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MicroRNA genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase II
Author(s) -
Lee Yoontae,
Kim Minju,
Han Jinju,
Yeom KyuHyun,
Lee Sanghyuk,
Baek Sung Hee,
Kim V Narry
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600385
Subject(s) - biology , genetics , microrna , rna polymerase ii , polymerase , gene , rna polymerase , rna polymerase iii , small nuclear rna , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , rna , gene expression , rna dependent rna polymerase , non coding rna , promoter
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a large family of noncoding RNAs that function as guide molecules in diverse gene silencing pathways. Current efforts are focused on the regulatory function of miRNAs, while little is known about how these unusual genes themselves are regulated. Here we present the first direct evidence that miRNA genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase II (pol II). The primary miRNA transcripts (pri‐miRNAs) contain cap structures as well as poly(A) tails, which are the unique properties of class II gene transcripts. The treatment of human cells with α‐amanitin decreased the level of pri‐miRNAs at a concentration that selectively inhibits pol II activity. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses show that pol II is physically associated with a miRNA promoter. We also describe, for the first time, the detailed structure of a miRNA gene by determining the promoter and the terminator of mir‐23a∼27a∼24‐2 . These data indicate that pol II is the main, if not the only, RNA polymerase for miRNA gene transcription. Our study offers a basis for understanding the structure and regulation of miRNA genes.