When TRBP leaves Dicer at the alt‐’ER

Abstract

The principle underlying miRNA silencing seems rather simple: Dicer is required for the biogenesis of endogenous miRNAs, and mature miRNAs at the RNA‐induced silencing complex, RISC, bind to targets by sequence complementary, inhibiting protein expression. However, research shows that there are many degrees of complexity to miRNA regulation. A new study by Antoniou et al that is published in this issue of EMBO Reports explores an interesting neuron‐specific facet of miRNA biogenesis. We learn that in neuronal dendrites, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) acts as a regulatory domain for the dynamic encounter of TRBP and Dicer, two proteins required for the biogenesis of miRNAs, thus affecting neuron morphogenesis.