The decapping activator HPat a novel factor co-purifying with GW182 from Drosophila cells

miRNAs post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in many eukaryotes and thereby affect a wide range of biological processes. GW182 is a key factor in translation repression and mRNA degradation by miRNAs. In this study we investigate the potential interaction of GW182 and translation or mRNA degradation factors in Drosophila S2 cells. We have identified the decapping activator HP at as a novel factor co-purifying with GW182. Furthermore, we show that the C-terminal domain of GW182, important for gene silencing, is sufficient to form a complex with HP at. Our findings implicate a potential interaction of the miRNA effector component GW182 with the decapping machinery.