Drosha
Drosha
Drosha (pronounced: droh-sha) is a type of enzyme that plays a crucial role in the biogenesis of microRNA in the cell nucleus. It is part of the RNase III family of enzymes and is involved in the initial step of microRNA processing.
Etymology
The term 'Drosha' is derived from the name of a character in the popular video game series, StarCraft, where the developers of the enzyme were reportedly fans. The character, a Zerg queen, shares the enzyme's role in creating new life forms.
Function
Drosha, along with its partner DGCR8, forms the Microprocessor complex, which is responsible for the cleavage of the primary microRNA (pri-miRNA) to produce the precursor microRNA (pre-miRNA). This is the first step in the process of microRNA maturation, which is essential for the regulation of gene expression.
Related Terms
- MicroRNA: A class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.
- DGCR8: DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 8, an essential cofactor for Drosha in the microRNA processing pathway.
- Microprocessor complex: A protein complex, consisting of Drosha and DGCR8, that processes primary microRNAs in the nucleus.
- RNase III: A family of enzymes that cleave double-stranded RNA molecules, including Drosha.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Drosha
- Wikipedia's article - Drosha
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