Dicer结构和功能研究进展

Progress of studies on Dicer structure and function

Dicer蛋白是RNA干扰机制的关键组分,负责siRNA和miRNA的产生。它主要由RNA解旋酶结构域、PAZ结构域、RNaseⅢ结构域和双链RNA结合结构域构成。Dicer的结构特点决定了它所产生的小RNA的结构特点。不同生物体具有不同数量的Dicer,各Dicer既有功能上各自独立的特点,同时又有功能的冗余和交叉,而在进化过程中,Dicer的数量逐渐减少,功能却逐步整合从而表现出多功能的特点。对Dicer结构和功能进行深入研究,有助于了解Dicer乃至整个RNAi及相关途径的作用机制,也有助于揭示它们在进化过程中所表现出的规律和特点。文章对上述Dicer结构及功能特点作简要综述。

Dicer is responsible for producing small interfering RNA and microRNA as an essential component of RNA interference. The character of these small RNAs is determined by the structure of Dicer protein, which contains RNA HELICs, PAZ, RNase Ⅲ and dsRNA binding domain. Different organisms have different numbers of Dicers with distinct but redundant functions. Evolutionally, the amount of Dicer in organism decreases, but its functions become multiple and extremely important. Studies on structure and function of Dicer will improve our understanding of the mechanism, as well as the evolutional rule and character, of RNAi and relative pathways. Here, we review the structural and functional character of Dicer.