Crystal structure of human DGCR8 core
Sohn, S.Y., Bae, W.J., Kim, J.J., Yeom, K.H., Kim, V.N., Cho, Y.(2007) Nat Struct Mol Biol 14: 847-853
- PubMed: 17704815 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb1294
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2YT4 - PubMed Abstract: 
A complex of Drosha with DGCR8 (or its homolog Pasha) cleaves primary microRNA (pri-miRNA) substrates into precursor miRNA and initiates the microRNA maturation process. Drosha provides the catalytic site for this cleavage, whereas DGCR8 or Pasha provides a frame for anchoring substrate pri-miRNAs. To clarify the molecular basis underlying recognition of pri-miRNA by DGCR8 and Pasha, we determined the crystal structure of the human DGCR8 core (DGCR8S, residues 493-720). In the structure, the two double-stranded RNA-binding domains (dsRBDs) are arranged with pseudo two-fold symmetry and are tightly packed against the C-terminal helix. The H2 helix in each dsRBD is important for recognition of pri-miRNA substrates. This structure, together with fluorescent resonance energy transfer and mutational analyses, suggests that the DGCR8 core recognizes pri-miRNA in two possible orientations. We propose a model for DGCR8's recognition of pri-miRNA.
Organizational Affiliation: 
National Creative Research Center for Structural Biology and Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Hyo-ja dong, San31, Pohang, KyungBook 790-784, South Korea.