Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Rearing and Double-stranded RNA-mediated Gene Knockdown in the Hide Beetle, Dermestes maculatus
Published on: December 28, 2016
Dicers at RISC; the mechanism of RNAi
Marcel Tijsterman1, Ronald H A Plasterk
1Hubrecht Laboratory, Centre for Biomedical Genetics, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The pathway of RNA interference starts when Dicer cuts dsRNA into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that subsequently target homologous mRNAs for destruction. microRNA processing from stem loop precursors similarly requires Dicer activity. Two papers in this issue of Cell now demonstrate that Dicer is also essential for the execution phase of RNAi and explore the distinct requirements for Dicers in the siRNA and miRNA pathways.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Riboswitches
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs
Experimental RNAi

