HKUST Maps DICER Dual‑Pocket Mechanism microRNA Cuts
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- HKUST researchers, led by Prof. Tuan Anh Nguyen, used cryo‑EM to visualize DICER–RNA interactions at atomic resolution, revealing conformational changes that position RNA for cleavage.
- DICER aligns microRNA precursors via two 5′‑end binding pockets—one favoring uridine and a newly identified pocket favoring guanosine—to achieve single‑nucleotide cleavage fidelity.
- Prof. Tuan Anh Nguyen described the dual‑pocket mechanism as a way the enzyme “reads” the RNA’s first base, ensuring precise cutting.
- Nature published the study titled “DICER cleavage fidelity is governed by 5′‑end binding pockets,” highlighting the mechanistic insight for therapeutic development.
- Minh Khoa Ngo (with Cong Truc Le) said the discovery could improve RNA‑based therapeutics and help understand DICER‑related genetic diseases.
Why it matters: The mechanistic insight gives biomedical researchers a concrete target for engineering more accurate RNA‑silencing tools, while biotech firms can leverage the dual‑pocket model to design next‑generation therapeutics, potentially accelerating treatments for cancers and genetic disorders linked to DICER dysfunction across disease areas.
