EnABLing microprocessor for apoptosis.

The Microprocessor complex consisting of DROSHA (a type III ribonuclease) and DGCR8 (DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 8-encoded RNA binding protein) recognizes and cleaves the precursor microRNA hairpin (pre-miRNA) from the primary microRNA transcript (pri-miRNA). The Abelson tyrosine kinase 1 (ABL) phosphorylates DGCR8 to stimulate the cleavage of a subset of pro-apoptotic pri-miRNAs, thus expanding the nuclear functions of ABL to include regulation of RNA processing.