MicroRNA-target Interactions: Important Signaling Modules Regulating Flowering Time in Diverse Plant Species

Successful reproduction of flowering plants requires the appropriate timing of the floral transition, as triggered by environmental and internal cues and as regulated by multiple signaling modules. Among these modules, microRNAs (miRNAs), the evolutionarily conserved regulators, respond to environmental and internal cues and network with other integrators of flowering cues. Moreover, miRNA signaling modules affect the timing of flowering in many plant species. Here, we comprehensively review recent progress in understanding the function of miRNAs and their target genes in flowering time regulation in diverse plant species. We focus on the role of the miRNA-target gene modules in various flowering pathways and their conserved and divergent functions in flowering plants. We also examine, in depth, the crosstalk by sequential activity of miR156 and miR172, two of the most-studied and evolutionarily conserved miRNAs in both annual and perennial plants.     

结肠癌患者血清miRNA表达意义及与肠道菌群失调关联性

目的 探讨结肠癌患者血清miR-375、miR-21、miR-10a表达意义及与肠道菌群失调的关联性.方法 选取我院92例结肠癌患者为结肠癌组,同期92例健康体检者为对照组,测定两组不同临床特征患者血清miR-375、miR-21、miR-10a水平,并采集两组新鲜粪便标本,测定并比较大肠杆菌、双歧杆菌数量、双歧杆菌/...     

高表达miR396小分子导致拟南芥花柱头弯曲

MicroRNAs（miRNAs）是大小约21个碱基、内源、非编码的小分子RNA。以拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）miR396小分子为研究对象,分别克隆到了miR396小分子的两个前体（MIR396a,MIR396b）,得到了转基因植株。通过转基因植株的遗传学研究发现,高表达miR396小分子导致转基因拟南芥的花柱头弯曲。花柱头的弯曲影响了角果的正常发育。另外,Northern杂交结果表明转基因拟南芥花部位的miR396及其前体的表达量与对照相比显著增加。这些结果表明高表达miR396小分子可以导致拟南芥花柱头弯曲。     

Disease severity–related alterations of cardiac microRNAs in experimental pulmonary hypertension

Right ventricular (RV) failure is the primary cause of death in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We hypothesized that heart‐relevant microRNAs, that is myomiRs (miR‐1, miR‐133a, miR‐208, miR‐499) and miR‐214, can have a role in the right ventricle in the development of PAH. To mimic PAH, male Wistar rats were injected with monocrotaline (MCT, 60 mg/kg, s.c.); control group received vehicle. MCT rats were divided into two groups, based on the clinical presentation: MCT group terminated 4 weeks after MCT administration and prematurely terminated group (ptMCT) displaying signs of terminal disease. Myocardial damage genes and candidate microRNAs expressions were determined by RT‐qPCR. Reduced blood oxygen saturation, breathing disturbances, RV enlargement as well as elevated levels of markers of myocardial damage confirmed PH in MCT animals and were more pronounced in ptMCT. MyomiRs (miR‐1/miR‐133a/miR‐208a/miR‐499) were decreased and the expression of miR‐214 was increased only in ptMCT group (P < 0.05). The myomiRs negatively correlated with Fulton index as a measure of RV hypertrophy in MCT group (P < 0.05), whereas miR‐214 showed a positive correlation (P < 0.05). We conclude that the expression of determined microRNAs mirrored the disease severity and targeting their pathways might represent potential future therapeutic approach in PAH.     

高表达拟南芥miR396提高烟草抗旱性

MiR396是一个由21个核苷酸组成的单链非编码RNA小分子。烟草内的miR396受干旱诱导说明其可能参与烟草的干旱应答。在35S强启动子作用下我们将miR396转入到烟草体内获得高表达转基因植株,生理学测试表明高表达miR396的转基因烟草耐旱性增强,同时叶片表现出比野生型较低的失水率和较高的相对含水量,进一步分析表明转基因植株除了叶片变得更为窄小外,其气孔密度和气孔系数都比野生型降低,这些都表明miR396作为一个正调节因子参与烟草的干旱胁迫应答。     

