Double stranded RNA induces potent and specific gene silencing in a broad range of eukaryotic organisms. This mode of gene silencing, called RNA interference (RNAi), acts at the transcriptional level through formation of heterochromatin, and at the post-transcriptional leve,l through mRNA degradation and translational suppression. In all cases, RNAi begins with the processing of endogenous or introduced precursor RNA into micro-RNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) 21-25 nucleotides in length by the enzyme Dicer. The central objective of this project is to determine how RNA is recognized and cleaved by Dicer during induction of the RNAi pathway.
We aim to understand the structural and biochemical basis for Dicer activity, including its ability to recognize double stranded RNA targets, produce approximately 22- nucleotide duplex RNA products and deliver these products to downstream silencing pathways. Although miRNAs and siRNAs are the indispensable mediators of all RNAi gene silencing processes, the biochemical basis for their generation remains poorly understood. In order for Dicer to produce functional products from long duplex RNA precursors, the enzyme must coordinate two double stranded cleavages over a distance of 60 A. The structural mechanism underlying this coordination is entirely unknown. Well-diffracting crystals are in hand for an intact Dicer enzyme and will be the focus of initial structure determination efforts using X-ray crystallography. In parallel, a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments will be conducted to elucidate mechanisms of RNA recognition and catalysis by different kinds of Dicers. The proposed studies will reveal the molecular """"""""ruler"""""""" used to determine siRNA length and may enable the design of pre-siRNAs targeted to specific gene silencing pathways.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM073794-04
Application #
7488774
Study Section
Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Study Section (BBCA)
Program Officer
Preusch, Peter C
Project Start
2005-09-01
Project End
2010-03-31
Budget Start
2008-09-01
Budget End
2010-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$218,254
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
124726725
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
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