The multiplicity of Argonaute complexes in mammalian cells

Argonautes (AGOs) are a highly conserved family of proteins found in most Eukaryotes, and involved in mechanisms of gene regulation, both at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Among other functions, AGO proteins associate with microRNAs to mediate the post-transcriptional repression of protein-coding genes. In this process, AGOs associate with members of the trinucleotide repeat containing 6 protein (TNRC6) protein family to form the core of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), the effector machinery that mediates microRNA function. However, the description of the exact composition of the RISC has been a challenging task due to the fact the AGO's interactome is dynamic…