[PDF][PDF] RNAi factors are present and active in human cell nuclei

KT Gagnon, L Li, Y Chu, BA Janowski, DR Corey - Cell reports, 2014 - cell.com
KT Gagnon, L Li, Y Chu, BA Janowski, DR Corey
Cell reports, 2014cell.com
RNAi is widely appreciated as a powerful regulator of mRNA translation in the cytoplasm of
mammalian cells. However, the presence and activity of RNAi factors in the mammalian
nucleus has been the subject of considerable debate. Here, we show that Argonaute-2
(Ago2) and RNAi factors Dicer, TRBP, and TRNC6A/GW182 are in the human nucleus and
associate together in multiprotein complexes. Small RNAs can silence nuclear RNA and
guide site-specific cleavage of the targeted RNA, demonstrating that RNAi can function in …
Summary
RNAi is widely appreciated as a powerful regulator of mRNA translation in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. However, the presence and activity of RNAi factors in the mammalian nucleus has been the subject of considerable debate. Here, we show that Argonaute-2 (Ago2) and RNAi factors Dicer, TRBP, and TRNC6A/GW182 are in the human nucleus and associate together in multiprotein complexes. Small RNAs can silence nuclear RNA and guide site-specific cleavage of the targeted RNA, demonstrating that RNAi can function in the human nucleus. Nuclear Dicer is active and miRNAs are bound to nuclear Ago2, consistent with the existence of nuclear miRNA pathways. Notably, we do not detect loading of duplex small RNAs in nuclear extracts and known loading factors are absent. These results extend RNAi into the mammalian nucleus and suggest that regulation of RNAi via small RNA loading of Ago2 differs between the cytoplasm and the nucleus.
cell.com