This domain is found in members of the Dicer protein family which function in RNA interference, an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for gene silencing using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules. It is essential for the activity of Dicer [1,2]. It is a divergent double stranded RNA-binding domain [3]. The N-terminal alpha helix of this domain is in a different orientation to that found in canonical dsRNA-binding domains. This results in a change of charge distribution at the potential dsRNA-binding surface and in the N- and C-termini of the domain being in close proximity [4]. This domain has weak dsRNA-binding activity. It mediates heterodimerisation of Dicer proteins with their respective protein partners [4].

1: The role of PACT in the RNA silencing pathway. Lee Y, Hur I, Park SY, Kim YK, Suh MR, Kim VN; EMBO J. 2006;25:522-532. PMID:16424907

2: Functional anatomy of the Drosophila microRNA-generating enzyme. Ye X, Paroo Z, Liu Q; J Biol Chem. 2007;282:28373-28378. PMID:17666393

3: DUF283 domain of Dicer proteins has a double-stranded RNA-binding fold. Dlakic M; Bioinformatics. 2006;22:2711-2714. PMID:16954143

4: Structure of the Arabidopsis thaliana DCL4 DUF283 domain reveals a noncanonical double-stranded RNA-binding fold for protein-protein interaction. Qin H, Chen F, Huan X, Machida S, Song J, Yuan YA; RNA. 2010;16:474-481. PMID:20106953