mRNA binding allows repression of protein translation through direct blocking, degradation or cleavage of mRNA. Certain mRNA binding mechanisms have high specificity, which can act as a form of the intrinsic immune response during certain viral infections. Certain segmented RNA viruses can also regulate viral gene expression through RNA binding of another genome segment, however, the details of this mechanism are still unclear.
Specific examples include:
* RNA binding protein
* siRNA
* miRNA
* piRNA