A multifaceted microRNA turnover complex from Caenorhabditis elegans

microRNAs are known to regulate expression of more than two third of all the eukaryotic genes by post-transcriptional means, and regulation of these tiny regulators play an important role in determining their activities. Here, we report a macromolecular microRNA turnover complex, whose components are crucial to microRNA homeostasis and development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biochemical investigations with the purified complex in an isolated system not only unfolded the roles of the individual subunits critical for the functionality of the complex, but also unraveled the different modes of operations and regulatability of this biological machine. Our results reveal that this complex is highly receptive and capable of switching between an ATP-dependent and ATP-independent mode of operation depending on the availability of ATP in its environment, which might allow the complex to function dynamically during different physiological conditions.