RNA-induced silencing complex

The RNA-induced silencing complex, or RISC, is a multiprotein complex, specifically a ribonucleoprotein, which functions in gene silencing via a variety of pathways at the transcriptional and translational levels.[1] Using single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) fragments, such as microRNA (miRNA), or double-stranded small interfering RNA (siRNA), the complex functions as a key tool in gene regulation.[2] The single strand of RNA acts as a template for RISC to recognize complementary messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript. Once found, one of the proteins in RISC, Argonaute, activates and cleaves the mRNA. This process is called RNA interference (RNAi) and it is found in many eukaryotes; it is a key process in defense against viral infections, as it is triggered by the presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA).[3][4][1]

  1. ^ a b Pratt AJ, MacRae IJ (2009). "The RNA-induced silencing complex: A versatile gene-silencing machine". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 284 (27): 17897–17901. doi:10.1074/jbc.R900012200. PMC 2709356. PMID 19342379.
  2. ^ Filipowicz W, Bhattacharyya SN, Sonenber N (2008). "Mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs: are the answers in sight?". Nature Reviews Genetics. 9 (2): 102–114. doi:10.1038/nrg2290. PMID 18197166. S2CID 11824239.
  3. ^ Fire A, Xu S, Montgomery MK, Kostas SA, Driver SE, Mello CC (1998). "Potent and specific genetic interference by double-stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans". Nature. 391 (6669): 806–811. Bibcode:1998Natur.391..806F. doi:10.1038/35888. PMID 9486653. S2CID 4355692.
  4. ^ Watson, James D. (2008). Molecular Biology of the Gene. San Francisco, CA: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. pp. 641–648. ISBN 978-0-8053-9592-1.