miRNA*生物合成及其功能研究的新发现

miRNA*是在miRNA加工成熟过程中与其互补的大约22个核苷酸的RNA序列。传统观点认为miRNA*是miRNA生物合成中形成的没有功能的副产品。然而最近的研究发现miRNA*s与miRNA一样, 主要介导转录后的基因调控网络; 但不同的是, miRNA与Argonaute1蛋白(AGO1)结合形成RNA诱导的沉默复合体(RISC), 而miRNA*却在AGO2的帮助下形成RISC复合体进行RNA干涉, 这点与siRNA的作用方式类似。文章从miRNA*的生物合成、生物学特性和功能等方面综述了miRNA*最新研究进展。     

Molecular mechanisms that funnel RNA precursors into endogenous small-interfering RNA and microRNA biogenesis pathways in Drosophila

In Drosophila, three types of endogenous small RNAs—microRNAs (miRNAs), PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), and endogenous small-interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs or esiRNAs)—function as triggers in RNA silencing. Although piRNAs are produced independently of Dicer, miRNA and esiRNA biogenesis pathways require Dicer1 and Dicer2, respectively. Recent studies have shown that among the four isoforms of Loquacious (Loqs), Loqs-PB and Loqs-PD are involved in miRNA and esiRNA processing pathways, respectively. However, how these Loqs isoforms function in their respective small RNA biogenesis pathways remains elusive. Here, we show that Loqs-PD associates specifically with Dicer2 through its C-terminal domain. The Dicer2–Loqs-PD complex contains R2D2, another known Dicer2 partner, and excises both exogenous siRNAs and esiRNAs from their corresponding precursors in vitro. However, Loqs-PD, but not R2D2, enhanced Dicer2 activity. The Dicer2–Loqs-PD complex processes esiRNA precursor hairpins with long stems, which results in the production of AGO2-associated small RNAs. Interestingly, however, small RNAs derived from terminal hairpins of esiRNA precursors are loaded onto AGO1; thus, they are classified as a new subset of miRNAs. These results suggest that the precursor RNA structure determines the biogenesis mechanism of esiRNAs and miRNAs, thereby implicating hairpin structures with long stems as intermediates in the evolution of Drosophila miRNA.     

miRNA biogenesis and inherited disorders: clinico-molecular insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in the regulation of gene expression, a process known as miRNA-induced gene silencing. The human genome codes for many miRNAs, and their biogenesis relies on a handful of genes, including DROSHA, DGCR8, DICER1, and AGO1/2. Germline pathogenic variants (GPVs) in these genes cause at least three distinct genetic syndromes, with clinical manifestations that range from hyperplastic/neoplastic entities to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Over the past decade, DICER1 GPVs have been shown to lead to tumor predisposition. Moreover, recent findings have provided insight into the clinical consequences arising from GPVs in DGCR8, AGO1, and AGO2. Here we provide a timely update with respect to how GPVs in miRNA biogenesis genes alter miRNA biology and ultimately lead to their clinical manifestations.     

The slicing activity of miRNA-specific Argonautes is essential for the miRNA pathway in C. elegans

Among the set of Argonautes proteins encoded by metazoan genomes, some have conserved amino acids important for catalytic or slicing activity. The functional significance of these residues in microRNA (miRNA)-specific Argonautes in animals is still unclear since miRNAs do not induce site-specific cleavage of targeted messenger RNAs (mRNAs), unlike small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Here, we report that miRNA-specific ALG-1 and ALG-2 Argonautes from Caenorhabditis elegans possess the slicing activity normally implicated in the siRNA-silencing pathway. We also find that ALG-1/2 can bind and use a Dicer-processed miRNA duplex to target mRNAs, suggesting an ability to displace RNA strands. Importantly, the slicing activity of ALG-1 or ALG-2 is essential for the miRNA pathway in vivo, as shown by the accumulation of truncated miRNA precursors and altered miRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC) formation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the slicing activity of Argonautes contributes to a new and unexpected step in the canonical miRNA pathway that occurs prior to miRISC loading in animals.