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. 2022 Jun 29;20(6):e3001715. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001715

Fig 4. Hypothetical transition from bacterial asRNA gene regulation to eukaryotic RNAi due to CNE.

Fig 4

(a) asRNAs (not in figure) or sRNAs may lead to the production of short dsRNAs. (b) Prior to degradation, the short dsRNAs may interact with cellular proteins such as Ago and become guide RNAs. The slicer activity of Ago may cause an amplification of the interference effect that triggers the down-regulation of the asRNA or sRNA by dosage compensation. (c) Mutations that reduce the expression or functionality of the asRNA or sRNA are now likely to appear and accumulate owing to the suppressive effect of Ago, causing irreversibility to this process. Ago, Argonaute; asRNA, antisense RNA; CNE, constructive neutral evolution; dsRNA, double-stranded RNA; RNAi, RNA interference; sRNA, small RNA.