Expression, purification, and analysis of recombinant Drosophila Dicer-1 and Dicer-2 enzymes

Methods Mol Biol. 2008:442:11-27. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-191-8_2.

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a form of posttranscriptional gene silencing mediated by microRNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA). In Drosophila melanogaster, the RNase III enzymes Dicer-1 and Dicer-2 generate miRNA and siRNA, respectively. We describe the methods for the expression, purification, and analysis of recombinant Dicer-1 and Dicer-2 enzymes. Our studies demonstrate that Dicer-1 and Dicer-2 display different substrate specificities and ATP requirements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Drosophila Proteins* / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins* / isolation & purification
  • Drosophila Proteins* / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / enzymology*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Humans
  • RNA Helicases* / genetics
  • RNA Helicases* / isolation & purification
  • RNA Helicases* / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Recombinant Proteins* / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins* / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins* / metabolism
  • Ribonuclease III

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • DCR-2 protein, Drosophila
  • Dcr-1 protein, Drosophila
  • Ribonuclease III
  • RNA Helicases