小鼠肝脏MicroRNA的提取与分离

本文对小鼠肝脏microRNA进行分离制备及相关性功能研究.采用poly(A)加尾方法,分离提取小鼠肝脏中的microRNA;利用T4 RNA连接酶,在microRNA两端加上连接引物,通过RT PCR制备microRNA的cDNA文库;经过对cDNA文库的质粒连接,克隆测序获得microRNA. 结果显示：获得4条有效序列,其中包括2条已知序列miR 122和2条未知小分子RNA序列.经查证, 2条microRNA片段在miRBase库中未有记录,在二级结构分析中可形成茎环结构,符合microRNA的特征. BLAST比对显示： 2个序列位于小鼠载脂蛋白B基因和小鼠28S核糖体RNA上,可能与基因调控有关,其功能有待进一步研究.     

MicroRNA定量检测方法的研究进展

MicroRNA是一类内源性的非编码小分子RNA, 通过下调蛋白编码基因的表达而对不同的细胞发育过程起到重要的调控作用。分析组织或细胞样本中microRNA的表达可为研究这类分子的生物学功能提供重要的信息。近年来, 研究者发展了许多方法检测不同的生理和病理学过程中microRNA的表达差异, 并发现microRNA的异常表达与癌症、神经紊乱和心脏疾病等的发生相关。文章系统地介绍了最新发展的microRNA定量检测方法, 详细阐述了基于探针杂交技术的Northern blotting法、微阵列芯片法、纳米金标记法、桥连同位素标记法, 以及基于扩增技术的定量PCR检测法、滚环扩增法、引物入侵法和新一代大规模高通量测序法等, 并对这些方法的优缺点进行了分析比较。     

microRNA与心脏疾病

microRNA是植物和动物基因组编码的小分子非编码RNA.这种高度保守、长21～25个碱基RNA分子通过与mRNA的3'非编码区结合来调控基因组表达.microRNA通过其转录后调控机制在胚胎发育、细胞增殖,细胞分化、细胞死亡及细胞凋亡中发挥调控作用.近期研究发现,microRNA的异常表达可导致心脏疾病的发生、发展.现对microRNA在心脏发育、心肌肥厚和心肌重构、心力衰竭和心律失常等过程中的作用进行综述.     

MicroRNA在阿尔茨海默病发病机制中的作用

microRNA通过转录后水平调控细胞的蛋白质表达,在神经系统的发育、分化及功能行使中发挥着重要作用。阿尔茨海默病是一种以进行性认知功能障碍为特征的神经退行性疾病,患者脑内microRNA的表达发生改变,异常表达的microRNA可从多种途径影响疾病的发生与发展,对microRNA在阿尔茨海默病中作用的研究不仅有利于疾病发病机制的诠释也有利于microRNA调控机制的探讨。     

室内饲养与野外采集的松墨天牛幼虫microRNA表达谱比较分析

【目的】昆虫随着生长环境的变化常常会有不同的生物学特性,其表观遗传调控机制研究值得关注。松墨天牛是松树萎焉病中松材线虫的媒介昆虫,但松墨天牛在实验室饲养和野外的不同条件下,其形态及发育速率有较大的区别,其表观遗传响应机制并不明确。通过比较分析microRNA表达谱揭示室内饲养和野外采集松墨天牛幼虫之间的差异,以期为松墨天牛幼虫的表观遗传研究提供参考。【方法】使用illumina Hi Seq 2000平台进行microRNA高通量测序,得到了实验室饲养和野外采集松墨天牛老熟幼虫的表皮、中肠microRNA库。鉴定保守microRNA和预测新microRNA,并对microRNA进行差异表达分析、靶基因预测、靶基因GO注释和KEGG功能富集分析。【结果】在室内饲养的松墨天牛表皮、中肠中分别鉴定出16、14个microRNA;在野外生存的天牛表皮、中肠中均鉴定出13个microRNA。与表皮相比,中肠的miRNA的表达量更高。与野外采集相比,在室内饲养天牛的microRNA表达量更高。17个microRNA表达量在室内饲养与野外采集的天牛之间有显著差异,比如novel-mir-62127、novel-mir-184731、novel-mir-290819等有明显上调,novel-mir-251851等明显下调。差异表达的miRNA的靶基因的功能主要富集在氨基糖代谢、几丁质代谢等糖代谢和甘油磷脂代谢、脂肪酸代谢等脂代谢过程。【结论】室内饲养和野外采集松墨天牛老熟幼虫的microRNA库存在明显差异,且不同的组织microRNA表达谱存在明显差异,提示经历室内恒定培养条件的松墨天牛具有表观遗传调控特征,为进一步研究松墨天牛发育、代谢的microRNA调控机制奠定了基础。     

