DCGR8DGCR8 is localized to the [[cell nucleus]] and is required for [[microRNA]] (miRNA) processing. It binds to [[Drosha]], an [[RNase III]] [[enzyme]], to form the ''Microprocessor complex'' that cleaves a [[primary transcript]] known as pri-miRNA to a characteristic [[stem-loop]] structure known as a pre-miRNA, which is then further processed to miRNA fragments by the enzyme [[Dicer]]. DCGR8DGCR8 contains an [[RNA]]-binding ___domain and is thought to bind pri-miRNA to stabilize it for processing by Drosha.<ref>{{vcite2 journal | vauthors = Yeom KH, Lee Y, Han J, Suh MR, Kim VN | title = Characterization of DGCR8/Pasha, the essential cofactor for Drosha in primary miRNA processing | journal = Nucleic Acids Research | volume = 34 | issue = 16 | pages = 4622–9 | year = 2006 | pmid = 16963499 | pmc = 1636349 | doi = 10.1093/nar/gkl458 }}</ref>
