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Dicer is a key component of RNA interference (RNAi) and well-known for its role in biogenesis of micro (mi)RNA in the cytoplasm. Increasing evidence suggests that mammalian Dicer is also present and active in the nucleus. We have previously shown that phosphorylated human Dicer associates with chromatin in response to DNA damage and processes double-stranded (ds)RNA in the nucleus. However, a recent study by Much et al. investigated endogenously tagged HA-Dicer both in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (PMEFs) as well as adult homozygous viable and fertile HA-Dicer mice under physiological conditions and concluded that murine Dicer is exclusively cytoplasmic. The authors challenged several findings, reporting functions of Dicer in mammalian nuclei. We have re-investigated this issue by applying subcellular fractionation, super-resolution microscopy followed by 3D reconstitution, and phospho-Dicer-specific antibodies using the same HA-Dicer PMEF cell line. Our data show that a small fraction of the murine HA-Dicer pool, approximately 5%, localises in the nucleus and is phosphorylated upon DNA damage. We propose that Dicer localisation is dynamic and not exclusively cytoplasmic, particularly in cells exposed to DNA damage., Author summary Cytoplasmic Dicer is a key component of the canonical micro (mi)RNA biogenesis pathway. However, a growing body of evidence points toward localisation and activity of mammalian Dicer in the nucleus. A recent study by Much et al., employed an endogenously HA-tagged Dicer knock-in mouse cell line to show that Dicer is exclusively cytoplasmic. This paper challenges several studies reporting various RNA metabolic functions of Dicer in human nuclei. Given the controversy about Dicer’s subcellular localisation, it is essential to address this issue. Employing the same cells as used by Much and colleagues, we combined super-resolution microscopy followed by 3D reconstitution and biochemical assays to show that endogenously tagged HA-Dicer prominently localises in the nucleus under physiological conditions. We demonstrate that DNA damage triggers accumulation of phosphorylated HA-Dicer in the nucleus, confirming previous observations in human cells. Our data indicate evolutionary conservation of nuclear Dicer localisation and function in mammals in response to DNA damage.

Rapid development in genome-wide transcriptional analyses has led to the discovery of a large number of non-coding transcripts, also called long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). LncRNAs harbor biological activities including regulation of protein-coding gene expression at epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. They also take a part in various physiological and pathological processes, participating in cell development, immunity, disease processes and oncogenesis. Here I discuss and summarize, current knowledge about lncRNA origin, function and involvement in human disease.