The primary target of let-7 microRNA

The let-7 miRNA (microRNA) is an essential regulator of development from nematode worms to humans. Altered expression of let-7 results in larval arrest or lethality in Caenorhabditis elegans. Likewise, under- or over-expression of let-7 in human cells can result in cellular overproliferation or halted cell division respectively. Thus the biogenesis of this critical miRNA is controlled at multiple levels. An unexpected mechanism for regulating the initial processing of let-7 was recently found to involve the let-7 miRNA itself. The mature let-7 miRNA along with its effector protein, Argonaute, were shown to bind to a site in the primary transcripts produced by the let-7 gene. This interaction enhances processing through a novel auto-regulatory feedback loop. This discovery highlights a new role for the miRNA complex in regulating miRNA biogenesis and enriches the classes of RNAs targeted by Argonaute.