The regulatory activity of microRNA* species has substantial influence on microRNA and 3′ UTR evolution Journal Article


Authors: Okamura, K.; Phillips, M. D.; Tyler, D. M.; Duan, H.; Chou, Y. T.; Lai, E. C.
Article Title: The regulatory activity of microRNA* species has substantial influence on microRNA and 3′ UTR evolution
Abstract: During microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis, one strand of a ∼21-22-nucleotide RNA duplex is preferentially selected for entry into a silencing complex. The other strand, known as the miRNA* species, has typically been assumed to be a carrier strand. Here we show that, although Drosophila melanogaster miRNA* species are less abundant than their partners, they are often present at physiologically relevant levels and can associate with Argonaute proteins. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that >40% of miRNA* sequences resist nucleotide divergence across Drosophilid evolution, and at least half of these well-conserved miRNA* species select for conserved 3′ untranslated region seed matches well above background noise. Finally, we validated the inhibitory activity of miRNA* species in both cultured cells and transgenic animals. These data broaden the reach of the miRNA regulatory network and suggest an important mechanism that diversifies miRNA function during evolution. © 2008 Nature Publishing Group.
Keywords: controlled study; nonhuman; animals; microrna; embryo; gene function; evolution; transgenic animal; animalia; evolution, molecular; cell culture; immunoprecipitation; genomics; 3' untranslated region; drosophila melanogaster; nucleic acid conformation; micrornas; argonaute protein; 3' untranslated regions; animals, genetically modified; noise; drosophilidae
Journal Title: Nature Structural and Molecular Biology
Volume: 15
Issue: 4
ISSN: 1545-9993
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2008-04-01
Start Page: 354
End Page: 363
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1409
PUBMED: 18376413
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC2698667
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 102" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: NSMBC" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. David M Tyler
    6 Tyler
  2. Eric C Lai
    159 Lai
  3. Hong Duan
    12 Duan
  4. Katsutomo Okamura
    26 Okamura
  5. Yuting Chou
    11 Chou