Journal: RNA Biology
Article Title: C-terminal tagging impairs AGO2 function
doi: 10.1080/15476286.2025.2534028
Figure Lengend Snippet: Creation of AGO2 knockout A549, firefly luciferase assays and comparison of N - and C-terminally tagged AGO2. (A) Generation of AGO2 knockout A549 cells. Immunoblot of two AGO2 −/− clones alongside two control clones for AGO2 and beta actin as a loading control. (B) Relative firefly/Renilla luciferase activity in indicated cell lines transfected with reporter plasmids expressing firefly and Renilla luciferase and a siRNA against firefly luciferase (esi FFLuc ) or ‘non-targeting’ control (esi GFP ). The ratio between firefly and Renilla luciferase activity was measured 24 h after transfection. Data represent mean ± SEM; n = 3 (ns p > 0.05, **** p ≤ 0.0001 according to two-way ANOVA test with Sidak’s multiple comparisons). (C) Plasmid constructs for expression of untagged AGO2, EGFP-AGO2 and AGO2-EGFP. EGFP-VO is a control. (D) Relative firefly/Renilla luciferase activity in AGO2 −/− A549 transfected with reporter plasmids, AGO2 plasmids and an siRNA against firefly luciferase (esi FFLuc ) or ‘non-targeting’ control (scr). The ratio between firefly and Renilla luciferase activity was measured 24 h after transfection. Data represent mean ± SEM; n = 3 (ns p > 0.05; *** p ≤ 0.001, **** p ≤ 0.0001 according to one-way ANOVA test with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons). (E) Relative Renilla/firefly luciferase activity of a miR-100 targeted (T) reporter relative to a non-targeted (NT) reporter in AGO2 −/− A549 transfected with reporter plasmid, 15 nM miR-100 mimic and the indicated AGO2 constructs or EGFP-VO. Data represent mean ± SEM; n = 3 (ns p > 0.05; ** p ≤ 0.01 according to one-way ANOVA test with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons). (F) Immunoblots of nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions from AGO2 −/− A549 transfected with EGFP-VO, AGO2 UT, EGFP-AGO2 or AGO2-EGFP. Beta tubulin and histone H3 were probed as loading controls for cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions, respectively. (G) Fluorescence microscopy images for AGO2 −/− A549 transfected with EGFP-VO, EGFP-AGO2 or AGO2-EGFP. Cell nuclei are stained with DAPI and merged images show DAPI and EGFP signal combined. Scale bars indicate 10 µm. (H) UnTagged C1 and AGO2-HaloTag C10 cells treated with 100 nM HaloTag-TMR ligand visualized using confocal microscopy.
Article Snippet: Single-cell clones were screened for loss of AGO2 expression by immunoblotting using rabbit anti-AGO2 (Sino Biological 101,620-T36).
Techniques: Knock-Out, Luciferase, Comparison, Western Blot, Clone Assay, Control, Activity Assay, Transfection, Expressing, Plasmid Preparation, Construct, Fluorescence, Microscopy, Staining, Confocal Microscopy