Embryonic stem cell-specific miR302-367 cluster: human gene structure and functional characterization of its core promoter.

ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a central role in the regulation of multiple biological processes including the maintenance of stem cell self-renewal and pluripotency. Recently, the miRNA cluster miR302-367 was shown to be differentially expressed in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Unfortunately, very little is known about the genomic structure of miRNA-encoding genes and their transcriptional units. Here, we have characterized the structure of the gene coding for the human miR302-367 cluster. We identify the transcriptional start and functional core promoter region which specifically drives the expression of this miRNA cluster. The promoter activity depends on the ontogeny and hierarchical cellular stage. It is functional during embryonic development, but it is turned off later in development. From

SUBMITTER: Barroso-delJesus A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2573233 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature