Argonaute Antibody Sampler Kit #29483

Small non-coding RNAs are important regulators of gene expression in higher eukaryotes (1,2). Several classes of small RNAs, including short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) (3), microRNAs (miRNAs) (4), and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) (5), have been identified. miRNAs are about 21 nucleotides in length and have been implicated in many cellular processes, such as development, differentiation, and stress response (1,2). miRNAs regulate gene expression by modulating mRNA translation or stability (2). miRNAs function together with the protein components in the complexes called micro-ribonucleoproteins (miRNPs) (2). Among the most important components in these complexes are Argonaute proteins (1,2). There are four members in the mammalian Argonaute family, and only Argonaute 2 (Ago2) possesses the Slicer endonuclease activity (1,2). Argonaute proteins participate in the various steps of miRNA-mediated gene silencing, such as repression of translation and mRNA turnover (1).