What type of RNA does RITS interact with?

RITS, or RNA-induced transcriptional silencing complex, primarily interacts with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that is processed into small interfering RNA (siRNA). The critical role of RITS involves guiding these siRNAs to complementary RNA sequences to induce gene silencing through mechanisms such as transcriptional repression.

The correct type of RNA that RITS interacts with is primarily siRNA, which is generated from longer double-stranded RNA molecules during the RNA interference (RNAi) process. Once integrated into the RITS complex, the siRNAs guide the complex to specific targets where they contribute to the silencing of gene expression.

The concept of RITS interacting with transcribed RNA is more closely related to the general function of siRNA in silencing rather than a direct interaction. While RITS does associate with the transcriptional machinery, the interaction is mediated through siRNA that corresponds to the target RNA. Therefore, identifying siRNA as the type of RNA RITS interacts with emphasizes the mechanism by which gene silencing occurs.