General transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) is a complex RNA polymerase II basal transcription factor comprising 10 different polypeptides that display activities involved in transcription and DNA repair processes. Although biochemical studies have uncovered TFIIH importance, little is known about how the mRNAs that code for TFIIH subunits are regulated. Here it is shown that mRNAs encoding seven of the TFIIH subunits (p34, p44, p52, p62, XPB, CDK7, and p8) are regulated at the posttranscriptional level in a Dicer-dependent manner. Indeed, abolition of the miRNA pathway induces abnormal accumulation, stabilization, and translational activation of these seven mRNAs. Herein, miR-27a was identified as a key regulator of p44 mRNA. Moreover, miR-27a was shown to destabilize the p44 subunit of the TFIIH complex during the G2-M phase, thereby modulating the transcriptional shutdown observed during this transition. This work is unique in providing a demonstration of global transcriptional regulation through the action of a single miRNA.T o maintain cellular homeostasis, cells have evolved a myriad of specialized pathways, among which basal transcription and DNA repair play crucial roles. Both mechanisms are mainly regulated by the multisubunit complex termed TFIIH (general transcription factor IIH) formed by two modules, the core and the CAK [cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-activated kinase], each displaying distinguishable activities and differential protein composition (1-3). Whereas the core is constituted by seven polypeptides (p34, p44, p52, p62, XPB, XPD, and p8) and is indispensable for transcription and DNA repair (4), the CAK contains only three proteins (CDK7, CycH, and MAT1) and is required to modulate transcription by phosphorylating the carboxyl terminal domain of RNA polymerase II (5). Moreover, the CAK module regulates cellcycle progression by phosphorylating CDKs during G2-M transition in an autonomous fashion (6).Mutations in different TFIIH subunits lead to severe clinical disorders that range from mental retardation to cancer predisposition. This predisposition is manifested in patients displaying three clinically well-characterized syndromes-Xeroderma Pigmentosum, Cockaine syndrome, and Trichothiodystrophyhighlighting the importance of maintaining TFIIH integrity (7-9). Lessons learned from mutations encountered on patients helped to unravel which activities of TFIIH were modified in different clinical contexts. However, it has not been possible either to link specific mutations with a particular syndrome or with clinical severity (10-12). Nevertheless, all three clinical anomalies are taught, in principle, to be caused by diminished transcriptional and DNA repair activities often associated with reduced TFIIH stability. In vitro-obtained data show that naturally occurring mutations in XPD or p44 that alter the XPD/p44 or p44/p62 interaction may affect the composition of TFIIH by decreasing levels of XPD and CAK subunits associated with the core. On the other hand, mutations in XPB and p52 may prevent XPB...