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Related Concept Videos

Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins02:26

Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins

Protein domains are small structurally independent units that are part of a single amino acid chain.  Although these domains are often structurally independent, they may rely on synergistic effects to perform their functions as part of a larger protein. Protein domains may be conserved within the same organism, as well as across different organisms.
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to form...
RNA Interference01:23

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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.
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piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

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siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

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Experimental RNAi02:15

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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...
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Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms  a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

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)

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Small RNA sorting: matchmaking for Argonautes.

Benjamin Czech1, Gregory J Hannon

  • 1Watson School of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA.

Nature Reviews. Genetics
|December 1, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Small RNAs are crucial for eukaryotic cell functions. This review details how specific small RNAs, like microRNAs and small interfering RNAs, are sorted into RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs) with Argonaute proteins in plants and animals.

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Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Identification of Footprints of RNA:Protein Complexes via RNA Immunoprecipitation in Tandem Followed by Sequencing (RIPiT-Seq)
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An Oligonucleotide-based Tandem RNA Isolation Procedure to Recover Eukaryotic mRNA-Protein Complexes
09:45

An Oligonucleotide-based Tandem RNA Isolation Procedure to Recover Eukaryotic mRNA-Protein Complexes

Published on: August 18, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Small RNAs regulate gene expression in eukaryotes.
  • RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs) mediate small RNA functions.
  • Argonaute proteins are central components of RISCs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review mechanisms of small RNA sorting into RISCs.
  • To highlight recent advances in understanding miRNA and siRNA sorting.
  • To explore Argonaute protein diversity and function in small RNA pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on small RNA biogenesis and function.
  • Analysis of studies on Argonaute protein interactions with small RNAs.
  • Comparative examination of small RNA sorting in plants and animals.

Main Results:

  • Specific mechanisms ensure the correct pairing of small RNA strands with Argonaute proteins.
  • Sorting processes for microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are conserved yet distinct across species.
  • Argonaute protein properties dictate small RNA selection and RISC assembly.

Conclusions:

  • Precise small RNA loading into RISCs is essential for gene regulation.
  • Understanding small RNA sorting mechanisms provides insights into gene silencing pathways.
  • Recent progress significantly advances knowledge of miRNA and siRNA pathways in diverse organisms.