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RNA editing of the microRNA‐151 precursor blocks cleavage by the Dicer–TRBP complex
Author(s) -
Kawahara Yukio,
Zinshteyn Boris,
Chendrimada Thimmaiah P,
Shiekhattar Ramin,
Nishikura Kazuko
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.1038/sj.embor.7401011
Subject(s) - dicer , drosha , microrna , argonaute , biology , ribonuclease iii , rna interference , rna editing , rna , microbiology and biotechnology , rna silencing , rna binding protein , rna induced silencing complex , computational biology , genetics , gene
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) mediate translational repression or degradation of their target messenger RNAs by RNA interference (RNAi). The primary transcripts of miRNA genes (pri‐miRNAs) are sequentially processed by the nuclear Drosha–DGCR8 complex to approximately 60–70 nucleotide (nt) intermediates (pre‐miRNAs) and then by the cytoplasmic Dicer–TRBP complex to approximately 20–22 nt mature miRNAs. Certain pri‐miRNAs are subject to RNA editing that converts adenosine to inosine (A → I RNA editing); however, the fate of edited pri‐miRNAs is mostly unknown. Here, we provide evidence that RNA editing of pri‐miR‐151 results in complete blockage of its cleavage by Dicer and accumulation of edited pre‐miR‐151 RNAs. Our results indicate that A → I conversion at two specific positions of the pre‐miRNA foldback structure can affect its interaction with the Dicer–TRBP complex, showing a new regulatory role of A → I RNA editing in miRNA biogenesis.