We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
RNA polymerase III transcribes human microRNAs.
- Authors
Borchert, Glen M; Lanier, William; Davidson, Beverly L
- Abstract
Prior work demonstrates that mammalian microRNA (miRNA or miR) expression requires RNA polymerase II (Pol II). However, the transcriptional requirements of many miRNAs remain untested. Our genomic analysis of miRNAs in the human chromosome 19 miRNA cluster (C19MC) revealed that they are interspersed among Alu repeats. Because Alu transcription occurs through RNA Pol III recruitment, and we found that Alu elements upstream of C19MC miRNAs retain sequences important for Pol III activity, we tested the promoter requirements of C19MC miRNAs. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and cell-free transcription assays showed that Pol III, but not Pol II, is associated with miRNA genomic sequence and sufficient for transcription. Moreover, the mature miRNA sequences of approximately 50 additional human miRNAs lie within Alu and other known repetitive elements. These findings extend the current view of miRNA origins and the transcriptional machinery driving their expression.
- Publication
Nature structural & molecular biology, 2006, Vol 13, Issue 12, p1097
- ISSN
1545-9993
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1038/nsmb1167