固始鸡1日龄和36周龄下丘脑高丰度差异性MiRNA的鉴定及功能预测分析

为鉴定鸡下丘脑发育相关特异性表达miRNA,基于固始鸡1日龄和36周龄下丘脑小RNA的Solexa测序数据,共鉴定到266种2个发育阶段共表达的miRNA,其中157种miRNA的表达水平被显著下调,22种被显著上调.聚类分析显示,鸡下丘脑高丰度差异性miRNA主要集中于let-7、mir-181、mir-30、mir-99、mir-1和mir-17等基因家族.另外,预测了10种高丰度差异性miRNA的靶基因,并进行了相应的GO分析和KEGG通路分析.结果显示,预测靶基因在发育过程、代谢过程、细胞过程和生物学过程调节等4个生物学过程以及细胞周期、粘着斑、TGF-beta信号通路和MAPK信号通路等通路中显著富集.研究结果为进一步揭示miRNA调控鸡下丘脑发育的分子机制提供了有益线索.     

let-7 microRNA调控动物器官发育的研究进展

微小RNA（microRNA,miRNA）是一类在进化上高度保守、长度约20～24 nt的小分子非编码RNA,能通过与靶基因3′非翻译区相结合从而抑制靶基因的翻译或降解靶基因。let-7 microRNA是发现较早的一类miRNA,最早在线虫中发现能调控细胞分裂的时序。此后大量证据表明,let-7参与动物多个器官发育的调控过程,并与人类疾病发生密切相关。该文综述了近年来let-7调控动物脑、神经及心肺系统等器官发育的研究成果,初步阐述了let-7调控动物器官发育可能的作用机制,以期为深入研究let-7的功能奠定基础。     

MicroRNA在哺乳动物精子发生中的作用

MicroRNAs(miRNAs)是一类长20~24 nt的单链非编码调控RNA序列。miRNA作为基因转录后表达调控分子,通过碱基互补配对的方式与靶mRNA结合,从而导致靶mRNA的降解或抑制其翻译过程。从最早发现存在于秀丽隐杆线虫Caenorhabditis elegans中的miRNA lin-4和let-7至今20多年里,研究人员已陆续从不同的种属中发现了大量的miRNA。近年来随着基因克隆、表达和功能研究技术的应用和发展,通过分析不同动物物种睾丸组织中miRNA的变化表明miRNA与精子发生过程密切相关。此外,miRNA相关的Dicer、Drosha等蛋白在初级精母细胞减数分裂粗线期所发挥的调控功能通过大量啮齿动物基因敲除模型得到证实。本文从miRNA的合成、作用机制和精子发生过程中的调控作用进行综述。     

鲤鱼脾脏中保守miRNA的鉴定

miRNA参与动物免疫系统发育及功能调节,但与鲤鱼免疫相关的miRNA研究还未见报道.为鉴定鲤鱼免疫相关miRNA,本研究构建了鲤鱼脾脏小RNA文库.通过Solexa测序,共获得纯净序列读数10 603 456条. 经过生物信息学分析,鉴定到192种保守miRNA,其中69种为新的鲤鱼miRNA.表达分析表明,高丰度miRNA主要集中于let-7、mir-10、mir-15和mir-30等30余个基因家族. miRNA保守性分析显示,23个家族在原口和后口动物中均存在,46个家族仅在脊椎动物中保守,5个家族仅在鱼类中被鉴定到.此外,GO富集分析表明,鲤鱼脾脏保守miRNA与免疫系统发育、淋巴细胞活化、免疫应答等相关.本研究首次鉴定了鲤鱼脾脏组织miRNA转录组谱,增加了鲤鱼已知miRNA数量,有助于更好地理解鲤鱼免疫防御机制.     

