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Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
Evolution of Microbial Genome01:08

Evolution of Microbial Genome

Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.
Riboswitches01:56

Riboswitches

Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...

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A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells
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A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

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MicroRNA evolution by arm switching.

Sam Griffiths-Jones1, Jerome H L Hui, Antonio Marco

  • 1Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. sam.griffiths-jones@manchester.ac.uk

EMBO Reports
|January 8, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can evolve new functions by switching the hairpin arm used for processing. This arm switching mechanism, observed in insects, alters gene targets and regulatory networks.

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MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
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MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression, influencing transcript stability and translation.
  • Mature miRNAs are derived from precursor hairpins, with functional miRNAs processed from one or both arms.
  • The miR-100/10 family exhibits evolutionary arm switching, where different arms are used for mature miRNA processing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism and implications of arm switching in the miR-10 family.
  • To determine if arm usage is encoded within the primary miRNA sequence.
  • To understand how arm switching impacts miRNA function and target gene networks.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of miR-10 sequences in Drosophila melanogaster and Tribolium castaneum.
  • Expression studies of Tribolium miR-10 in Drosophila S2 cells.
  • Bioinformatic prediction of messenger RNA targets for different miR-10 arms.

Main Results:

  • The dominant miR-10 sequences in flies and beetles are processed from opposite arms, despite having identical mature duplex sequences.
  • Expression of the beetle miR-10 sequence in fly cells mimicked the beetle's native processing pattern.
  • Sequences from opposite arms target different messenger RNAs and have distinct inferred functions.
  • Arm usage is determined by the primary miRNA sequence, external to the mature miRNA duplex.

Conclusions:

  • Arm switching is a fundamental evolutionary mechanism for diversifying miRNA function.
  • This process allows for the evolution of miRNA loci and their associated target gene networks.
  • The primary miRNA sequence encodes arm usage, providing a mechanism for functional divergence.