MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are generated by a two-step processing pathway to yield RNA molecules of approximately 22 nucleotides that negatively regulate target gene expression at the posttranscriptional level 1 . Primary miRNAs are processed to precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) by the Microprocessor complex2 -4. These pre-miRNAs are cleaved by the RNase III Dicer5 -8 to generate mature miRNAs that direct the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to messenger RNAs with complementary sequence9. Here we show that TRBP (the human immunodeficiency virus transactivating response RNA-binding protein10), which contains three double-stranded, RNAbinding domains, is an integral component of a Dicer-containing complex. Biochemical analysis of TRBP-containing complexes revealed the association of Dicer-TRBP with Argonaute 2 (Ago2)11 , 12, the catalytic engine of RISC. The physical association of Dicer-TRBP and Ago2 was confirmed after the isolation of the ternary complex using Flag-tagged Ago2 cell lines. In vitro reconstitution assays demonstrated that TRBP is required for the recruitment of Ago2 to the small interfering RNA (siRNA) bound by Dicer. Knockdown of TRBP results in destabilization of Dicer and a consequent loss of miRNA biogenesis. Finally, depletion of the Dicer-TRBP complex via exogenously introduced siRNAs diminished RISC-mediated reporter gene silencing. These results support a role of the Dicer-TRBP complex not only in miRNA processing but also as a platform for RISC assembly.To gain an insight into the components of the miRNA/siRNA processing machinery, we isolated a Dicer-containing complex from human cells. This was accomplished by developing HEK293-derived stable cell lines expressing Dicer tagged with Flag (Flag-Dicer). Flag-Dicer was isolated using affinity chromatography, and the affinity eluate was subjected to SDSpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) followed by silver staining and western blot analysis.Western blot and mass spectrometric analyses indicated that most polypeptides in the Dicer affinity eluate were products of the proteolytic break down of Dicer (Fig. 1a). However, mass spectroscopy identified a 50-kDa band (six peptide sequences that migrated slightly above the contaminating MEP50 band) corresponding to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 transactivating response (TAR) RNA-binding protein (TRBP) 10 . The TRBP gene encodes a protein with three double-stranded RNA-binding domains (dsRBDs). Analysis of the nonredundant protein database by Blast identified proteins with close homology to TRBP in both vertebrates and Drosophila (CG6866) (Fig. 1b) (Fig. 1c). The presence of Dicer was also confirmed by mass spectrometric sequencing. Moreover, additional bands (indicated with an asterisk in Fig. 1c) correspond to SKB1 and MEP50, common contaminants of Flag purification. Although most of TRBP eluted in smaller fractions (32 and beyond; perhaps as a consequence of overexpression), a minor portion of TRBP eluted as a large complex (fractions 16 and 18) not easily visualized by silver sta...

Methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) is a posttranslational modification that is highly correlated with genomic silencing. Here we show that human UTX, a member of the Jumonji C family of proteins, is a di- and trimethyl H3K27 demethylase. UTX occupies the promoters of HOX gene clusters and regulates their transcriptional output by modulating the recruitment of polycomb repressive complex 1 and the monoubiquitination of histone H2A. Moreover, UTX associates with mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) 2/3 complexes, and during retinoic acid signaling events, the recruitment of the UTX complex to HOX genes results in H3K27 demethylation and a concomitant methylation of H3K4. Our results suggest a concerted mechanism for transcriptional activation in which cycles of H3K4 methylation by MLL2/3 are linked with the demethylation of H3K27 through UTX.

Histone methylation is a posttranslational modification regulating chromatin structure and gene regulation. BHC110/LSD1 was the first histone demethylase described to reverse dimethyl histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4). Here we show that JARID1d, a JmjC-domain-containing protein, specifically demethylates trimethyl H3K4. Detailed mapping analysis revealed that besides the JmjC domain, the BRIGHT and zinc-finger-like C(5)HC(2) domains are required for maximum catalytic activity. Importantly, isolation of native JARID1d complexes from human cells revealed the association of the demethylase with a polycomb-like protein Ring6a/MBLR. Ring6a/MBLR not only directly interacts with JARID1d but also regulates its enzymatic activity. We show that JARID1d and Ring6a occupy human Engrailed 2 gene and regulate its expression and H3K4 methylation levels. Depletion of JARID1d enhanced recruitment of the chromatin remodeling complex, NURF, and the basal transcription machinery near the transcriptional start site, revealing a role for JARID1d in regulation of transcriptional initiation through H3K4 demethylation.