中华蜜蜂幼虫肠道响应球囊菌胁迫的microRNA应答分析

【目的】蜜蜂球囊菌(Ascosphaera apis,简称球囊菌)是一种能够侵染中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana cerana,简称中蜂)幼虫的致死性真菌病原。微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)可通过在转录后水平靶向抑制或降解mRNA而参与宿主与病原互作过程。本研究旨在对球囊菌胁迫的中蜂6日龄幼虫肠道的差异表达miRNA(DEmiRNA)及其靶基因进行深入分析,进而揭示DEmiRNA在中蜂响应球囊菌胁迫应答过程中的作用。【方法】利用Illumina MiSeq平台对正常及球囊菌胁迫的中蜂6日龄幼虫肠道(AcCK和AcT)进行测序,通过相关生物信息学软件预测DEmiRNA及其靶基因。通过Blast将靶基因注释到GO和KEGG数据库。利用Cytoscape软件构建DEmiRNA与其靶mRNA的调控网络。通过Stem-loop RT-PCR和qPCR验证测序数据的可靠性。【结果】本研究共预测出537个miRNA,其长度分布介于16–35 nt之间,且不同长度的miRNA首位碱基偏向性差异明显。通过Stem-loop RT-PCR证实了10个novel miRNA的表达。AcCK vs AcT比较组共有54个DEmiRNA,包含31个上调和23个下调miRNA,可分别靶向结合6170和8199个靶基因。GO分类结果显示上调和下调miRNA的靶基因分别涉及47和47个条目,富集基因数最多的皆为结合细胞进程和催化活性。KEGG代谢通路(pathway)富集分析结果表明上调和下调miRNA的靶基因分别富集在134和126条pathway,富集基因数最多的均为内吞作用和内质网中的蛋白质加工。调控网络分析结果表明,DEmiRNA及其靶mRNA形成十分复杂的调控关系;31个DEmiRNA可靶向结合51个与泛素介导的蛋白水解相关的mRNA,18个DEmiRNA可靶向结合14个与Jak-STAT信号通路相关的mRNA;miR-1277-x、miR-26-x、miR-27-y、miR-30-x、miR-6052-x等16个miRNA共同参与了上述两条免疫通路的调控。最后,随机挑选3个DEmiRNA进行qPCR验证,结果证明了测序数据的可靠性。【结论】本研究提供了中蜂幼虫肠道在球囊菌胁迫后期的miRNA的表达谱和差异表达信息,揭示了球囊菌与宿主之间在miRNA组学水平存在复杂的互作。miR-6052-x和miR-1277-x作为调控网络的核心可能通过影响细胞凋亡参与宿主的免疫防御,miR-26-x和miR-30-x可能通过调控Jak-STAT信号通路参与宿主的胁迫应答。本研究筛选出的关键DEmiRNA有望作为治疗白垩病的分子靶标。     

东方蜜蜂微孢子虫孢子中微小RNA的鉴定与分析

【目的】丰富东方蜜蜂微孢子虫Nosema ceranae的微小RNA(microRNA, miRNA)信息,并为深入探究miRNA在病原孢子和病原侵染中的功能提供理论和实验依据。【方法】基于已获得的small RNA-seq数据,利用生物信息学软件对东方蜜蜂微孢子虫的纯净孢子中的miRNA进行鉴定和分析。采用茎环反转录PCR(stem-loop RT-PCR)检测已鉴定的miRNA的表达;通过分子克隆与Sanger测序验证miRNA的序列。使用TargetFinder软件预测这些miRNA的靶基因,并对靶基因进行数据库注释。根据miRNA与靶基因的靶向结合关系构建调控网络,再利用Cytoscape软件进行可视化。【结果】在东方蜜蜂微孢子虫孢子中共鉴定到10个miRNA;这些miRNA的长度分布介于21~25 nt,首位碱基表现出U偏向性,每一位碱基的偏向性差异明显。Stem-loop RT-PCR检测结果表明这10个miRNA均真实表达;Sanger测序结果证实了随机选取的其中2个miRNA的序列真实性。共预测出249个靶基因,其中分别有249, 118, 136和3个靶基因可注释到Nr,Swiss-Prot, KOG和eggNOG数据库。此外,分别有134和71个靶基因可分别注释到GO数据库的30个功能条目和KEGG数据库的54条通路。【结论】本研究揭示了东方蜜蜂微孢子虫孢子中miRNA的存在和表达;这些miRNA通过调控潜在靶基因的表达参与孢子的生命活动。     

