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A marked end

microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs from plants are 2′-O-methylated at their 3′ termini. Although miRNAs from animals are not methylated, two studies show that the recently identified mammalian Piwi-interacting RNAs carry a 2′-O-methyl group on the 3′ terminal ribose.

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Figure 1: miRNAs and siRNAs are methylated by HEN1 in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Figure 2: Two models of rasiRNA and piRNA methylation.

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Chen, X. A marked end. Nat Struct Mol Biol 14, 259–260 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb0407-259

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