肿瘤标志物细胞外microRNA研究进展

细胞外microRNA(extracellular microRNA)是由细胞释放或分泌的一类microRNA,它能通过多种方式进入体液。随着对microRNA生物学活性研究的深入,体液中的细胞外microRNA有望作为肿瘤早期诊断、预后及治疗效果的新标志物受到关注。本文对细胞外microRNA近期的研究进展进行综述。     

MicroRNA在胃癌中的作用及研究进展

MicroRNA(miRNA)是一类含有18-25个核苷酸的小分子非编码RNA,通过与与其靶基因mRNA 3’-非编码区的碱基互补配对,降解靶基因mRNA导致转录后沉默或者抑制靶基因mRNA的翻译过程,影响细胞的增殖、分化、衰老和凋亡.研究显示部分microRNA在胃癌组织中确实存在表达异常,且异常表达的microRNA通过对其靶基因表达的调控影响胃癌的发生、发展及转移等过程.外周血中microRNA检测技术的发展使得microRNA应用于胃癌的临床诊疗具有了一定的可行性.众多研究提示microRNA在胃癌的演进中的作用可能作为胃癌早期诊断和疗效预测的生物标记物,本文就microRNA在胃癌中的作用及研究进展作一综述.     

MicroRNA在埃博拉病毒感染中的作用研究进展

MicroRNA是一类通过影响RNA表达、抑制蛋白质翻译来调节基因表达的内源性非编码小分子RNA。自从2014年首次发现苏丹型和扎伊尔型埃博拉病毒能够编码microRNA以来,不断有研究发现新的病毒microRNA以及其在埃博拉病毒复制、扩散、免疫逃逸中发挥的作用。宿主microRNA则参与到抗病毒防御机制中,但也面临着病毒蛋白对其调控的阻力包括相应宿主microRNA水平的变化以及RNA沉默抑制子的编码。深入研究埃博拉病毒与宿主在microRNA水平上的动态相互作用,有利于进一步了解埃博拉病毒的致病机制以及开发新的诊断、治疗策略。本文就microRNA在埃博拉病毒感染中的作用做一简要综述。     

microRNA调控自噬在心肌缺血再灌注中作用的研究进展

microRNA是一类转录后具有调节活性的内源性小分子RNA,通过与靶基因mRNA的3'UTR结合负性调控基因的表达从而参与多种心血管疾病的发生发展,其中对心肌缺血再灌注(I/R)的影响最为重要。microRNA通过调节自噬相关基因调控自噬。心肌细胞自噬对维持心功能具有重要作用,那么,在心肌I/R中,microRNA是否通过调节自噬来发挥作用呢?本文将对microRNA调控自噬在心肌缺血再灌注中作用机制进行综述。     

转录因子与microRNA在基因表达调控中的功能联系及差异

转录因子和微RNA(microRNA)是最大的两类反式作用因子,它们是基因表达调控的重要调控因子.它们协调发挥调控作用,精细调控基因的表达,在细胞分化和动物生长发育过程中发挥重要的作用.随着对转录因子和microRNA研究的深入,人们发现转录因子和microRNA在基因表达调控网络中关系紧密,它们的分子作用机制有许多相似之处,两者都通过各自的顺式作用元件调控基因表达,且作用的方式类似.但转录因子和microRNA也存在不同之处,转录因子既可以激活基因表达,也可抑制基因表达,而microRNA主要是抑制基因表达.另外,转录因子调控区的复杂性一般高于microRNA的调控区域.本文综述了转录因子和microRNA的异同点,并提出了未来转录因子和microRNA的研究方向.     

MicroRNAs研究方法与技术

MicroRNAs简称miRNAs(微小RNAs),是真核生物、原核生物以及病毒中由非编码蛋白基因转录的初级microRNAs加工成的调控因子.在转录后水平和蛋白质翻译水平,microRNAs通过降解或翻译抑制甚至激活来调控靶mRNA.实验和计算机方法已应用于microRNAs和靶基因的鉴定.大规模测序技术使得microRNAs在不同物种的多样性分析得以实现.着重介绍microRNAs、靶基因及其功能研究的实验技术和计算机方法,以及基于microRNAs的保守性,借助模式生物中已知的microRNAs,研究其在其他生物中的功能和作用.     

Expression of microRNAs and their precursors in synaptic fractions of adult mouse forebrain

We have characterized the expression of microRNAs and selected microRNA precursors within several synaptic fractions of adult mouse forebrain, including synaptoneurosomes, synaptosomes and isolated post-synaptic densities (PSDs), using methods of microRNA microarray, real time qRT-PCR, Northern blotting and immunopurification using anti-PSD95 antibody. The majority of brain microRNAs (especially microRNAs known to be expressed in pyramidal neurons) are detectably expressed in synaptic fractions, and a subset of microRNAs is significantly enriched in synaptic fractions relative to total forebrain homogenate. MicroRNA precursors are also detectable in synaptic fractions at levels that are comparable to whole tissue. Whereas mature microRNAs are predominantly associated with soluble components of the synaptic fractions, microRNA precursors are predominantly associated with PSDs. For seven microRNAs examined, there was a significant correlation between the relative synaptic enrichment of the precursor and the relative synaptic enrichment of the corresponding mature microRNA. These findings support the proposal that microRNAs are formed, at least in part, via processing of microRNA precursors locally within dendritic spines. Dicer is expressed in PSDs but is enzymatically inactive until conditions that activate calpain cause its liberation; thus, we propose that synaptic stimulation may lead to local processing of microRNA precursors in proximity to the synapse.     

