Question

RNA interference involves

• A. silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary dsRNA molecule that binds to and prevents translation of the mRNA
• B. silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary ssRNA molecule that binds to and prevents translation of the mRNA
• C. silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary dsRNA molecule that binds to and prevents post- transcriptional processing of the mRNA
• D. silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary ssRNA molecule that binds to and prevents post- transcriptional processing of the mRNA

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

RNA interference (RNAi) takes place in all eukaryotic organisms as a method of cellular defense. This method involves the silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary dsRNA molecule that binds to and prevents translation of the mRNA (silencing). The source of this complementary RNA could be from infection by viruses having RNA genomes or mobile genetic elements (transposons) that replicate via an RNA intermediate.