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9MX3

Cryo-EM structure of ancestral Dicer helicase bound to 27-bp dsRNA in post-hydrolysis semi-closed state

Summary for 9MX3
Entry DOI10.2210/pdb9mx3/pdb
Related9MW6
EMDB information48708
DescriptorAncD1D2, RNA (27-MER), ADENOSINE-5'-DIPHOSPHATE, ... (4 entities in total)
Functional Keywordsrna helicase, dsrbm, antiviral protein-rna complex, antiviral protein/rna
Biological sourcesynthetic construct
More
Total number of polymer chains3
Total formula weight93138.10
Authors
Aderounmu, A.M.,Consalvo, C.D.,Shen, P.S.,Bass, B.L. (deposition date: 2025-01-17, release date: 2025-03-12, Last modification date: 2025-06-04)
Primary citationAderounmu, A.M.,Maus-Conn, J.,Consalvo, C.D.,Shen, P.S.,Bass, B.L.
Biochemical and structural basis of Dicer helicase function unveiled by resurrecting ancient proteins.
Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA, 122:e2500825122-e2500825122, 2025
Cited by
PubMed Abstract: A fully functional Dicer helicase, present in the modern arthropod, uses energy from ATP hydrolysis to power translocation on bound dsRNA, enabling the processive dsRNA cleavage required for efficient antiviral defense. However, modern Dicer orthologs exhibit divergent helicase functions that affect their ability to contribute to antiviral defense. Moreover, mechanisms that couple ATP hydrolysis to Dicer helicase movement on dsRNA remain enigmatic. We used biochemical and structural analyses of ancestrally reconstructed Dicer helicases to map evolution of dsRNA binding affinity, ATP hydrolysis and translocation. Loss of affinity for dsRNA occurred early in Dicer evolution, coinciding with a decline in translocation activity, despite preservation of ATP hydrolysis activity. Ancestral nematode Dicer also exhibited significant decline in ATP hydrolysis and translocation, but studies of antiviral activities in the modern nematode indicate Dicer retained a role in antiviral defense by recruiting a second helicase. Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) analyses of an ancient metazoan Dicer allowed capture of multiple helicase states revealing the mechanism that connects each step of ATP hydrolysis to unidirectional movement along dsRNA. Our study rationalizes the diversity in modern Dicer helicases by connecting ancestral functions to observations in extant enzymes.
PubMed: 40434637
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2500825122
PDB entries with the same primary citation
Experimental method
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (3 Å)
Structure validation

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PDB entries from 2025-06-04

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