A cellular function for the RNA-interference enzyme Dicer in the maturation of the let-7 small temporal RNA.
The 21-nucleotide small temporal RNA (stRNA) let-7 regulates developmental timing in Caenorhabditis elegans and probably in other bilateral animals. We present in vivo and in vitro evidence that in Drosophila melanogaster a developmentally regulated precursor RNA is cleaved by an RNA interference-like mechanism to produce mature let-7 stRNA. Targeted destruction in cultured human cells of the messenger RNA encoding the enzyme Dicer, which acts in the RNA interference pathway, leads to accumulation of the let-7 precursor. Thus, the RNA interference and stRNA pathways intersect. Both pathways require the RNA-processing enzyme Dicer to produce the active small-RNA component that represses gene expression.
Hutvágner
G
G
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
McLachlan
J
J
Pasquinelli
A E
AE
Bálint
E
E
Tuschl
T
T
Zamore
P D
PD
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism*; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
D012322:RNA Precursors; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D018510:RNA, Helminth; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004722:Endoribonucleases; D043244:Ribonuclease III