MicroRNA sequence variation potentially contributes to within-species functional divergence in the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae.

ABSTRACT: Mounting evidence points to differences in gene regulation as a major source of phenotypic variation. MicroRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation has emerged recently as a key factor controlling gene activity during development. MicroRNA genes are abundant in genomes, acting as managers of gene expression by directing translational repression. Thus, understanding the role of microRNA sequence variation within populations is essential for fully dissecting the origin and maintenance of phenotypic diversity in nature. In this study, we investigate allelic variation at microRNA loci in the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae, a close relative of C. elegans. Phylogeographic structure in C. briggsae partitions most strains from around the globe into a "temperate" or a "tropical" clade, with a

SUBMITTER: Jovelin R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3213355 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature