Distinct mechanisms for microRNA strand selection by Drosophila Argonautes.

ABSTRACT: In Drosophila, miRNA strands are predominantly sorted into AGO1 to regulate seed-matched target transcripts, while their partner miRNA* strands are thought to be mostly degraded. Here, we report that Drosophila Argonautes exhibit different strand preferences for miRNA duplexes, and that in particular, many miRNA* species accumulate in the RNAi effector AGO2. AGO2-loaded miRNA* species require canonical RNAi factors for their accumulation, are efficiently 3' modified, and are preferentially active on extensively matched target transcripts. Differential miRNA/miRNA* sorting profiles are correlated with specific central mismatches. In vitro assays revealed an active role for Watson-Crick base-pairing at positions 9 and 10 in promoting strand selection by AGO2, with little reciprocal effect on

SUBMITTER: Okamura K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2785079 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature