Evolution of MIR159/319 microRNA genes and their post-transcriptional regulatory link to siRNA pathways.

ABSTRACT:

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are prevalent and important endogenous gene regulators in eukaryotes. MiR159 and miR319 are highly conserved miRNAs essential for plant development and fertility. Despite high similarity in conservation pattern and mature miRNA sequences, miR159 and miR319 have distinct expression patterns, targets and functions. In addition, both MIR319 and MIR159 precursors produce multiple miRNAs in a phased loop-to-base manner. Thus, MIR159 and MIR319 appear to be related in origin and considerably diverged. However the phylogeny of MIR159 and MIR319 genes and why such unusual style of miRNA production has been conserved during evolution is not well understood.

Results

We reconstructed the phylogeny of MIR159/319 genes and analyzed their mature miRNA express

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3118147 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature