Abstract
In Drosophila melanogaster, the Dicer-2/R2D2 complex initiates RNA interference (RNAi) by processing long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into small interfering RNA (siRNA). Recent biochemical studies suggest that the Dcr-2/R2D2 complex also facilitates incorporation of siRNA into the RNA-induced silencing complex (siRISC). Here we present genetic evidence that R2D2 and Dcr-2 are both required for loading siRNA onto the siRISC complex. Consistent with this, only the Dcr-2/R2D2 complex, but neither Dcr-2 nor R2D2 alone, can efficiently interact with duplex siRNA. Furthermore, both dsRNA-binding domains of R2D2 are critical for binding to siRNA and promoting assembly of the siRISC complexes. Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1514-1520 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | RNA |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2006 |
Keywords
- Dicer-2
- R2D2
- RNA interference (RNAi)
- siRISC
- siRNA
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology