MicroRNA-target binding structures mimic microRNA duplex structures in humans.

ABSTRACT: Traditionally, researchers match a microRNA guide strand to mRNA sequences using sequence comparisons to predict its potential target genes. However, many of the predictions can be false positives due to limitations in sequence comparison alone. In this work, we consider the association of two related RNA structures that share a common guide strand: the microRNA duplex and the microRNA-target binding structure. We have analyzed thousands of such structure pairs and found many of them share high structural similarity. Therefore, we conclude that when predicting microRNA target genes, considering just the microRNA guide strand matches to gene sequences may not be sufficient--the microRNA duplex structure formed by the guide strand and its companion passenger strand must also be considered. W

SUBMITTER: Chen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3923817 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature