Argonaute Protein Domains Across Species

Argonaute proteins have conserved domains that help small RNAs guide gene silencing. These proteins are found across organisms, but the number of Argonaute family members can differ from one species to another.

Protein domains are small, structurally independent parts of a single amino acid chain...

A protein domain is a self-contained section of a protein that is capable of independently folding into its three-dimensional structure. 

There are limited ways protein domains can fold since certain specific three-dimensional arrangements of alpha helices, beta sheets, and loops are more energetically favorable than others.  There are te...