Molecular basis of DRB4-assisted long RNA processing and 21-nucleotide siRNA biogenesis by DCL4 in plants - PubMed
12 hours ago
- #siRNA biogenesis
- #RNA processing
- #DCL4-DRB4 complex
- Small RNAs like microRNA and siRNA play critical roles in gene regulation, development, viral defense, and environmental response.
- DICER-LIKE 4 (DCL4) in Arabidopsis produces 21-nucleotide siRNA with the help of Double-Stranded RNA-Binding Protein 4 (DRB4) for post-transcriptional gene silencing.
- The study determined the structures of DCL4-RNA and DCL4-DRB4-RNA complexes, revealing how DCL4 measures 21 nucleotides along RNA.
- A DCL4-specific loop positions the second double-stranded RNA binding domain of DCL4 and DRB4 to a distal part of the RNA substrate, favoring long RNA substrates.
- The research demonstrates the molecular basis of substrate recognition, length measurement, and long RNA preference by the DCL4-DRB4 complex for siRNA biogenesis in plants.