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Small RNAs

p53 makes microRNAs mature

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 10, pages 580–581 (2009)Cite this article

The processing of primary (pri)-miRNA transcripts into mature miRNAs involves the enzyme drosha (also known as ribonuclease 3), and in some cases drosha requires the RNA-associated proteins p68 and p72 for its function. The authors noticed that p72-dependent miRNAs are upregulated under DNA-damaging conditions. As p53 protein levels are known to be upregulated in response to DNA damage, they tested the involvement of p53 in miRNA processing. Exposure of cells to the DNA-damaging agent doxorubicin, a p53 inducer, increases the level of several mature miRNAs that have growth-suppressive functions and are decreased in cancer. This accumulation occurs post-transcriptionally and is dependent on p53, p68 and p72.

...the tumour suppressor protein p53 is an important regulator of miRNA processing.

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References

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Suzuki, H. I. et al. Modulation of microRNA processing by p53. Nature 460, 529–533 (2009)

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FURTHER READING

  1. Kim, V. N. et al. Biogenesis of small RNAs in animals. Nature Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 10, 126–139 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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Authors
  1. Katharine H. Wrighton
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Wrighton, K. p53 makes microRNAs mature. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 10, 580–581 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm2749

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