The spliceosome-associated protein CWC15 promotes miRNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis

Authors

Bangjun Zhou, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Huihui Yu, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Yong Xue, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Mu Li, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Chi Zhang, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bin Yu, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2-26-2024

Citation

Nature Communications | ( 2024) 15:2399. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46676-z

Comments

Open access.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in regulating gene expression and their biogenesis is precisely controlled through modulating the activity of microprocessor. Here, we report that CWC15, a spliceosome-associated protein, acts as a positive regulator of miRNA biogenesis. CWC15 binds the promoters of genes encoding miRNAs (MIRs), promotes their activity, and increases the occupancy ofDNA-dependent RNA polymerases atMIR promoters, suggesting that CWC15 positively regulates the transcription of primary miRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs). In addition, CWC15 interacts with Serrate (SE) and HYL1, two key components of microprocessor, and is required for efficient primiRNA processing and the HYL1-pri-miRNA interaction. Moreover, CWC15 interacts with the 20 S proteasome and PRP4KA, facilitating SE phosphorylation by PRP4KA, and subsequent non-functional SE degradation by the 20 S proteasome. These data reveal that CWC15 ensures optimalmiRNA biogenesis by maintaining proper SE levels and by modulating pri-miRNA levels. Taken together, this study uncovers the role of a conserved splicing-related protein in miRNA biogenesis.