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Related Concept Videos

RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
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...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
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...
RNA Splicing01:32

RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
RNA Splicing01:32

RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Single-step Purification of Macromolecular Complexes Using RNA Attached to Biotin and a Photo-cleavable Linker
08:12

Single-step Purification of Macromolecular Complexes Using RNA Attached to Biotin and a Photo-cleavable Linker

Published on: January 3, 2019

Structural insights into RNA processing by the human RISC-loading complex.

Hong-Wei Wang1, Cameron Noland, Bunpote Siridechadilok

  • 1Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA. hongwei.wang@yale.edu

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
|October 13, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The study reveals the L-shaped structure of human Dicer within the RISC-loading complex (RLC). This structure facilitates the transfer of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from Dicer to Argonaute2 (AGO2), a key step in RNA interference.

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Identification of Footprints of RNA:Protein Complexes via RNA Immunoprecipitation in Tandem Followed by Sequencing (RIPiT-Seq)
09:26

Identification of Footprints of RNA:Protein Complexes via RNA Immunoprecipitation in Tandem Followed by Sequencing (RIPiT-Seq)

Published on: July 10, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Single-step Purification of Macromolecular Complexes Using RNA Attached to Biotin and a Photo-cleavable Linker
08:12

Single-step Purification of Macromolecular Complexes Using RNA Attached to Biotin and a Photo-cleavable Linker

Published on: January 3, 2019

Identification of Footprints of RNA:Protein Complexes via RNA Immunoprecipitation in Tandem Followed by Sequencing (RIPiT-Seq)
09:26

Identification of Footprints of RNA:Protein Complexes via RNA Immunoprecipitation in Tandem Followed by Sequencing (RIPiT-Seq)

Published on: July 10, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • RNA interference (RNAi) is a crucial gene silencing mechanism.
  • Effective RNAi depends on loading guide RNA (siRNA or miRNA) onto Argonaute proteins within the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC).
  • The RISC-loading complex (RLC), comprising human Argonaute2 (AGO2), Dicer, and TRBP, is essential for efficient guide RNA transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structural basis of the human RISC-loading complex (RLC).
  • To understand the mechanism of guide RNA transfer from Dicer to AGO2.
  • To determine the three-dimensional structure of human Dicer within the RLC.

Main Methods:

  • Single-particle electron microscopy (EM) analysis was employed to determine the RLC structure.
  • Atomic structures of Dicer and Argonaute homologs were docked into the EM reconstruction.
  • A structural model of the RLC was generated to propose a mechanism for siRNA transfer.

Main Results:

  • Human Dicer exhibits an L-shaped structure within the RLC.
  • The N-terminal DExH/D domain of Dicer interacts with TRBP via a short 'base branch'.
  • The C-terminal catalytic domains of Dicer are positioned proximally to AGO2, facilitating guide RNA transfer.

Conclusions:

  • The L-shaped structure of Dicer is critical for its function in the RLC.
  • The structural arrangement within the RLC supports a model for efficient siRNA/miRNA transfer from Dicer to AGO2.
  • This provides insights into the molecular mechanism of RISC assembly and RNAi pathway initiation.