TRIM71 represses let-7 miRNA expression and activity via two independent molecular mechanisms

Let-7 is a well-known pro-differentiation and tumor suppressor miRNA. TRIM71/LIN-41 was the first identified let-7 target, and it is a conserved stem cell-specific RNA-binding protein with an essential function in embryonic development and a proposed oncogenic role in several cancer types, such as hepatocellular carcinoma. Previous studies suggest a role for TRIM71 in miRNA regulation, since major changes have been observed in the miRNome of TRIM71-defiecient ESCs, and TRIM71 is able to interact with several proteins involved in the miRNA pathway. mRNA sequencing and analysis of Trim71 and Lin28a conditional (WT-WT), combinations ((WT-KO, KO-WT) and Trim71 and Lin28a KO mES cells (KO-KO)