Alternative Splicing Regulates Biogenesis of miRNAs Located across Exon-Intron Junctions

Ze'ev Melamed, Asaf Levy, Reut Ashwal-Fluss, Galit Lev-Maor, Keren Mekahel, Nir Atias, Shlomit Gilad, Roded Sharan, Carmit Levy, Sebastian Kadener*, Gil Ast

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

The initial step in microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis requires processing of the precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA) from a longer primary transcript. Many pre-miRNAs originate from introns, and both a mature miRNA and a spliced RNA can be generated from the same transcription unit. We have identified a mechanism in which RNA splicing negatively regulates the processing of pre-miRNAs that overlap exon-intron junctions. Computational analysis identified dozens of such pre-miRNAs, and experimental validation demonstrated competitive interaction between the Microprocessor complex and the splicing machinery. Tissue-specific alternative splicing regulates maturation of one such miRNA, miR-412, resulting in effects on its targets that code a protein network involved in neuronal cell death processes. This mode of regulation specifically controls maturation of splice-site-overlapping pre-miRNAs but not pre-miRNAs located completely within introns or exons of the same transcript. Our data present a biological role of alternative splicing in regulation of miRNA biogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)869-881
Number of pages13
JournalMolecular Cell
Volume50
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 27 Jun 2013

Funding

FundersFunder number
Israel Cancer Research Foundation1015/10
Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard University
Seventh Framework Programme260911
Israel Cancer Association
Israel Science FoundationISF-BIkura 838/10, ISF 61/09, ISF-Morasha 64/12
Tel Aviv University241/11
Azrieli Foundation

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