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Originally published in Science Express on 29 July 2004
Science 3 September 2004:
Vol. 305. no. 5689, pp. 1434 - 1437
DOI: 10.1126/science.1102514
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Research Articles

Crystal Structure of Argonaute and Its Implications for RISC Slicer Activity

Ji-Joon Song,1,2 Stephanie K. Smith,2 Gregory J. Hannon,1 Leemor Joshua-Tor1,2*

Argonaute proteins and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are the known signature components of the RNA interference effector complex RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). However, the identity of "Slicer," the enzyme that cleaves the messenger RNA (mRNA) as directed by the siRNA, has not been resolved. Here, we report the crystal structure of the Argonaute protein from Pyrococcus furiosus at 2.25 angstrom resolution. The structure reveals a crescent-shaped base made up of the amino-terminal, middle, and PIWI domains. The Piwi Argonaute Zwille (PAZ) domain is held above the base by a "stalk"-like region. The PIWI domain (named for the protein piwi) is similar to ribonuclease H, with a conserved active site aspartate-aspartate-glutamate motif, strongly implicating Argonaute as "Slicer." The architecture of the molecule and the placement of the PAZ and PIWI domains define a groove for substrate binding and suggest a mechanism for siRNA-guided mRNA cleavage.

1 Watson School of Biological Sciences, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
2 Keck Structural Biology Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: leemor{at}cshl.edu

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