[Components and assembly of RNA-induced silencing complex].
Degradation of homologous RNA in RNA interference is carried out by functional RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). RISC contains Dicer, Argonaute proein, siRNA and other components. Researching structures and functions of these components is primary important for understanding assembly and functional mechanism of RISC, as well as the whole RNAi pathway. Recent research works showed that Dicer, containing RNaseIII domain, is responsible for production of siRNA at the beginning of RNAi, and guarantees the stability of RISC intermediate in assembly process. As the core component of RISC, Argonaute protein functions as slicer to cleave target RNA and offers the binding site of siRNA in RISC assembly, which are depended on PIWI domain and PAZ domain separately. Although there is only one strand of siRNA that is the guider of RISC, the double stranded structural character of siRNA is determinant of RNAi. Except those, there are still other components with unknown functions in RISC. The knowledge about RISC components and assembly now, is basis of a presumed RISC assembly model.
Song
Xue-Mei
XM
National Center for Molecular Genetics and Breeding of Animal, Institute of Animal Sciences, CAAS, Beijing 100094, China. songxuemei@yeah.net
Yan
Fei
F
Du
Li-Xin
LX
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; D043244:Ribonuclease III