Molecular specificity of ARGONAUTE action in ta-siRNAs biogenesis (C05)

• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 232631280

When AGO1 is loaded with an asymmetric miRNA/miRNA* duplex or by AGO7 loaded with the sym-metric miR390/miR390* duplex, secondary siRNA are produced upon microRNA-mediated cleavage of TAS precursors. How specifically AGO proteins contribute to this biogenesis, is poorly understood. We make the hypothesis that the evolutionary conserved miR390/AGO7 complex mimics a state that AGO1 only adopts when loaded by an asymmetric duplex and use this to unravel the mechanism of secondary siRNA biogenesis. Interaction screens with cell-free systems to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this unique function of AGO7 in secondary siRNA biogenesis will be combined.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1101: Molecular Encoding of Specificity in Plant Processes
• Applicant Institution: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Alexis Maizel