# Structural and molecular basis for cityRNA(cleavage-inducing tiny RNA)-directed RNA cleavage by AGO3

> **NIH NIH R01** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $298,641

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression in eukaryotic species.
Their precursors have a stem-loop structure, and Dicer measures the distance from the 3' 2-
nucleotide (nt) overhang when cropping the loop region. The resultant 19~23-nt miRNA duplexes are loaded
into Argonaute proteins (AGOs). Therefore, miRNAs are defined by the size of 19~23 nucleotide (nt) length.
Most of the early studies about miRNAs using next-generation RNA sequencing (RNAseq) excluded ~18 nt
short RNAs, and thus little is known about such tiny RNAs (tyRNAs). However, recent studies reported
that many tyRNAs actually bind to AGOs, although their physiological rule remains unknown. The long-term
goal of this project is to understand the physiological role of tyRNAs comprehensively and to determine their
biogenesis pathways. The short-term objective is to focus on a specific type of tyRNAs capable of converting
AGO3 to a slicer like AGO2. Such tyRNAs were discovered by our preliminary studies and named
`cleavage-inducing tyRNAs (cityRNAs).' In addition, we also identified a nuclease that trims AGO3-bound
guide RNA to a 14 nt cityRNA, thereby activating AGO3 for RNA cleavage. In this study, we hypothesize
that several nucleases shorten AGO-bound miRNAs to tyRNAs, some of which work as cityRNAs to
catalytically activate AGO3. To validate this hypothesis, we will pursue the following specific aims. In Aim
1, cleavage assays using different guide RNAs and AGO3 mutants will be used to determine the
requirements of cityRNA and AGO3 for target cleavage. We will also determine the crystal structures of
AGO3 in complex with cityRNAs, which will provide the structural basis for the recognition of cityRNAs by
AGO3. In Aim 2, cleavage assays using different targets will be used to determine the requirements of
target RNAs for cleavage by cityRNA-loaded AGO3. We will solve the crystal structures of AGO3 in complex
with cityRNAs and their target RNA, which will elucidate the mechanism of the target recognition. In Aim 3,
RNAseq and transcriptome analyses will determine the endogenous cityRNAs and targets cleaved by
AGO3 in the innate immune response. Altogether, outcomes from this study will reveal the molecular
mechanism of cityRNA-directed RNA cleavage and the correlation between cityRNAs and innate immune
response.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10034828
- **Project number:** 1R01GM138997-01
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kotaro Nakanishi
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $298,641
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-10 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10034828

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10034828, Structural and molecular basis for cityRNA(cleavage-inducing tiny RNA)-directed RNA cleavage by AGO3 (1R01GM138997-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10034828. Licensed CC0.

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