miRNA does what?

miRNA does what?

• A. Enhances translation of target mRNA
• B. Recruits ribosomes to inappropriate transcripts
• C. Silences gene expression by base pairing to complementary sequences in mRNA
• D. Degrades proteins non-specifically

Answer: (C)

miRNA functions to silence gene expression after transcription by guiding an RNA-induced silencing complex to target mRNAs through base pairing. This binding typically occurs in the 3' untranslated region and, depending on the context, leads to translational repression and/or deadenylation and decay of the mRNA, reducing the amount of protein produced. This is why the correct description is that miRNA silences gene expression by base pairing to complementary sequences in mRNA. It does not raise translation, recruit ribosomes to inappropriate transcripts, or degrade proteins non-specifically. In animals, the pairing is usually partial, which favors repression rather than direct mRNA cleavage.

miRNA functions to silence gene expression after transcription by guiding an RNA-induced silencing complex to target mRNAs through base pairing. This binding typically occurs in the 3' untranslated region and, depending on the context, leads to translational repression and/or deadenylation and decay of the mRNA, reducing the amount of protein produced. This is why the correct description is that miRNA silences gene expression by base pairing to complementary sequences in mRNA. It does not raise translation, recruit ribosomes to inappropriate transcripts, or degrade proteins non-specifically. In animals, the pairing is usually partial, which favors repression rather than direct mRNA cleavage.