Sex-biased expression of microRNAs in Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT: Most animals have separate sexes. The differential expression of gene products, in particular that of gene regulators, is underlying sexual dimorphism. Analyses of sex-biased expression have focused mostly on protein-coding genes. Several lines of evidence indicate that microRNAs, a class of major gene regulators, are likely to have a significant role in sexual dimorphism. This role has not been systematically explored so far. Here, I study the sex-biased expression pattern of microRNAs in the model species Drosophila melanogaster. As with protein-coding genes, sex-biased microRNAs are associated with the reproductive function. Strikingly, contrary to protein-coding genes, male-biased microRNAs are enriched in the X chromosome, whereas female microRNAs are mostly autosomal. I propose that

SUBMITTER: Marco A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4043116 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature