A global decrease in microRNA (miRNA) levels is often observed in human cancers 1,2 , indicating that small RNAs may have an intrinsic function in tumour suppression. To identify miRNA components of tumour suppressor pathways, we compared miRNA expression profiles of wildtype and p53-deficient cells. Here we describe a family of miRNAs, miR-34a-c, whose expression reflected p53 status. Genes encoding miRNAs in the miR-34 family are direct transcriptional targets of p53, whose induction by DNA damage and oncogenic stress depends on p53 both in vitro and in vivo. Ectopic expression of miR-34 induces cell cycle arrest in both primary and tumour-derived cell lines, which is consistent with the observed ability of miR-34 to downregulate a programme of genes promoting cell cycle progression. The p53 network suppresses tumour formation through the coordinated activation of multiple transcriptional targets, and miR-34 may act in concert with other effectors to inhibit inappropriate cell proliferation.The p53 tumour suppressor lies at a nexus of cellular pathways that sense DNA damage, cellular stress and improper mitogenic stimulation 3 . p53 integrates such signals and, in response, induces growth arrest, promotes apoptosis, blocks angiogenesis, or mediates DNA repair in a context-dependent manner 4 . The importance of p53 in preventing tumour formation is indicated by the presence of mutations in the p53 pathway in nearly all cancers 5 . Although p53 is most studied as a transcriptional activator, several reports have suggested that p53 represses the expression of specific genes 6 . Studies of p53-mediated Reprints and permissions information is available at www.nature.com/reprints.

DNA methylation has important functions in stable, transcriptional gene silencing, immobilization of transposable elements and genome organization. In Arabidopsis, DNA methylation can be induced by double-stranded RNA through the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, a response known as RNA-directed DNA methylation. This requires a specialized set of RNAi components, including ARGONAUTE4 (AGO4). Here we show that AGO4 binds to small RNAs including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) originating from transposable and repetitive elements, and cleaves target RNA transcripts. Single mutations in the Asp-Asp-His catalytic motif of AGO4 do not affect siRNA-binding activity but abolish its catalytic potential. siRNA accumulation and non-CpG DNA methylation at some loci require the catalytic activity of AGO4, whereas others are less dependent on this activity. Our results are consistent with a model in which AGO4 can function at target loci through two distinct and separable mechanisms. First, AGO4 can recruit components that signal DNA methylation in a manner independent of its catalytic activity. Second, AGO4 catalytic activity can be crucial for the generation of secondary siRNAs that reinforce its repressive effects.