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REVIEW
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA
RNA silencing pathways convert the sequence information in long RNA, typically double-stranded RNA, into 
21-nt RNA signaling molecules such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). siRNAs and miRNAs provide specificity to protein effector complexes that repress mRNA transcription or translation, or catalyze mRNA destruction. Here, we review our current understanding of how small RNAs are produced, how they are loaded into protein complexes, and how they repress gene expression.
[Keywords: Argonaute; Dicer; PTGS; RISC; RNA silencing; RNAi]
1 Corresponding author.
E-MAIL phillip.zamore{at}umassmed.edu; FAX (508) 856-2003.
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Genes & Dev. 2006 20: 1732-1743.
Genes & Dev. 2006 20: 1709-1714.
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