Question

Of the components in the following list, which is most important to check for in this yeast strain if you'd like this project to succeed?

(a) the presence of foreign double-stranded RNA
(b) the presence of genes in the genome that code for RISC proteins
(c) the presence of miRNA genes in the genome
(d) the presence of single-stranded siRNAs within the cell

Answer 1

To ensure the success of a project involving a yeast strain, it is critical to check for the presence of genes that code for RISC proteins, as they are essential in the RNA interference pathway for degrading foreign mRNA.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you are working with a yeast strain and want to ensure the project's success by modifying gene expression, one of the most important components to check for is (b) the presence of genes in the genome that code for RISC proteins. The RISC (RNA-induced silencing complex) is crucial in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, which cells use to degrade foreign mRNA and thus prevent the expression of viral or parasitic genes. Given that DICER cleaves double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and these siRNAs are then incorporated into RISC to guide the degradation of target mRNA, the presence of the machinery to produce RISC is essential for the RNAi pathway to function. Without this component, the yeast would be unable to effectively use siRNAs to silence gene expression. In addition, as yeast serves as a significant model organism and a host for Yeast Artificial Chromosome (YAC), understanding its gene silencing components is fundamental for successful genetic engineering applications.