Dicer functions in RNA interference and in synthesis of small RNA involved in developmental timing in C. elegans.
- Abstract:
- Double-stranded RNAs can suppress expression of homologous genes through an evolutionarily conserved process named RNA interference (RNAi) or post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). One mechanism underlying silencing is degradation of target mRNAs by an RNP complex, which contains approximately 22 nt of siRNAs as guides to substrate selection. A bidentate nuclease called Dicer has been implicated as the protein responsible for siRNA production. Here we characterize the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of Dicer (K12H4.8; dcr-1) in vivo and in vitro. dcr-1 mutants show a defect in RNAi. Furthermore, a combination of phenotypic abnormalities and RNA analysis suggests a role for dcr-1 in a regulatory pathway comprised of small temporal RNA (let-7) and its target (e.g., lin-41).
- Authors:
- RF Ketting, SE Fischer, E Bernstein, T Sijen, GJ Hannon, RH Plasterk
- Journal:
- Genes Dev
- Citation info:
- 15(20):2654-2659
- Publication date:
- 15th Oct 2001
- Full text
- DOI