Both the rise in miR-9 and the concomitant BK mRNA downregulation were well underway within 15 minutes of alcohol exposure. Our data indicate that the fast regulation of BK mRNA by alcohol is likely occurring through the post-transcriptional downregulation of pre- existing mRNA variants, via a miRNA-regulated mechanism, which directs them to a degradation pathway. Once destined for destruction, mRNA is degraded quickly (Garneau et al., 2007), which could explain the rapidity of the process observed here.
