title: Efficiency and specificity in microRNA biogenesis.
abstract: Primary microRNA cleavage by the Drosha-Dgcr8 'Microprocessor' complex is critical for microRNA biogenesis. Yet, the Microprocessor may also cleave other nuclear RNAs in a nonspecific manner. We studied Microprocessor function using mathematical modeling and experiments in mouse and human tissues. We found that the autoregulatory feedback on Microprocessor expression is instrumental for balancing the efficiency and specificity of its activity by effectively tuning Microprocessor levels to those of its pri-miRNA substrate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barad
authors.forename: Mati
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Elik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chapnik
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blelloch
authors.forename: Naama
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barkai
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hornstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: C474043:DGCR8 protein, human; C474044:Dgcr8 protein, mouse; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011506:Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins