HOUSTON, April 28, 2026 β Activation of a specific part of the Dicer enzyme can change its shape in a way that affects its critical role in proper cell division, with implications for both cancer biology and fertility, according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The study, published in the journal Molecular Cell on April 28, 2026, reveals that a region of Dicer known as the helicase domain can adopt different conformations. This shape-shifting ability influences how Dicer processes microRNAs, small molecules that regulate gene expression. When Dicer's shape is altered, it can lead to errors in cell division, a hallmark of cancer, and also disrupt the formation of germ cells, which are essential for fertility.
βWe discovered that Dicer is not a static machine but a dynamic one that can change its shape to control its activity,β said Dr. Jeong-Ho Kim, lead author of the study. βThis opens up new possibilities for developing drugs that target Dicer's shape to treat infertility or cancer.β The team used cryo-electron microscopy to capture images of Dicer in different states, providing the first detailed view of how the helicase domain regulates the enzyme's function.
The findings have immediate implications for understanding how mutations in Dicer contribute to diseases. For example, certain Dicer mutations are known to cause DICER1 syndrome, which predisposes individuals to various cancers. The study suggests that these mutations may disrupt the enzyme's shape-shifting ability, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. Additionally, the research could explain why some women with Dicer mutations experience infertility due to problems with egg cell development.
βOur next step is to explore whether we can design molecules that stabilize Dicer in its correct shape to restore normal function,β added Dr. Kim. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
