Discrimination of the expression of paralogous microRNA precursors that share the same major mature form.

ABSTRACT:

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs generated from endogenous transcripts that form hairpin structures. The hairpin precursor is processed into two mature miRNAs that form major/minor duplexes. Mature miRNAs regulate gene expression by cleaving mRNA or repressing protein translation. Numerous miRNAs have been discovered via deep sequencing. Many miRNAs are produced from multiple genome sites. These miRNAs are grouped into paralogous families of miRNAs that generate the same major mature form within organisms. Currently, no method of distinguishing the expression of these miRNAs is available.

Results

In the present study, strategies were developed to discriminate and quantify the expression of paralogous miRNA precursors. First, paralogous miRNA

SUBMITTER: Wang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3940925 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature