Recombinant Arabidopsis thaliana Probable RNA helicase SDE3 (SDE3), partial

Probable RNA helicase required for post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS), a process that provides protection in plants against virus infection and can suppress expression of transgenes. Plays a central role in RNA interference (RNAi) process, a process that mediates mRNA destruction of translational repression. Required for the assembly of the RISC complex, a complex required for target RNA destruction or repression. May be required in the RISC assembly to unwind miRNAs, in the production of single-stranded miRNA from the double-stranded miRNA, a key step in RISC formation. Involved in the amplification of sense-PTGS (S-PTGS), leading to siRNA production. Required for the maintenance but not the initiation of tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-mediated silencing, probably by mediating/maintaining DNA methylation and chromatin-based transcriptional gene silencing at some genomic locations.