title: Multilayer checkpoints for microRNA authenticity during RISC assembly.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function through the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which contains an Argonaute (Ago) protein at the core. RISC assembly follows a two-step pathway: miRNA/miRNA* duplex loading into Ago, and separation of the two strands within Ago. Here we show that the 5' phosphate of the miRNA strand is essential for duplex loading into Ago, whereas the preferred 5' nucleotide of the miRNA strand and the base-pairing status in the seed region and the middle of the 3' region function as additive anchors to Ago. Consequently, the miRNA authenticity is inspected at multiple steps during RISC assembly.
authors: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Japan. tomoko.kh@gmail.com
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Kawamata
authors: Mayuko
authors: M
authors: Yoda
authors: Yukihide
authors: Y
authors: Tomari
mesh_terms: D024506:5' Flanking Region; D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020029:Base Pairing; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex