GW182: Proteins and Enzymes

GW182 (glycine-tryptophan protein of 182 kDa) is a member of the trinucleotide repeat containing 6 protein family. It functions in post-transcriptional gene silencing through the RNA interference (RNAi) and microRNA pathways. GW182 has been found to associate with messenger RNAs and Argonaute proteins in cytoplasmic bodies known as GW-bodies or P-bodies. Inhibition of GW182 expression delocalizes other GW-body proteins and impairs RNAi and microRNA-induced gene silencing.