Abstract
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.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Blotting, Northern
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Drosophila melanogaster
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Endoribonucleases / genetics
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Endoribonucleases / metabolism*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
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HeLa Cells
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Humans
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Nucleic Acid Conformation
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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RNA Precursors / metabolism*
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RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
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RNA, Double-Stranded / metabolism*
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RNA, Helminth / chemistry
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RNA, Helminth / genetics
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RNA, Helminth / metabolism*
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Ribonuclease III
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Transcription, Genetic
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Transfection
Substances
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RNA Precursors
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RNA, Double-Stranded
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RNA, Helminth
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RNA, Messenger
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Endoribonucleases
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Ribonuclease III