In humans, small RNAs need to be loaded into four Argonaute proteins to bind to target RNAs and control their gene expression.  The activity of the resultant ribonucleoprotein complexes is regulated further by other proteins and RNAs. Due to the significance of the RNA silencing, the dysregulation causes neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. We take a combinatorial approach, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and structural biology, to elucidate the complicated molecular mechanisms of RNA silencing.

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