A search for conserved sequences in coding regions reveals that the let-7 microRNA targets Dicer within its coding sequence.

ABSTRACT: Recognition sites for microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be located in the 3' untranslated regions of transcripts. In a computational screen for highly conserved motifs within coding regions, we found an excess of sequences conserved at the nucleotide level within coding regions in the human genome, the highest scoring of which are enriched for miRNA target sequences. To validate our results, we experimentally demonstrated that the let-7 miRNA directly targets the miRNA-processing enzyme Dicer within its coding sequence, thus establishing a mechanism for a miRNA/Dicer autoregulatory negative feedback loop. We also found computational evidence to suggest that miRNA target sites in coding regions and 3' UTRs may differ in mechanism. This work demonstrates that miRNAs can directly targe

SUBMITTER: Forman JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2567461 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature