The RNA-induced silencing complex: a versatile gene-silencing machine.

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Citation

Pratt AJ, MacRae IJ

The RNA-induced silencing complex: a versatile gene-silencing machine.

J Biol Chem. 2009 Jul 3;284(27):17897-901. doi: 10.1074/jbc.R900012200. Epub 2009 Apr 1.

PubMed ID
19342379 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

RNA interference is a powerful mechanism of gene silencing that underlies many aspects of eukaryotic biology. On the molecular level, RNA interference is mediated by a family of ribonucleoprotein complexes called RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs), which can be programmed to target virtually any nucleic acid sequence for silencing. The ability of RISC to locate target RNAs has been co-opted by evolution many times to generate a broad spectrum of gene-silencing pathways. Here, we review the fundamental biochemical and biophysical properties of RISC that facilitate gene targeting and describe the various mechanisms of gene silencing known to exploit RISC activity.

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