Ch. 16 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes
Klug10th EditionEssentials of GeneticsISBN: 9780135588789
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Introduction to Genetics16
- Ch. 2 - Mitosis and Meiosis28
- Ch. 3 - Mendelian Genetics37
- Ch. 4 - Modification of Mendelian Ratios53
- Ch. 5 - Sex Determination and Sex Chromosomes32
- Ch. 6 - Chromosome Mutations: Variation in Number and Arrangement37
- Ch. 7 - Linkage and Chromosome Mapping in Eukaryotes36
- Ch. 8 - Genetic Analysis and Mapping in Bacteria and Bacteriophages24
- Ch. 9 - DNA Structure and Analysis38
- Ch. 10 - DNA Replication29
- Ch. 11 - Chromosome Structure and DNA Sequence Organization22
- Ch. 12 - The Genetic Code and Transcription36
- Ch. 13 - Translation and Proteins27
- Ch. 14 - Gene Mutation, DNA Repair, and Transposition34
- Ch. 15 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria22
- Ch. 16 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes37
- Ch. 17 - Recombinant DNA Technology27
- Ch. 18 - Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Proteomics30
- Ch. 19 - The Genetics of Cancer21
- Ch. 20 - Quantitative Genetics and Multifactorial Traits37
- Ch. 21 - Population and Evolutionary Genetics45
Chapter 16, Problem 18
Present an overview of RNA interference (RNAi). How does the silencing process begin, and what major components participate?
Verified step by step guidance1
Begin by explaining that RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression or translation by neutralizing targeted mRNA molecules, effectively silencing specific genes.
Describe that the silencing process starts when double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) enters the cell or is produced within the cell, which is recognized as a trigger for RNAi.
Explain that the enzyme Dicer plays a major role by cleaving the long dsRNA into small fragments called small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), typically about 21-23 nucleotides long.
Detail that these siRNAs are then incorporated into a protein complex known as the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), where one strand of the siRNA (the guide strand) remains bound to RISC.
Finally, describe how the RISC uses the guide strand to recognize complementary mRNA sequences, leading to the cleavage and degradation of the target mRNA, thereby silencing gene expression.
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
RNA Interference (RNAi) Overview
RNA interference is a biological process where small RNA molecules inhibit gene expression by neutralizing targeted mRNA molecules. It serves as a regulatory mechanism and a defense against viral genomes, effectively silencing specific genes post-transcriptionally.
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Guided course
06:59
RNA Interference
Initiation of the Silencing Process
The silencing process begins when double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is recognized and cleaved by the enzyme Dicer into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). These siRNAs guide the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to complementary mRNA targets, initiating gene silencing.
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08:39mRNA Processing
Major Components of RNAi
Key components include Dicer, which processes dsRNA into siRNAs; Argonaute proteins within the RISC, which bind siRNAs and mediate mRNA cleavage or translational repression; and the siRNAs themselves, which provide sequence specificity for targeting mRNA.
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06:25DNA Structure
Related Practice