Distinct Roles for Drosophila Dicer-1 and Dicer-2 in the siRNA/mIRNA Silencing Pathways.

The RNase III enzyme Dicer processes RNA into si-RNAs and miRNAs, which direct a RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to cleave mRNA or block its translation (RNAi). We have characterized mutations in the Drosophila dicer-1 and dicer-2 genes. Mutation in dicer-1 blocks processing of miRNA precursors, Whereas dicer-2 mutants are defective for processing siRNA precursors. It has been recently found that Drosophila Dicer-1 and Dicer-2 are also components of siRNA-dependent RISC (siRISC). We find that Dicer-1 and Dicer-2 are required for siRNA-directed mRNA cleavage, though the RNase III activity of Dicer-2 is not required. Dicer-1 and Dicer-2 facilitate distinct steps in the assembly of siRISC. However, Dicer-I but not Dicer-2 is essential for miRISC-directed translation repression. Thus, siRlSCs and miRISCs are different with respect to Dicers in Drosophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]