MicroRNAs mir‐184 and let‐7 alter Drosophila metabolism and longevity

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression associated with many complex biological processes. By comparing miRNA expression between long‐lived cohorts of Drosophila melanogaster that were fed a low‐nutrient diet with normal‐lived control animals fed a high‐nutrient diet, we identified miR‐184, let‐7, miR‐125, and miR‐100 as candidate miRNAs involved in modulating aging. We found that ubiquitous, adult‐specific overexpression of these individual miRNAs led to significant changes in fat metabolism and/or lifespan. Most impressively, adult‐specific overexpression of let‐7 in female nervous tissue increased median fly lifespan by ~22%. We provide evidence that this lifespan extension is not due to alterations in nutrient intake or to decreased insulin signaling.     

miR164c和miR168b的表达与水稻种子活力的相关性研究

目的:探讨miRNA的表达差异与水稻种子活力的相关性。方法:通过人工老化处理获得不同活力的水稻种子,然后运用real time qPCR技术,对不同活力种子的胚中miR164c和miR168b的表达量进行相对定量分析。结果:水稻种子随活力下降至丧失活力以前,miR164c的表达量也相应下降;但丧失活力的种子中,miR164c的表达量显著回升。miR168b的表达量则随着种子活力的降低而呈先升后降的模式;在死种子中,miR168b的表达量维持在较低的水平。结论:初步推测miR164c和miR168b的表达量与调控水稻种子活力的变化相关,但它们的调控机制可能存在差异。     

Selective TRAIL‐induced cytotoxicity to lung cancer cells mediated by miRNA response elements

Lung cancer is among the most common cancers, and the current therapeutic strategies are still inefficient in most cases. Tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising biological agent for cancer treatment because of its potent pro‐apoptotic effect on cancer cells. However, TRAIL also induces apoptosis in normal cells and therefore may cause toxicity to normal tissues if clinically applied. To address this issue, we inserted microRNA response elements (MREs) of miR‐133a, miR‐137 and miR‐449a, which are all underexpressed in lung cancer cells, into an adenoviral vector to regulate TRAIL expression. This MRE‐regulated vector (Ad‐TRAIL‐MRE) was able to express TRAIL in a lung‐cancer‐specific fashion. No TRAIL expression was detected in normal cells. Consistently, Ad‐TRAIL‐MRE exerted cytotoxicity to lung cancer cells, rather than normal cells, perhaps via inducing selective apoptosis. The selective TRAIL‐mediated growth‐inhibiting effect was further confirmed in a tumour xenograft model. Also, Ad‐TRAIL‐MRE only resulted in very low hepatotoxicity when applied. Collectively, we generated a novel TRAIL‐expressing adenoviral vector that was regulated by MREs. This strategy permits TRAIL expression in a lung‐cancer‐specific manner and is worth further studying for clinical trials. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

芥蓝miR172家族成员进化特性比较及时空表达分析

为了明确植物miR172家族成员的进化特性及其在不同组织部位的表达情况,该研究以芥蓝miR172a家族为例,通过芥蓝miR172a成熟体序列比对、前体(pre-miRNA)二级结构预测、系统发育进化树构建、靶基因预测及实时荧光定量等手段,对芥蓝miR172a和miR172b基因家族的进化特性及其在芥蓝不同组织部位中的表达规律进行分析。结果显示:(1)芥蓝miR172家族存在20个成熟体成员,通过比对发现20条序列都存在一个重叠区域,该区域中ACTAGATC 8个碱基高度保守,并且在芥蓝pre-miR172的3′和5′端均能形成成熟体。(2)mfold预测结果显示,miR172a家族5个前体成员的最小折叠自由能在-54.55~-78.60kal/mol之间,均能自发形成典型、稳定的茎环二级结构。(3)系统发育进化树显示,芥蓝miR172a家族的前体成员具有一定的保守性和多样性,并与番木瓜pre-miR172a亲缘关系较近。(4)靶基因预测发现芥蓝miR172a共有13个不同靶标基因,多个成员也可以作用于相同靶标基因。(5)实时荧光定量PCR显示,芥蓝pre-miR172a和pre-miR172b家族不同成员在不同组织部位表达量差异显著,10个成员在9个组织部位中的表达各不相同。其中,芥蓝pre-miR172a-1、pre-miR172a-2、premiR172a-3和pre-miR172b在芥蓝荚中大量表达;pre-miR172b-5p和pre-miR172b-5p-2在芥蓝花中大量表达。研究表明,miR172在芥蓝花和荚的发育过程中起着重要的作用。     

