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Resources » Paper

McJunkin, Katherine et al. (2011) International Worm Meeting "Genetic identification of post-transcriptional modulators of microRNAs."

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  • Comments on McJunkin, Katherine et al. (2011) International Worm Meeting "Genetic identification of post-transcriptional modulators of microRNAs." (0)

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    Status:
    Publication type:
    Meeting_abstract
    WormBase ID:
    WBPaper00039761

    McJunkin, Katherine, & Ambros, Victor (2011). Genetic identification of post-transcriptional modulators of microRNAs presented in International Worm Meeting. Unpublished information; cite only with author permission.

    MicroRNAs are large class of small noncoding RNAs that regulate the expression of protein-coding genes in plants and animals. By repressing target mRNAs, microRNAs play important roles throughout normal development and in diverse processes in differentiated cell types. Accordingly, individual microRNAs display highly specific expression patterns, often restricted to a particular developmental stage or tissue. MicroRNA expression patterns are partially derived from transcriptional regulation; however, many examples of post-transcriptional regulation of microRNAs have also recently been described. All steps of the microRNA biogenesis pathway appear to be regulated in certain contexts in animals, including Drosha cleavage of the primary transcript and Dicer cleavage of the pre-microRNA. In conjunction with biogenesis, the regulated turnover of mature microRNAs (or pri- or pre-microRNA intermediates) could contribute to their complex spatio-temporal expression patterns. In comparison to biogenesis, very little is understood about the effectors or regulators of microRNA degradation. Finally, the activity of microRNA silencing complexes can be enhanced or dampened by the binding of accessory factors that do not affect microRNA processing or stability. The aim of this research is to elucidate novel modes of post-transcriptional control of microRNAs in animals, focusing on mechanisms of microRNA degradation. The accumulation of mature let-7 and mir-35 and mir-51 family members are developmentally controlled at a post-transcriptional level. Thus, transgenic worms have been generated that bear fluorescent reporters to directly monitor changes in the activity of these microRNA families by simultaneously tracking microRNA transcription and target repression. Genetic screens are ongoing in these backgrounds to identify mutants in which the normal developmental patterns of target repression are disrupted, to identify genes that impact microRNA processing or turnover.

    Affiliation:
    - Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA


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