基于microRNA共调控网络的microRNA调控机制研究

已有研究通过计算和实验的手段,证明了不同的microRNA(miRNA)通过相互之间的合作,来共同调控它们所共有的靶基因。对miRNA之间这种合作行为的特性的研究,能够帮助我们更好的理解miRNA的调控机理。本文建立了一个网络来描述miRNA之间的合作关系,并通过对该网络的分析,得出了四点关于miRNA调控机制的性质。第一,基因靶标数目越多的miRNA倾向于与越多的miRNA伙伴进行合作。第二,进化上保守的miRNA所具有的共调控伙伴的数目显著多于非保守的miRNA。第三,以上的性质是跨物种的存在的(人与小鼠)。第四,miRNA与蛋白质在系统层面性质存在一定的相似。

Reconstruction of microRNA co-regulation network reveals the properties of microRNA regulation mechanism

Both computational and experimental studies have confirmed that different microRNAs cooperate with each other to regulate the target genes they share. Understanding of the properties of such cooperation among mi- croRNAs may help us know more about the microRNA regulation mechanism. In this research, a network was con- strueted to describe the cooperation among microRNAs. Four properties of the microRNA regulation mechanism were discovered through a topological study of the network. First, a microRNA with more target genes tend to coop- erate more with other microRNAs. Second, the conserved microRNAs have significantly more co - regulators than poorly conserved microRNAs. Third, these two properties are well maintained in different species （both human and mouse）. Last but not least, there are system level similarities between microRNAs and proteins.