Nov 13, 2025

This is SPARMA! A novel short prokaryotic Argonaute system

Date: November 13, 2025 | 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Speaker: Balwina Koopal, Bravo Group
Location: Central Bldg / O1 / Mondi 2a (I01.O1.008)
Language: English

Argonautes use short oligonucleotides to target complementary nucleic acid targets. In this way, eukaryotic Argonautes mediate RNA interference, while prokaryotic Argonautes (pAgos) defend their host against invading nucleic acids, either by neutralizing the invader directly or by inducing programmed cell death. Until recently, most research has focused on the so called long pAgos, which share their domain composition with eukaryotic Argonautes. However, recently a number of pAgos have been characterized that are short: they lack the N-terminal lobe, and are associated with an APAZ-domain containing protein, which is fused to one of various functional domains. In this talk I will present new insights into a short pAgo system that is associated with an Mrr-domain, which cleaves nucleic acids in trans when bound to an RNA guide and a complementary DNA target.