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Author Spotlight: Unveiling Mitochondrial Contact Sites and Architectural Insights
Published on: June 16, 2023
microRNAs in Syrista parreyssi (Hymenoptera) and Lepisma saccharina (Zygentoma) possibly involved in the
Habeş Bilal Aydemir1, Ertan Mahir Korkmaz2
1Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science and Letters, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey.
Abstract:
Mitochondria are essential organelles for maintaining vital cellular functions, and microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally. miRNAs exhibit tissue and time-specific patterns in mitochondria and specifically mitochondrial miRNAs (mitomiRs) can regulate the mRNA expression both originating from mitochondrial and nuclear transcription which affect mitochondrial metabolic activity and cell homeostasis. In this study, miRNAs of two insect species, Syrista parreyssi (Hymenoptera) and Lepisma saccharina (Zygentoma), were investigated for the first time. The known and possible novel miRNAs were predicted and characterized and their potential effects on mitochondrial transcription were investigated in these insect species using deep sequencing. The previously reported mitomiRs were also investigated and housekeeping miRNAs were characterized. miRNAs that are involved in mitochondrial processes such as apoptosis and signaling and that affect genes encoding the subunits of OXPHOS complexes have been identified in each species. Here, 81 and 161 novel mature miRNA candidates were bioinformatically predicted and 9 and 24 of those were aligned with reference mitogenomes of S. parreyssi and L. saccharina, respectively. As a result of RNAHybrid analysis, 51 and 69 potential targets of miRNAs were found in the mitogenome of S. parreyssi and L. saccharina, respectively. cox1 gene was the most targeted gene and cytB, rrnS, and rrnL genes were highly targeted in both of the species by novel miRNAs, hypothetically. We speculate that these novel miRNAs, originating from or targeting mitochondria, influence on rRNA genes or positively selected mitochondrial protein-coding genes. These findings may provide a new perspective in evaluating miRNAs for maintaining mitochondrial function and transcription.
Insights
This study identifies novel mitochondrial microRNAs (miRNAs) in insects, revealing their potential roles in regulating mitochondrial gene expression and cellular functions like apoptosis and energy production.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Insect Biology
Background:
- Mitochondria are vital organelles, and microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally.
- Mitochondrial miRNAs (mitomiRs) influence both mitochondrial and nuclear transcription, impacting cellular metabolism and homeostasis.
- Understanding insect mitomiRs is crucial for insights into mitochondrial function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To bioinformatically predict and characterize novel miRNAs in two insect species: Syrista parreyssi and Lepisma saccharina.
- To investigate the potential effects of these miRNAs on mitochondrial transcription and key cellular processes.
- To identify novel mitomiRs and their targets within the insect mitochondrial genomes.
Main Methods:
- Deep sequencing was employed to identify known and novel miRNAs.
- Bioinformatic prediction and characterization of miRNA candidates.
- RNAHybrid analysis was used to predict potential miRNA targets in the mitochondrial genomes.
Main Results:
- 81 and 161 novel mature miRNA candidates were predicted in S. parreyssi and L. saccharina, respectively.
- 51 and 69 potential miRNA targets were identified in the mitogenomes, with cox1, cytB, rrnS, and rrnL genes being highly targeted.
- miRNAs involved in apoptosis, signaling, and OXPHOS complex genes were identified.
Conclusions:
- Novel miRNAs, originating from or targeting mitochondria, likely influence rRNA genes and protein-coding genes in these insects.
- These findings offer a new perspective on the role of miRNAs in maintaining mitochondrial function and transcription.
- The study highlights the significance of insect mitomiRs in cellular homeostasis and metabolic regulation.
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