Base Composition Characteristics of Mammalian miRNAs
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA sequences that repress protein synthesis by either inhibiting the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) or increasing mRNA degradation. Endogenous miRNAs have been found in various organisms, including animals, plants, and viruses. Mammalian miRNAs are evolutionarily c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nucleic Acids |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/951570 |
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| _version_ | 1832545555381747712 |
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| author | Bin Wang |
| author_facet | Bin Wang |
| author_sort | Bin Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA sequences that repress protein synthesis by either inhibiting the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) or increasing mRNA degradation. Endogenous miRNAs have been found in various organisms, including animals, plants, and viruses. Mammalian miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved, are scattered throughout chromosomes, and play an important role in the immune response and the onset of cancer. For this study, the author explored the base composition characteristics of miRNA genes from the six mammalian species that contain the largest number of known miRNAs. It was found that mammalian miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved and GU-rich. Interestingly, in the miRNA sequences investigated, A residues are clearly the most frequent occupants of positions 2 and 3 of the 5′ end of miRNAs. Unlike G and U residues that may pair with C/U and A/G, respectively, A residues can only pair with U residues of target mRNAs, which may augment the recognition specificity of the 5′ seed region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1157d093d71047228cd4811a8506a069 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-0201 2090-021X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nucleic Acids |
| spelling | doaj-art-1157d093d71047228cd4811a8506a0692025-02-03T07:25:18ZengWileyJournal of Nucleic Acids2090-02012090-021X2013-01-01201310.1155/2013/951570951570Base Composition Characteristics of Mammalian miRNAsBin Wang0Department of Chemistry, Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755, USAMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA sequences that repress protein synthesis by either inhibiting the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) or increasing mRNA degradation. Endogenous miRNAs have been found in various organisms, including animals, plants, and viruses. Mammalian miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved, are scattered throughout chromosomes, and play an important role in the immune response and the onset of cancer. For this study, the author explored the base composition characteristics of miRNA genes from the six mammalian species that contain the largest number of known miRNAs. It was found that mammalian miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved and GU-rich. Interestingly, in the miRNA sequences investigated, A residues are clearly the most frequent occupants of positions 2 and 3 of the 5′ end of miRNAs. Unlike G and U residues that may pair with C/U and A/G, respectively, A residues can only pair with U residues of target mRNAs, which may augment the recognition specificity of the 5′ seed region.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/951570 |
| spellingShingle | Bin Wang Base Composition Characteristics of Mammalian miRNAs Journal of Nucleic Acids |
| title | Base Composition Characteristics of Mammalian miRNAs |
| title_full | Base Composition Characteristics of Mammalian miRNAs |
| title_fullStr | Base Composition Characteristics of Mammalian miRNAs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Base Composition Characteristics of Mammalian miRNAs |
| title_short | Base Composition Characteristics of Mammalian miRNAs |
| title_sort | base composition characteristics of mammalian mirnas |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/951570 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT binwang basecompositioncharacteristicsofmammalianmirnas |