TRIM71 is the mammalian ortholog to the C. elegans heterochronic protein Lin41, a protein that is thought to be important in postembryonic development, and is genetically and biochemically downstream of both Shh and Fgf signaling pathways. Similar to its C. elegans homolog, TRIM71 is a target of the microRNA let-7 and is likely to play a role in mammalian development. Recent experiments have indicated that TRIM71 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and can interact with the Dicer and the Argonaute proteins Ago1, Ago2, and Ago4. Overexpression and depletion of TRIM71 led to inverse changes in Ago2 protein levels, suggesting TRIM71 can regulate Ago2 turnover. Finally, TRIM71 cooperates with the pluripotency factor Lin-28 in regulating let-7.
