Characterization of protein and small RNA components of Argonaute complexes [Elektronische Ressource] / Christine Ender

Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie der Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München Characterization of protein and small RNA components of Argonaute complexes Christine Ender aus Neuchâtel, Schweiz 2009 Erklärung Diese Dissertation wurde im Sinne von § 13 Abs. 3 der Promotionsordnung vom 29. Januar 1998 von Herrn Prof. Klaus Förstemann betreut. Ehrenwörtliche Versicherung Diese Dissertation wurde selbständig, ohne unerlaubte Hilfe erarbeitet. München, am 9.11.2009 _______________________________________ Dissertation eingereicht am 9.11.2009 1. Gutachter Prof. Klaus Förstemann 2. Gutachter Prof. Gunter Meister Mündliche Prüfung am 17.12.2009 Summary Members of the Argonaute (Ago) protein family associate with small RNAs and regulate gene expression at the level of transcription, mRNA stability or translation. Although a number of small RNAs and proteins involved in gene silencing have been identified so far, the spectrum of Ago-mediated silencing implies an interplay of various additional factors. We therefore purified Ago complexes from human cells in order to analyze their protein as well as their RNA content. We found that Ago1 and Ago2 reside in three complexes of different sizes, showing distinct Dicer and RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) activities.