Fast-evolving microRNAs are highly expressed in the early embryo of Drosophila virilis.

ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs are short non-protein-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and are essential for the embryonic development of multicellular animals. Comparative genome-scale analyses have revealed that metazoan evolution is accompanied by the continuous acquisition of novel microRNA genes. This suggests that novel microRNAs may promote innovation and diversity in development. We determined the evolutionary origins of extant Drosophila microRNAs and estimated the sequence divergence between the 130 orthologous microRNAs in Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila virilis, separated by 63 million years of evolution. We then generated small RNA sequencing data sets covering D. virilis development and explored the relationship between microRNA conservation and ex

SUBMITTER: Ninova M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3923130 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature