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06:16
mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation
Published on: May 1, 2021
Complicated evolutionary patterns of microRNAs in vertebrates
XiaOwo Wang1, XueGong Zhang, YanDa Li
1MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Division, TNLIST / Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Science in China. Series C, Life Sciences
|May 20, 2008
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators that evolve rapidly after emergence. These non-coding RNAs show complex evolutionary patterns, suggesting active roles in evolution.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding RNAs crucial for gene regulation.
- The evolutionary dynamics and innovation of miRNAs are not fully understood.
- Recent findings suggest miRNA evolution is an ongoing, dynamic process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary patterns of microRNAs (miRNAs) in vertebrates.
- To characterize miRNA superfamilies and understand their evolutionary trajectories.
- To explore the mechanisms driving miRNA innovation.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of miRNA superfamilies in vertebrate genomes.
- Analysis of miRNA sequence conservation and duplication events.
- Phylogenetic analysis of miRNA gene families.
Main Results:
- Newly evolved miRNAs exhibit rapid evolution post-emergence.
- Multiple instances of lineage-specific miRNA expansions were identified.
- Tandem duplications of precursor miRNAs (premiRNAs) can lead to innovation by utilizing opposite stem arms.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNA evolution is complex and dynamic, not solely characterized by conservation.
- MiRNA innovation is an active process, potentially driven by duplication events.
- These regulatory molecules play significant roles in the evolutionary process.
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