Aryl hydrocarbon‐estrogen alpha receptor‐dependent expression of miR‐206, miR‐27b,and miR‐133a suppress cell proliferation and migration in MCF‐7 cells

The underlying functions of miR‐206, miR‐133a, miR‐27b, and miR‐21, and their link to the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling pathways remain largely unexplored. In this study, we detect the expression of miR‐206, miR‐133a, miR‐27b, and miR‐21 in MCF‐7 through quantificational real‐time polymerase chain reaction assay along with the activation/inhibition of ERα and AhR receptors. Aside from this, cell proliferation and migration as well as AhR‐dependent CYP1A1 enzyme activity were measured. Here, we found that the forced increased expression of miR‐206, miR‐133a, and miR‐27b were closely associated with the suppression of MCF‐7 cell proliferation and migration. The anti‐proliferative‐metastatic effect of miR‐206, miR‐133a, and miR‐27b was probably mediated by targeting the ERα and AhR signaling pathways. Considered together, our study indicated that the overexpression of miR‐206, miR‐133a, and miR‐27b might be potential biomarkers for prognosis and therapeutic strategies in breast cancer.     

miRNA*生物合成及其功能研究的新发现

miRNA*是在miRNA加工成熟过程中与其互补的大约22个核苷酸的RNA序列。传统观点认为miRNA*是miRNA生物合成中形成的没有功能的副产品。然而最近的研究发现miRNA*s与miRNA一样, 主要介导转录后的基因调控网络; 但不同的是, miRNA与Argonaute1蛋白(AGO1)结合形成RNA诱导的沉默复合体(RISC), 而miRNA*却在AGO2的帮助下形成RISC复合体进行RNA干涉, 这点与siRNA的作用方式类似。文章从miRNA*的生物合成、生物学特性和功能等方面综述了miRNA*最新研究进展。     

Identification and expression-profiling of Xenopus tropicalis miRNAs including plant miRNA-like RNAs at metamorphosis

Small RNAs (miR159-like RNAs) identical to some plant miR159s were found in Xenopus tropicalis miRNA cDNA libraries (30 miRNA families consisting of 75 unique sequences). Preferential expression of this RNA species was found in neural tissues during development. A sequence matching to this RNA species was not found in the 21 available animal's genome databases, but its resembling sequences associated with transposons were found in the X. tropicalis database. A possibility of horizontal transfer of the miR159 genes from plants will be discussed. Expression profiles of other miRNA species at metamorphosis were shown by DNA array and/or Northern hybridization.     

Targeting Notch signalling by the conserved miR-8/200 microRNA family in development and cancer cells

Notch signalling is crucial for the correct development and growth of numerous organs and tissues, and when subverted it can cause cancer. Loss of miR-8/200 microRNAs (miRNAs) is commonly observed in advanced tumours and correlates with their invasion and acquisition of stem-like properties. Here, we show that this miRNA family controls Notch signalling activation in Drosophila and human cells. In an overexpression screen, we identified the Drosophila miR-8 as a potent inhibitor of Notch-induced overgrowth and tumour metastasis. Gain and loss of mir-8 provoked developmental defects reminiscent of impaired Notch signalling and we demonstrated that miR-8 directly inhibits Notch ligand Serrate. Likewise, miR-200c and miR-141 directly inhibited JAGGED1, impeding proliferation of human metastatic prostate cancer cells. It has been suggested that JAGGED1 may also be important for metastases. Although in metastatic cancer cells, JAGGED1 modestly regulated ZEB1, the miR-200c's target in invasion, studies in Drosophila revealed that only concurrent overexpression of Notch and Zfh1/ZEB1 induced tumour metastases. Together, these data define a new way to attenuate or boost Notch signalling that may have clinical interest.