This domain is found in Endoribonuclease Dicer from chordates. This dsRNA endoribonuclease is involved in the cleavage of long RNA precursors into short dsRNAs and plays a role in gene silencing. Dicer shows two N-terminal helicase domains (Pfam:PF04851 and Pfam:PF00271), a dimerisation domain (Pfam:PF03368), a Platform domain, a PAZ domain (Pfam:PF02170), an RNase IIIa/b domain (Pfam:PF00636) and a dsRNA-binding domain in its C-terminal region. This entry represents the platform domain, which sits on the top of the L-shaped Dicer structure and shows a phosphate pocket [1-3].

1: Cryo-EM Structure of Human Dicer and Its Complexes with a Pre-miRNA Substrate. Liu Z, Wang J, Cheng H, Ke X, Sun L, Zhang QC, Wang HW; Cell. 2018;173:1191-1203. PMID:29706542

2: Dicer-TRBP complex formation ensures accurate mammalian microRNA biogenesis. Wilson RC, Tambe A, Kidwell MA, Noland CL, Schneider CP, Doudna JA; Mol Cell. 2015;57:397-407. PMID:25557550

3: A phosphate-binding pocket within the platform-PAZ-connector helix cassette of human Dicer. Tian Y, Simanshu DK, Ma JB, Park JE, Heo I, Kim VN, Patel DJ; Mol Cell. 2014;53:606-616. PMID:24486018