microRNA-9 targets the long non-coding RNA MALAT1 for degradation in the nucleus

Sci Rep. 2013:3:2535. doi: 10.1038/srep02535.

Abstract

microRNAs regulate the expression of over 60% of protein coding genes by targeting their mRNAs to AGO2-containing complexes in the cytoplasm and promoting their translational inhibition and/or degradation. There is little evidence so far for microRNA-mediated regulation of other classes of non-coding RNAs. Here we report that microRNA-9 (miR-9) regulates the expression of the Metastasis Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1 (MALAT-1), one of the most abundant and conserved long non-coding RNAs. Intriguingly, we find that miR-9 targets AGO2-mediated regulation of MALAT1 in the nucleus. Our findings reveal a novel direct regulatory link between two important classes of non-coding RNAs, miRs and lncRNAs, and advance our understanding of microRNA functions.

MeSH terms

  • Argonaute Proteins / metabolism
  • Base Pairing
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / chemistry
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • RNA Stability*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / chemistry
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism

Substances

  • AGO2 protein, human
  • Argonaute Proteins
  • MALAT1 long non-coding RNA, human
  • MIRN92 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Long Noncoding