An animated explanation of RNA interference (RNAi) and microRNA-mediated gene regulation.

1. GENE RNA PROTEINm
sRNA
RNA interference
transcription translation
miRNA
carried by
Argonaute (Ago)
siRNA
DNA
micro-RNA small interfering
RNA
messenger
small RNA
amino
acids
outside
(exogenous)
sources
RNA
translational
inhibition
mRNA
degradation
RNAi
not all genes make
protein
target binding

2. miRNA/siRNA biogenesis
Dicer
Microprocessor
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Argonaute
pre-RISC
(RNA-induced
silencing complex)
mature
RISC
(core)
pri-miRNApre-miRNA
RNA duplex
exogenous
dsRNA
(siRNA precursors)

3. Ago effector pathway
target binding
perfect complementarity
(siRNA) & slicing Ago
partial complementarity
(miRNA)
target
repression
mRNA
degradation
mRNA
degradation translational
inhibition
sequestration
decapping
complex deadenylation
complex
target
cleavage
exonuclease
chewing
cofactor
recruitment
Ago
GW182