玉米microRNAs及其靶基因的生物信息学预测

microRNAs (miRNAs) 是一类非编码的小分子RNA, 通过碱基互补调控靶基因的表达。鉴定和发现新的miRNAs及其靶基因, 对揭示miRNAs在基因表达调控中的作用至关重要。玉米全基因组测序工作开展较晚, 已经鉴定登记的miRNAs很少, 对靶基因的调控作用尚待解明。文章根据miRNA进化上的保守性, 以已知的植物miRNAs为探针, 与相关数据库中玉米表达序列标签(EST)和基因组序列(GSS)中的非编码序列比对, 共发现11个新的miRNA前体。虽然在序列长度和二级结构方面各有变化, 但这11个前体均可折叠形成miRNA家族的标准二级结构。通过靶基因预测, 找到其中7条miRNAs的26个靶基因, 分别编码与新陈代谢、信号转导、转录调节、跨膜运输、生物和非生物胁迫及叶绿体组装等相关的蛋白。这些miRNAs及其靶基因的鉴定, 补充了miRNA数据库的不足。     

PLOD3基因3’调控区的人类特异突变改变miR-124a对PLOD3的调控

microRNAs(miRNAs)是一类在转录后水平调控基因表达的不编码蛋白质的小RNA(长度20-24个碱基).其中,miR-124a是一个在哺乳动物中枢神经系统高度表达的miRNA,在神经前体细胞向神经元分化的过程中起着举足轻重的作用.由于miRNAs特异性地识别靶基因的3'端调控区(3'UTR)的靶序列,因此,在人类起源过程中基因3'UTR的单核苷酸序列变异有可能导致miRNA调控的改变.通过靶基因预测和3'UTR区在哺乳动物代表物种间的同源序列比较,我们发现miR-124a的靶基冈中有一个基因(PLOD3)3UTR的靶位点中存在人类特异突变位点.利用体外报告基因系统,发现PLOD3基因3'UTR靶位点中所含的一个人类特异的突变导致miR-124a对PLOD3的调控效率降低.研究表明,miRNAs靶基因3'UTR的序列变异具有功能效应,它有可能足人类中枢神经系统在起源和演化中发挥关键作用的重要遗传机制之一.     

miR-15a靶基因的预测及生物信息学分析

目的:对目前研究较为广泛的miR-15a的靶基因进行预测及相关生物信息学分析,以期为miR-15a靶基因的实验验证提供数据支持,并为深入研究miR-15a的调控机制及生物学功能奠定基础和提供理论指导。方法:选择TargetScan5.1与PicTar两种计算方法预测miR-15a的靶基因的交集作为分析的基因集合,分别进行GO注释描述、GO富集分析和生物通路富集分析。结果与结论:预测靶基因集合分别富集在转录调控、蛋白质修饰、细胞周期等生物学过程和蛋白激酶活性等分子功能上(P0.01);经典miR-15a预测靶基因集合显著富集于KEGG通路数据库中的Wnt信号通路、细胞周期和p53信号通路等5个信号转导通路及前列腺癌、慢性髓细胞性白血病、黑素瘤等7个疾病通路中(P0.05)。     

miR-29a靶基因预测及其相关生物信息学分析

目的:通过对miR-29a进行靶基因预测及相关生物信息学分析,为miR-29a靶基因的实验验证提供数据支持,以期为深入研究miR-29a的生物学功能和调控机制提供理论指导。方法:利用PubMed检索miR-29a相关文章,通过miRBase在线工具分析miR-29a序列。应用TargetScan及miRNAda两种计算方法预测miR-29a靶基因并取其交集作为分析的基因集合,分别进行基因本体(gene ontology,GO)中的分子功能和生物学过程以及KEGG(Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes)生物通路富集分析。结果:(1)miR-29a序列在多物种间具有高度保守性。(2)两种方法预测miR-29a靶基因交集共191个。(3)miR-29a靶基因GO分子功能集中于转录因子活性、DNA结合和钙离子结合等(P0.05);miR-29a靶基因GO生物学过程集中于调控转录、细胞粘附、细胞增殖与凋亡等(P0.05);KEGG生物通路主要富集于PI3K-AKT信号通路、JAK-STAT信号通路、T细胞受体信号通路和胰岛素信号通路等信号转导通路,以及肺小细胞癌和子宫内膜癌等疾病通路(P0.05)。结论:miR-29a可能通过参与多个靶基因信号通路的调控,在机体的多种生理病理过程中发挥重要作用,是一个颇有研究价值的生物学靶标。     

感染GCRV的草鱼miRNA测序与比较分析

为探索基于高通量筛选抗性主效miRNA功能分子的方法应用于抗性草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)的选育,研究借助高通量测序鉴定分析感染GCRV前后的草鱼头肾组织中miRNAs.测序结果共鉴定出821个成熟miRNAs,其中118个在GCRV攻毒组特异表达,82个为未攻毒组特有;差异分析结果显示,G...     

