Narakorn Khunweeraphong. Expression of argonaute protein of penaeus monodon and characterization of its biochemical function . Master's Degree(Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2006.
Expression of argonaute protein of penaeus monodon and characterization of its biochemical function
Abstract:
Argonaute protein is the core component of RISC (RNA-induced silencing
complex) that plays a critical role in post-transcritptional silencing of gene expression
resulting in sequence-specific mRNA cleavage (siRNA pathway) or translation
suppression (miRNA pathway). This mechanism is known as RNA interference
(RNAi) which is responsible for antiviral mechanism in eukaryotes. The
understanding of RNAi in shrimp is essential for development of an effective viral
defense strategy in the future.
Argonaute proteins are defined by the presence of 2 conserved regions, RNAbinding
PAZ domain and the endonuclease-like PIWI domains. This study emphasizes
the expression of the recombinant Argonaute (Pem-AGO) and PAZ domain proteins
of P. monodon and characterizes their biochemical function in the RNAi pathway.
Recombinant PAZ domain protein was firstly expressed in Pichia pastoris expression
system. However, the recombinant protein could not be observed in either the
intracellular or extracellular compartment. Accordingly, the expression system was
altered to Escherichia coli (BL21(DE3)pLysS) by utilizing pET-15b as an expression
vector to produce the recombinant Pem-AGO and PAZ domain protein as N-terminal
hexahistidine fusion-tagged proteins with the molecular weight 108 kDa for Pem-
AGO and 19 kDa for PAZ domain protein. The soluble fractions were further purified
by Ni2+ column affinity chromatography.
The RNA binding activity of the recombinant PAZ domain was investigated by
Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) with 32P-labeled ssRNA. By using
ssRNA, dsRNA or ssDNA as competitors, the result revealed that the PAZ domain
binds preferentially to RNA, either single- or double-stranded, rather than to DNA.
The function of Argonaute protein in sequence-specific mRNA cleavage was
characterized by mRNA cleavage assay. However, the primary attempt on mRNA
cleavage assay to determine the function of Argonaute protein has not been successful.
The results implied that Pem-AGO should participate in RNAi pathway as it possesses
preferential RNA binding activity of the PAZ domain. Nevertheless, it cannot be
concluded at this point whether Pem-AGO functions in the siRNA or miRNA
pathway.