The function of nuclear Argonaute proteins in somatic mammalian cells has remained elusive. A new study shows that chromatin-bound Argonaute-1 and Argonaute-2 associate with splicing factors and affect the deposition of histone marks, thereby facilitating spliceosome recruitment and modulating the RNA polymerase II elongation rate. This in turn favors inclusion of variant exons in the mature mRNA.
- Maya Ameyar-Zazoua
- Christophe Rachez
- Annick Harel-Bellan
