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 (By similarity) (   ). Binds in vitro to the PRM1 3'-UTR (By similarity). Seems to act as a repressor of translation (By similarity). For some pre-miRNA substrates, may also alter the choice of cleavage site by DICER1 . Negatively regulates IRF7-mediated IFN-beta signaling triggered by viral infection by inhibiting the phosphorylation of IRF7 and promoting its 'Lys'-48-linked ubiquitination and degradation .
(Microbial infection) Binds to the HIV-1 TAR RNA which is located in the long terminal repeat (LTR) of HIV-1, and stimulates translation of TAR-containing RNAs ( ). This is achieved in part at least by binding to and inhibiting EIF2AK2/PKR, thereby reducing phosphorylation and inhibition of EIF2S1/eIF-2-alpha . May also promote translation of TAR-containing RNAs independently of EIF2AK2/PKR . Mediates recruitment of FTSJ3 methyltransferase to HIV-1 RNA, leading to 2'-O-methylation of the viral genome, allowing HIV-1 to escape the innate immune system .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Cytoplasm, Perinuclear region, Nucleus