Sorting of Drosophila small silencing RNAs partitions microRNA* strands into the RNA interference pathway

ABSTRACT: In flies, small silencing RNAs are sorted between Argonaute1 (Ago1), the central protein component of the microRNA (miRNA) pathway, and Argonaute2 (Ago2), which mediates RNA interference. Extensive double-stranded characterM-bM-^@M-^Tas is found in small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)M-bM-^@M-^Tdirects duplexes into Ago2, whereas central mismatches, like those found in miRNA/miRNA* duplexes, direct duplexes into Ago1. Central to this sorting decision is the affinity of the small RNA duplex for the Dcr-2/R2D2 heterodimer, which loads small RNAs into Ago2. Here, we show that while most Drosophila miRNAs are bound to Ago1, miRNA* strands accumulate bound to Ago2. Like siRNA loading, efficient loading of miRNA* strands in Ago2 favors duplexes with a paired central region and requires both Dcr-2 and

ORGANISM(S): Drosophila melanogaster

SUBMITTER: Jia Xu 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-18806 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress