A High-Resolution Structure of the Pre-microRNA Nuclear Export Machinery

Pre-MicroRNA Export Machinery Micro (mi) RNAs play a role in the regulation of many biological processes. Long transcripts are initially processed in the nucleus to yield pre-miRNAs that are translocated through the nuclear pore complex and further processed to mature miRNAs in the cytoplasm. Okada et al. (p. 1275 ; see the Perspective by Stewart ) describe the crystal structure of pre-miRNA complexed with the exportin Exp5 and the small nuclear GTPase RanGTP. The structure shows that Exp5 and RanGTP protect the miRNA from degradation by nucleases, as well as facilitate transport to the cytoplasm. RNA recognition is mainly through ionic interactions that are sequence independent, and model-building suggests that this nuclear export machinery could accommodate other small-structured RNAs.