A VNTR Regulates miR-137 Expression Through Novel Alternative Splicing and Contributes to Risk for Schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT: The MIR137HG gene encoding microRNA-137 (miR-137) is genome-wide associated with schizophrenia (SZ), however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Through cloning and sequencing of individual transcripts from fetal and adult human brain tissues we describe novel pri-miR-137 splice variants which exclude the mature miR-137 sequence termed 'del-miR-137' that would function to down-regulate miR-137 expression. Sequencing results demonstrate a significant positive association between del-miR-137 transcripts and the length of a proximal variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) element. Additionally, a significantly higher proportion of sequenced transcripts from fetal brain were del-miR-137 transcripts indicating neurodevelopmental splicing regulation. In-silico results predict an in

SUBMITTER: Pacheco A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6692358 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature