First Author | Viswanathan SR | Year | 2008 |
Journal | Science | Volume | 320 |
Issue | 5872 | Pages | 97-100 |
PubMed ID | 18292307 | Mgi Jnum | J:152656 |
Mgi Id | MGI:4359360 | Doi | 10.1126/science.1154040 |
Citation | Viswanathan SR, et al. (2008) Selective blockade of microRNA processing by Lin28. Science 320(5872):97-100 |
abstractText | MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in development, and dysregulation of miRNA expression has been observed in human malignancies. Recent evidence suggests that the processing of several primary miRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs) is blocked posttranscriptionally in embryonic stem cells, embryonal carcinoma cells, and primary tumors. Here we show that Lin28, a developmentally regulated RNA binding protein, selectively blocks the processing of pri-let-7 miRNAs in embryonic cells. Using in vitro and in vivo studies, we found that Lin28 is necessary and sufficient for blocking Microprocessor-mediated cleavage of pri-let-7 miRNAs. Our results identify Lin28 as a negative regulator of miRNA biogenesis and suggest that Lin28 may play a central role in blocking miRNA-mediated differentiation in stem cells and in certain cancers. |