MiRNA:一种新的基因表达调节子

在动植物基因组中广泛存在一类非编码蛋白的RNA基因,产生长度大约为21～24个核苷酸的RNA,它们被命名为microRNA（miRNA）。 这是一类具有调节其他基因表达活性的小RNA。在生物的发育过程中发挥着重要作用。本文对这种基因表达调节途径的发现、机制功能及研究方法和现状作简要概述。 Abstract:Plant and animal genomes contain an abundance of small genes that produce RNAs of about 22 nucleotides in length, which was dubbed as microRNAs.These newly found endogenous RNAs may participate in a wide range of genetic regulatory pathways and play an important role in the development.This paper is focused on the finding of the microRNAs,its mechanism and function,as well as the methods of research.     

水稻盐胁迫相关内含子microRNA的表达及其生物发生机制

内含子microRNA是一类位于编码基因内含子区域的非编码小RNA。目前,动物内含子microRNA研究报道较多,而关于植物体内含子microRNA的功能及其生物发生机制报道较少。本研究通过高通量测序技术,结合生物信息学方法,发现在盐胁迫条件下水稻幼苗中共85个内含子microRNAs表达,其中差异表达的有24个。预测到的51个靶基因的功能分析,主要涉及抗氧化途径、植物激素信号转导途径及功能基因表达调控途径。此外,根据宿主基因的表达情况推测,共30个内含子microRNAs具有独立表达的功能。通过分析内含子microRNA前体DNA片段上游1 kb序列中的启动子核心元件,初步验证其具有独立表达的能力。因此,推测水稻幼苗在盐胁迫条件下,部分内含子microRNA独立于宿主基因表达,并参与水稻盐胁迫下的自我防御机制。     

Refining microRNA target predictions: Sorting the wheat from the chaff

microRNAs are short RNAs that reduce gene expression by binding to their targets. The accurate prediction of microRNA targets is essential to understanding the function of microRNAs. Computational predictions indicate that all human genes may be regulated by microRNAs, with each microRNA possibly targeting thousands of genes. Here we discuss computational methods for identifying mammalian microRNA targets and refining them for further experimental validation. We describe microRNA target prediction resources and procedures and how they integrate with various types of experimental techniques that aim to validate them or further explore their function. We also provide a list of target prediction databases and explain how these are curated.     

Droplet digital PCR,a prospective technological approach to quantitative profiling of microRNA

MicroRNA is a special type of regulatory molecules modulating gene expression. Circulating microRNAs found in blood and other biological body fluids are now considered as potential biomarkers of human pathology. Quantitative changes of particular microRNAs have been recognized in many oncological diseases and other disorders. A recently developed method of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) possesses a number of advantages making this method the most suitable for verification and validation of perspective microRNA markers of various human pathologies. These advantages include high accuracy and reproducibility of microRNA quantification as well as possibility of direct high-throughput determination of the absolute number of microRNA copies within a wide dynamic range. The present review considers microRNA biogenesis, the origin of circulating microRNAs, and methods used for their quantification. The special technical features of ddPCR, which make this method especially attractive for studying microRNAs as biomarkers of human pathologies and for basic research devoted to aspects of gene regulation by microRNA molecules, are also discussed.     

Serum microRNAs are promising novel biomarkers

Background

Circulating nucleic acids (CNAs) offer unique opportunities for early diagnosis of clinical conditions. Here we show that microRNAs, a family of small non-coding regulatory RNAs involved in human development and pathology, are present in bodily fluids and represent new effective biomarkers.

Methods and Results

After developing protocols for extracting and quantifying microRNAs in serum and other body fluids, the serum microRNA profiles of several healthy individuals were determined and found to be similar, validating the robustness of our methods. To address the possibility that the abundance of specific microRNAs might change during physiological or pathological conditions, serum microRNA levels in pregnant and non pregnant women were compared. In sera from pregnant women, microRNAs associated with human placenta were significantly elevated and their levels correlated with pregnancy stage.

Conclusions and Significance

Considering the central role of microRNAs in development and disease, our results highlight the medically relevant potential of determining microRNA levels in serum and other body fluids. Thus, microRNAs are a new class of CNAs that promise to serve as useful clinical biomarkers.