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R-loops at microRNA encoding loci promote co-transcriptional processing of pri-miRNAs in plants.
- Source :
-
Nature plants [Nat Plants] 2022 Apr; Vol. 8 (4), pp. 402-418. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Apr 21. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- In most organisms, the maturation of nascent RNAs is coupled to transcription. Unlike in animals, the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcribes microRNA genes (MIRNAs) as long and structurally variable pri-miRNAs in plants. Current evidence suggests that the miRNA biogenesis complex assembly initiates early during the transcription of pri-miRNAs in plants. However, it is unknown whether miRNA processing occurs co-transcriptionally. Here, we used native elongating transcript sequencing data and imaging techniques to demonstrate that plant miRNA biogenesis occurs coupled to transcription. We found that the entire biogenesis occurs co-transcriptionally for pri-miRNAs processed from the loop of the hairpin but requires a second nucleoplasmic step for those processed from the base. Furthermore, we found that co- and post-transcriptional miRNA processing mechanisms co-exist for most miRNAs in a dynamic balance. Notably, we discovered that R-loops, formed near the transcription start site region of MIRNAs, promote co-transcriptional pri-miRNA processing. Furthermore, our results suggest the neofunctionalization of co-transcriptionally processed miRNAs, boosting countless regulatory scenarios.<br /> (© 2022. The Author(s).)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2055-0278
- Volume :
- 8
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature plants
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 35449404
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-022-01125-x