mRNA cleavage mRNA cleavage involved in gene silencing by miRNA The process in which microRNAs (miRNAs) direct the cleavage of target mRNAs. Once incorporated into a RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), a miRNA base pairing with near-perfect complementarity to the target mRNA will typically direct targeted endonucleolytic cleavage of the mRNA. Many plant miRNAs downregulate gene expression through this mechanism. gene silencing by miRNA, mRNA cleavage mRNA cleavage involved in gene silencing by microRNA miRNA-mediated gene silencing, mRNA cleavage