RISC is a multiprotein complex that incorporates one strand of a small interfering RNA (siRNA) or microRNA (miRNA). It uses this as a template for recognizing complementary mRNA molecules and cleaving them, thereby preventing their translation.
Related terms
Argonaute Proteins: These are proteins that bind to small RNAs and are key components of the RISC complex.
Gene Silencing: A general term describing epigenetic processes of gene regulation where a gene is made inactive.