Question

Fill in the blank:

MicroRNAs are noncoding RNAs that are incorporated into a protein complex called__________, which searches____________in the cytoplasm for sequence complementary to that of the miRNA. When such a molecule is found, it is then targeted for___________. RNAi is triggered by the presence of foreign__________molecules, which are digested by the __________enzyme into shorter fragments approximately 23 nucleotides pairs in length, and then targeted for destruction in a similar manner.

Answer 1

MicroRNAs are noncoding RNAs that are incorporated into a protein complex called RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) which searches messenger RNA in the cytoplasm for sequence complementary to that of the miRNA. When such a molecule is found, it is then targeted for degradation.

RNAi is triggered by the presence of foreign double-stranded RNA molecules, which are digested by the endoribonuclease Dicer enzyme into shorter fragments approximately 23 nucleotides pairs in length, and then targeted for destruction in a similar manner.