出典:Wikipedia
出典:『Wikipedia』 (2010/07/13 14:38 UTC 版)
Repeat associated small interfering RNA (rasiRNA) is a class of small RNA that is involved in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. RasiRNA is a subclass of Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), which are small RNA molecule which interact with Piwi proteins. Piwi proteins are an Argonaute subfamily. RasiRNA associate with both the Ago and Piwi Argonaute protein subfamily while piRNA only associates with the Piwi Argonaute subfamily. In the germline, RasiRNA is involved in establishing and maintaining heterochromatin structure, controlling transcripts that emerge from repeat sequences, and silencing transposons and retrotransposons.