miRNP:mRNA association in polyribosomes in a human neuronal cell line

RNA. 2004 Mar;10(3):387-94. doi: 10.1261/rna.5181104.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs that control gene expression by base-pairing with their mRNA targets. miRNAs assemble into ribonucleoprotein complexes termed miRNPs. Animal miRNAs recognize their mRNA targets via partial antisense complementarity and repress mRNA translation at a step after translation initiation. How animal miRNAs recognize their mRNA targets and how they control their translation is unknown. Here we describe that in a human neuronal cell line, the miRNP proteins eIF2C2 (a member of the Argonaute family of proteins), Gemin3, and Gemin4 along with miRNAs cosediment with polyribosomes. Furthermore, we describe a physical association between a let-7b (miRNA)-containing miRNP and its putative human mRNA target in polyribosome-containing fractions. These findings suggest that miRNP proteins may play important roles in target mRNA recognition and translational repression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Polyribosomes / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Ribonucleoproteins / genetics

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Ribonucleoproteins