This domain is named PAZ after the proteins Piwi Argonaut and Zwille. This domain is found in two families of proteins that are involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing. These are the Piwi family and the Dicer family, that includes the Carpel factory protein. The function of the domains is unknown but has been suggested to mediate complex formation between proteins of the Piwi and Dicer families by hetero-dimerisation. The three-dimensional structure of this domain has been solved [2-4]. The PAZ domain is composed of two subdomains. One subdomain is similar to the OB fold, albeit with a different topology. The OB-fold is well known as a single-stranded nucleic acid binding fold. The second subdomain is composed of a beta-hairpin followed by an alpha-helix. The PAZ domains shows low-affinity nucleic acid binding and appears to interact with the 3' ends of single-stranded regions of RNA in the cleft between the two subdomains. PAZ can bind the characteristic two-base 3' overhangs of siRNAs, indicating that although PAZ may not be a primary nucleic acid binding site in Dicer or RISC, it may contribute to the specific and productive incorporation of siRNAs and miRNAs into the RNAi pathway.

1: Domains in gene silencing and cell differentiation proteins: the novel PAZ domain and redefinition of the Piwi domain. Cerutti L, Mian N, Bateman A; Trends Biochem Sci 2000;25:481-482. PMID:11050429

2: The crystal structure of the Argonaute2 PAZ domain reveals an RNA binding motif in RNAi effector complexes. Song JJ, Liu J, Tolia NH, Schneiderman J, Smith SK, Martienssen RA, Hannon GJ, Joshua-Tor L; Nat Struct Biol 2003;10:1026-1032. PMID:14625589

3: Structure and conserved RNA binding of the PAZ domain. Yan KS, Yan S, Farooq A, Han A, Zeng L, Zhou MM; Nature 2003;426:468-474. PMID:14615802

4: Structure and nucleic-acid binding of the Drosophila Argonaute 2 PAZ domain. Lingel A, Simon B, Izaurralde E, Sattler M; Nature 2003;426:465-469. PMID:14615801