High School

How is the nuclear localization of Argonaute affected by cell density, and how does it relieve repression by microRNAs?

Answer :

Final answer:

Argonaute proteins and cell density influence RNA silencing processes and gene regulation via miRNAs in the nucleus.

Explanation:

Argonaute proteins play a crucial role in RNA silencing processes by binding to small non-coding RNAs like microRNAs (miRNAs). These small RNAs guide Argonaute proteins to specific mRNA targets through base pairing, leading to mRNA cleavage or translation inhibition.

Cell density can affect the nuclear localization of Argonaute. Higher cell density can promote the nuclear localization of Argonaute, which in turn can relieve repression by miRNAs by potentially regulating the accessibility of target mRNAs in the nucleus.

RISC assembly involves the incorporation of miRNAs and siRNAs with Argonaute proteins to form the RNA-induced silencing complex, which is critical for gene silencing through mRNA degradation or translation inhibition.