Required for formation of the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC). Component of the RISC loading complex (RLC), also known as the micro-RNA (miRNA) loading complex (miRLC), which is composed of dicer1, ago2 and tarbp2. Within the RLC/miRLC, dicer1 and tarbp2 are required to process precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) to mature miRNAs and then load them onto ago2. ago2 bound to the mature miRNA constitutes the minimal RISC and may subsequently dissociate from dicer1 and tarbp2. May also play a role in the production of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) by dicer1. Self-associates. Component of the RISC loading complex (RLC), or micro-RNA (miRNA) loading complex (miRLC), which is composed of dicer1, ago2 and tarbp2. Note that the trimeric RLC/miRLC is also referred to as RISC. Belongs to the TARBP2 family.