Final answer:
Gene silencing involves the use of siRNAs, double-stranded RNAs, the Dicer enzyme, and the RISC complex, but does not involve siRNA binding to a gene promoter.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gene silencing involves all of the following EXCEPT for Small interfering RNA binding to a gene promoter. Gene silencing is a process by which gene expression is regulated in cells. The components of this process include:
- Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that are complementary to the mRNA transcript of the gene of interest.
- The production of double-stranded RNAs, which are precursors to siRNAs and miRNAs.
- The Dicer enzyme, which cleaves pre-miRNAs into mature miRNAs and is essential for the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway.
- RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which miRNAs or siRNAs bind to, forming a complex that will bind and cleave mRNA or inhibit its translation, thus silencing gene expression.
SiRNAs and miRNAs are typically not involved in binding directly to promoters, which are DNA sequences that regulate the transcription of a gene. Rather, their primary role is in post-transcriptional regulation. Therefore, the correct answer is C. Small interfering RNA binding to a gene promoter.