8.3.2 RNA Interference (RNAi)

• RNA interference occurs when double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is introduced into the cell
• What type of RNA is double-stranded and serves as the origin for siRNA?

  dsRNA
• Which type of RNA is naturally produced by the cell to regulate gene expression?

  miRNA
• Steps in the RNA interference (RNAi) process

  1️⃣ Dicer enzyme cleaves dsRNA into siRNA

  2️⃣ siRNA binds to the Argonaute protein to form RISC

  3️⃣ RISC targets and destroys complementary mRNA
• Which enzyme cleaves double-stranded RNA into siRNA?

  Dicer
• The main types of RNA involved in RNAi are dsRNA, siRNA, and miRNA
• Steps in the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism

  1️⃣ Dicer cleaves dsRNA into siRNA

  2️⃣ siRNA binds to the Argonaute protein to form RISC

  3️⃣ RISC targets and destroys complementary mRNA
• Match the RNAi component with its function:

  Dicer ↔️ Cleaves dsRNA into siRNA

  RISC ↔️ Targets and destroys mRNA using siRNA
• What is RNA interference (RNAi)?

  Biological mechanism inhibiting gene expression
• The Dicer enzyme cleaves double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into small interfering RNA (siRNA).

  True
• Match the type of RNA with its origin or action:

  siRNA ↔️ Double-stranded RNA

  miRNA ↔️ Single-stranded RNA

  RISC ↔️ Targets and destroys mRNA
• What does RNA interference (RNAi) inhibit by targeting mRNA?

  Gene expression
• Steps in the RNA interference (RNAi) process

  1️⃣ Dicer enzyme cleaves dsRNA into siRNA

  2️⃣ siRNA binds to the Argonaute protein to form RISC

  3️⃣ RISC targets and destroys complementary mRNA
• Double-stranded RNA can be introduced into the cell or produced from viral infections
• miRNA inhibits mRNA translation, while siRNA destroys it.


  True
• Match the type of RNA with its origin:

  siRNA ↔️ Double-stranded RNA

  miRNA ↔️ Single-stranded RNA
• siRNA and miRNA both originate from double-stranded RNA.

  False
• What protein does siRNA bind to in order to form the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC)?

  Argonaute
• What is the primary role of the Dicer enzyme in RNAi?

  Cleave dsRNA
• RNAi inhibits gene expression by targeting and destroying mRNA
• Steps in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway

  1️⃣ Dicer cleaves dsRNA into siRNA

  2️⃣ siRNA binds to Argonaute protein to form RISC

  3️⃣ RISC targets and destroys mRNA
• MicroRNA (miRNA) regulates gene expression by inhibiting mRNA translation.

  True
• The RISC targets and destroys complementary mRNA
• What is the function of RISC in RNAi?

  Targets and destroys mRNA
• Match the RNAi effect with its mechanism:

  mRNA Destruction ↔️ RISC targets and degrades mRNA

  Translational Repression ↔️ Binding to mRNA disrupts ribosome function
• What is a potential medical application of RNAi?

  Therapeutic targeting
• What protein does siRNA bind to form RISC?

  Argonaute
• Dicer is an enzyme that cleaves double-stranded RNA into smaller fragments.


  True
• RNAi impacts gene expression through mRNA destruction by siRNA
• RNAi can be used in biological research to study gene function by selectively silencing specific genes.


  True
• RNAi is valuable for biological research and the development of new medical treatments