The FHA domain proteins DAWDLE in Arabidopsis and SNIP1 in humans act in small RNA biogenesis.
Proteins containing the forkhead-associated domain (FHA) are known to act in biological processes such as DNA damage repair, protein degradation, and signal transduction. Here we report that DAWDLE (DDL), an FHA domain-containing protein in Arabidopsis, acts in the biogenesis of miRNAs and endogenous siRNAs. Unlike mutants of genes known to participate in the processing of miRNA precursors, such as dcl1, hyponastic leaves1, and serrate, ddl mutants show reduced levels of pri-miRNAs as well as mature miRNAs. Promoter activity of MIR genes, however, is not affected by ddl mutations. DDL is an RNA binding protein and is able to interact with DCL1. In addition, we found that SNIP1, the human homolog of DDL, is involved in miRNA biogenesis and interacts with Drosha. Therefore, we uncovered an evolutionarily conserved factor in miRNA biogenesis. We propose that DDL participates in miRNA biogenesis by facilitating DCL1 to access or recognize pri-miRNAs.
Yu
Bin
B
Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
Bi
Liu
L
Zheng
Binglian
B
Ji
Lijuan
L
Chevalier
David
D
Agarwal
Manu
M
Ramachandran
Vanitharani
V
Li
Wanxiang
W
Lagrange
Thierry
T
Walker
John C
JC
Chen
Xuemei
X
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017343:Genes, Plant; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C514692:DAWDLE protein, Arabidopsis; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D018749:RNA, Plant; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C411545:SNIP1 protein, human; C402383:DCL1 protein, Arabidopsis; C517918:DROSHA protein, human; D043244:Ribonuclease III