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Argonaute family members are key effectors of small RNA function. Predicted structural analogies to allosterically-regulated bacterial ligand-binding proteins, followed by biochemical analysis of the binding properties of Argonautes, now indicate functional allostery between two distinct binding sites that would promote a functional outcome when both a miRNA and capped mRNA are present.
APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases have been implicated in restriction of retroviruses and retrotransposons in mammalian cells. Now human APOBEC3A is shown to be upregulated by interferon and to catalyze the deamination of foreign double-stranded DNA transfected into primary cells or cell lines, with no detectable effect on genomic DNA.
