A surreal illustration depicting the conservation of genetic processes across species.

Unlock Your Body's Potential: The Hidden Power of Cellular Processes

Beau Callahan in Science & Nature December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Scientists Discover Key to MicroRNA Processing Across Species – What It Means for Future Therapies."

Imagine a world where gene expression can be precisely controlled, leading to breakthroughs in treating diseases and enhancing overall health. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), tiny strands of genetic material, play a crucial role in this process by regulating gene expression. These miRNAs are first processed by a protein complex, namely DiGeorge Critical Region 8 (DGCR8).

DGCR8's function hinges on its ability to bind to heme, a molecule containing iron, found in every cell. For DGCR8 to properly bind heme, it needs to form a dimer—a pair of two identical protein molecules attached to each other. Scientists have been working to understand how this dimerization process works, and what structural features it requires, to understand better the activity of DGCR8.

New research sheds light on this process by demonstrating that dimerization and heme binding are not limited to humans, but are also conserved in species as diverse as frogs and starfish. This conservation highlights the fundamental importance of these processes and opens new avenues for exploring and potentially manipulating miRNA processing.

Why is This Discovery Important?

A surreal illustration depicting the conservation of genetic processes across species.

The research team, driven by the pursuit of crystallizing the heme-binding domain (HBD) of DGCR8, embarked on a quest to find DGCR8 counterparts in various species. Their work confirms that DGCR8 from the bat star (Patiria miniata) binds heme. Determining the extinction coefficients of DGCR8-heme complexes provides a valuable tool for biochemical analyses, enabling accurate estimation of heme occupancy in DGCR8 proteins. They were also able to determine the crystal structure of the Xenopus laevis dimerization domain.

Here's a breakdown of the key findings:

Dimerization is Key: DGCR8 must form a dimer to properly bind heme.
Heme Binding is Widespread: This ability to bind heme is found not only in vertebrates (animals with a backbone) but also in invertebrates like starfish.
Structural Similarity: The structure of the dimerization domain is highly similar across different species.

Essentially, these findings reveal that the core mechanisms governing miRNA processing are evolutionarily conserved, meaning they've remained largely unchanged over millions of years. This also means it is critical to the function of living beings.

What Does This Mean for the Future?

This research opens doors to several exciting possibilities. By understanding the conserved mechanisms of DGCR8 function, scientists can potentially develop targeted therapies for diseases linked to miRNA dysregulation. If we know the process and what is needed, we may be able to fix it when something goes wrong.

For example, cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders have all been associated with altered miRNA expression. Developing drugs that modulate DGCR8 activity could offer a new approach to treating these conditions. Now that we understand the activity, we can manipulate the process.

Moreover, the discovery of heme binding in DGCR8 homologues across diverse species provides valuable insights into the evolution of gene regulation. Further research into these conserved mechanisms could uncover novel strategies for manipulating miRNA processing and treating a wide range of diseases. Further, since bat star DGCR8 has a more divergent sequence from the human form, it may present an opportunity for the development of novel therapeutics.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039688, Alternate LINK

Title: Dimerization And Heme Binding Are Conserved In Amphibian And Starfish Homologues Of The Microrna Processing Protein Dgcr8

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: PLoS ONE

Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Authors: Rachel Senturia, Arthur Laganowsky, Ian Barr, Brooke D. Scheidemantle, Feng Guo

Published: 2012-07-02

Everything You Need To Know

What are microRNAs (miRNAs), and why are they important?

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are tiny genetic elements that regulate gene expression. Gene expression control is significant because it manages how genetic information is used to create proteins. The correct function of these proteins influences the body's processes and is essential for good health. These miRNAs' involvement in gene expression makes them a primary target for treating diseases and improving general well-being.

What role does the DiGeorge Critical Region 8 (DGCR8) protein play in the body?

The DiGeorge Critical Region 8 (DGCR8) protein is essential for processing microRNAs (miRNAs). DGCR8's role centers on its ability to bind to heme, a molecule containing iron. This binding is essential for DGCR8 to function correctly. DGCR8 must dimerize, or form a pair with another DGCR8 protein. This dimerization creates the correct structure for efficient miRNA processing. If DGCR8 does not bind correctly to heme, or the dimerization process fails, then the processing of miRNAs can be disrupted, which can lead to diseases.

What does it mean that dimerization and heme binding are conserved across species?

The discovery that dimerization and heme binding are conserved means these core mechanisms are found across a wide range of species, like humans, frogs, and starfish. This widespread conservation highlights the crucial role of these processes in miRNA processing. It suggests that the function of DGCR8 is fundamental to gene regulation. The consistency across different species suggests these processes have been crucial for life's functions over millions of years, and disrupting them can cause problems.

What specific findings support the conservation of DGCR8 function?

The research team determined that the crystal structure of the Xenopus laevis dimerization domain is similar to those of other species. They also determined that DGCR8 from the bat star (Patiria miniata) binds heme, just like human DGCR8. Determining the extinction coefficients of DGCR8-heme complexes provides a valuable tool for biochemical analyses, enabling accurate estimation of heme occupancy in DGCR8 proteins. This similarity helps with understanding DGCR8's function and how to target it for therapeutic purposes. These findings underscore the importance of these processes.

How does this research impact future therapies?

This research opens possibilities for developing targeted therapies. Because the process is understood, scientists can potentially create treatments that address diseases caused by microRNA dysregulation. This understanding will make it possible to manipulate the DGCR8 protein. This is very significant in treating diseases that arise from the disruption of miRNA processes, offering new strategies for improving health.