pathways and help limit sRNA amplification to protect transcripts.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Krystal C. Johnson, Samantha T. Johnson, Jing Liu, Yongjun Chu, Carlos Arana, Yi Han, Tao Wang, David R. Corey
Summary: Research reveals that the absence of critical RNAi protein factors can alter the fate of microRNAs (miRNAs). Knockout of DROSHA expression reduces levels of certain miRNAs annotated in miRBase, while the loss of TNRC6 proteins has a smaller effect on miRNA levels. Knocking out AGO proteins, which directly contact mature miRNAs, decreases the expression of miRNAs most strongly associated with AGO2.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Peipei Wang, Yue Zhou, Arthur M. Richards
Summary: The comparison between siRNA and miRNA suggests that miRNA mimics have unique advantages due to their endogenous nature and the ability to regulate gene silencing effects, which will facilitate the development of miRNA mimic drugs.