Discriminating single-base difference miRNA expressions using microarray Probe Design Guru (ProDeG)

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are endogenous tissue-specific short RNAs that regulate gene expression. Discriminating each let-7 family member expression is especially important due to let-7's abundance and connection with development and cancer. However, short lengths (22 nt) and similarities between multiple sequences have prevented identification of individual members. Here, we present ProDeG, a computational algorithm which designs imperfectly matched sequences (previously yielding only noise levels in microarray experiments) for genome-wide microarray “signal” probes to discriminate single nucleotide differences and to improve probe qualities. Our probes for the entire let-7 family are both homogeneous and specific, verified using microarray signals from fluorescent dye-tagged oligonucleotides corresponding to the let-7 family, demonstrating the power of our algorithm. In addition, false let-7c signals from conventional perfectly-matched probes were identified in lymphoblastoid cell-line samples through comparison with our probe-set signals, raising concerns about false let-7 family signals in conventional microarray platform.     

Cellular stress induced alterations in microRNA let-7a and let-7b expression are dependent on p53

Genotoxic stressors, such as radiation, induce cellular damage that activates pre-programmed repair pathways, some of which involve microRNAs (miRNA) that alter gene expression. The let-7 family of miRNA regulates multiple cellular processes including cell division and DNA repair pathways. However, the role and mechanism underlying regulation of let-7 genes in response to stress have yet to be elucidated. In this study we demonstrate that let-7a and let-7b expression decreases significantly following exposure to agents that induce stress including ionizing radiation. This decrease in expression is dependent on p53 and ATM in vitro and is not observed in a p53(-/-) colon cancer cell line (HCT116) or ATM(-/-) human fibroblasts. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis showed p53 binding to a region upstream of the let-7 gene following radiation exposure. Luciferase transient transfections demonstrated that this p53 binding site is necessary for radiation-induced decreases in let-7 expression. A radiation-induced decrease in let-7a and let-7b expression is also observed in radiation-sensitive tissues in vivo and correlates with altered expression of proteins in p53-regulated pro-apoptotic signaling pathways. In contrast, this decreased expression is not observed in p53 knock-out mice suggesting that p53 directly repress let-7 expression. Exogenous expression of let-7a and let-7b increased radiation-induced cytotoxicity in HCT116 p53(+/+) cells but not HCT116 p53(-/-) cells. These results are the first demonstration of a mechanistic connection between the radiation-induced stress response and the regulation of miRNA and radiation-induced cytotoxicity and suggest that this process may be a molecular target for anticancer agents.     

A Novel miR-451a isomiR,Associated with Amelanotypic Phenotype,Acts as a Tumor Suppressor in Melanoma by Retarding Cell Migration and Invasion

miRNAs are key regulatory small non-coding RNAs involved in critical steps of melanoma tumorigenesis; however, the relationship between sequence specific variations at the 5′ or 3′ termini (isomiR) of a miRNA and cancer phenotype remains unclear. Deep-sequencing and qRT-PCR showed reduced expression of miR-144/451a cluster and most abundant isomiR (miR451a.1) in dysplastic nevi, in-situ and invasive melanomas compared to common nevi and normal skin (n = 101). miRNA in situ hybridization reproducibly confirmed lost miR-451a.1 in melanoma compared to nevus cells or adjacent keratinocytes. Significantly higher expression of miR-451a.1 was associated with amelanotic phenotype in melanomas (n = 47). In contrast, miR-451a was associated with melanotic phenotype, absent pagetoid scatter of intraepidermal melanocytes, superficial spreading histological subtype and tumor inflammation. Sequencing miRNAs from cultured melanocytes with cytoplasmic melanin gradient (light, medium to dark) showed absent miR-451a while revealing other melanin-associated miRNAs, e.g. miR-30b, miR-100 and miR-590 in darkly and let-7a, let-7i and let-7f in lightly to moderately pigmented cultured melanocytes. Ectopic expression of miR-144/451a in melanoma cell lines resulted in markedly higher levels of mature miR-451a.1 than miR451a or miR-144; and significantly retarded cell migration and inhibited invasion in a glucose-sensitive manner. Surprisingly, these effects were not mediated by calcium binding protein 39 (CAB39), a proven miR451a gene target. miR-144/miR-451a cluster is a novel miRNA locus with tumor suppressive activity in melanoma.