The expansion of the metazoan microRNA repertoire.

ABSTRACT:

Background

MicroRNAs have been identified as crucial regulators in both animals and plants. Here we report on a comprehensive comparative study of all known miRNA families in animals. We expand the MicroRNA Registry 6.0 by more than 1000 new homologs of miRNA precursors whose expression has been verified in at least one species. Using this uniform data basis we analyze their evolutionary history in terms of individual gene phylogenies and in terms of preservation of genomic nearness across species. This allows us to reliably identify microRNA clusters that are derived from a common transcript.

Results

We identify three episodes of microRNA innovation that correspond to major developmental innovations: A class of about 20 miRNAs is common to protostomes and deuterostomes and

SUBMITTER: Hertel J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1388199 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature