Dicer 1, Ribonuclease Type III (DICER1)

DICER1 encodes a protein possessing an RNA helicase motif containing a DEXH box in its amino terminus and an RNA motif in the carboxy terminus. The encoded protein functions as a ribonuclease and is required by the RNA interference and small temporal RNA (stRNA) pathways to produce the active small RNA component that represses gene expression. Two transcript variants encoding the same protein have been identified for this gene.A 2.1-kb clone contained a partial cDNA of a human protein with high homology to the hypothetical helicase K12H4.8 from C. elegans. Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence revealed the presence of an RNase III motif and a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding domain, indicative of a protein of nuclear origin. C. elegans K12H4.8 and the human homolog share 58% identity over 275 amino acids.