microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small regulatory RNAs that have large impacts on gene expression in both plants and animals. We have been studying the mechanisms underlying the metabolism of miRNAs in Arabidopsis. As the framework of miRNA biogenesis has been established, our recent studies have focused on the mechanisms of miRNA turnover. We identified two classes of enzymes, exonucleases and nucleotidyl transferases, which cause miRNA 3’ truncation and 3’ uridylation, respectively, to lead to miRNA degradation. We also found that an argonaute protein causes the degradation of its associated miRNA. Our studies seek to establish a molecular framework of miRNA turnover.
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