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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Corn, Soybean and Wheat Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #292833
Title: Role of double-stranded RNA-binding proteins in RNA silencing and antiviral defense

Author
item SINGH, JASLEEN - The Ohio State University
item ZHANG, XIUCHUN - The Ohio State University
item Stewart, Lucy
item MITCHELL, THOMAS - The Ohio State University
item QU, FENG - The Ohio State University

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2013
Publication Date: 1/1/2014
Citation: Singh, J., Zhang, X., Stewart, L.R., Mitchell, T., Qu, F. 2014. Role of double-stranded RNA-binding proteins in RNA silencing and antiviral defense. Book Chapter. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-411584-2.01001-5.

Interpretive Summary: RNA silencing or RNA interference is an important process in plants for defense against viruses. Double-stranded or aberrant viral RNAs are targeted for sequence-specific degradation by a plant pathway that involves plant proteins. Growing evidence indicates that double-stranded RNA binding proteins (DRBs) work in tandem with RNA-cleaving Dicer or Dicer-like (DCL) proteins in plant silencing pathways. This chapter reviews the evidence for involvement of DRBs in plant RNA silencing.

Technical Abstract: In plants as well as in animals, the intracellular presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) triggers a signal transduction pathway that uses the sequence information of dsRNA to direct silencing of homologous genes. This process, designated RNA silencing or RNA interference (RNAi), relies on a family of dsRNA-specific nucleases referred to as Dicers or Dicer-like (DCL) proteins to process dsRNA into small interfering RNAs or microRNAs, which are then incorporated into RNA-induced silencing complexes to guide sequence specific repression of the expression of homologous genes. Recent studies revealed that the proper function of Dicers or DCLs requires members of another protein family that contain multiple dsRNA-binding motifs, called dsRNA-binding proteins or DRBs. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the current understanding of plant and animal DRBs, their functional mechanisms and diversifying evolution, and their importance in antiviral defense. Our aim is to ignite renewed interest in the exciting field of RNA silencing and RNA silencing-mediated antiviral defense.