基于Gene Ontology的MicroRNA功能聚类

MicroRNA(miRNA)的许多生物过程是通过影响靶基因的转录后表达.miRNA与靶标之间的互补程度和性质决定其基因调控作用.结构相似性可以作为一个强有力的方法推断分子功能的相似性.然而,结构比对的方法来度量miRNA之间的相似性通常不太准确,而且时间开销大.对这些表达差异的miRNA的靶标基因进行聚类,可以很好地理解miRNA的功能.提出一个新的GO(gene Ontology)语义相似性的方法来区分miRNA功能组.该方法采用项信息和边的权重来度量GO项的权重.此外,2个GO图的共同项和非共同项还被用来度量这2个图之间的相似度.对于2个miRNA,它们之间的相似性可以用它们靶标基因标注的GO项的相似性来计算.实验结果表明此方法不仅可以将相似功能的miRNA聚在一起,而且可以预测未知miRNA的功能.     

影响口腔癌发生潜在MicroRNAs的生物信息学分析

为获得口腔癌组织和正常组织之间差异表达的miRNAs,从分子水平研究相关的miRNAs在肿瘤发生发展中的作用,从GEO数据库筛选并下载口腔癌及正常组织的基因芯片,运用GEO2R工具分析筛选口腔癌与正常组织间的差异表达miRNAs. 采用FunRich软件对将所得差异miRNAs进行GO功能注释、KEGG信号通路分析. 通过对GSE124566和GSE113956两个芯片数据进行分析,分别筛选得到109、1 079个差异表达miRNAs,分别包括41、673个上调基因和68、406个下调基因,筛选得到共同差异表达miRNAs有30个,其中上调16个,参与的生物过程主要有细胞间通讯等,细胞成分主要有细胞核等,分子功能主要有转录因子活性等;下调14个,参与的生物过程主要有信号转导等,细胞成分主要有细胞质等,分子功能主要有转录因子活性等. 通过对口腔癌芯片数据的生物信息学分析,发现30个差异表达miRNAs是口腔癌发生、发展的重要miRNAs,囊泡介导的转运,核苷酸的代谢等过程. 最后预测出了13 796个靶基因,并通过PPI互作分析筛选出了联系最紧密的10个靶基因.     

水稻低温胁迫响应 ｍｉｃｒｏＲＮＡ 鉴定

水稻是世界三大粮食作物之一,然而低温胁迫会严重抑制水稻的生长发育。为了探究micoRNA在水稻低温胁迫中的作用,采用低温处理前,5℃低温处理24h和5℃低温处理48h的2~3叶期水稻整株,构建9个小RNA文库。通过高通量测序后,对9个小RNA文库的microRNA进行差异表达分析,一共筛选出21个与冷胁迫相关的microRNA,其中16个在冷胁迫下上调,5个在冷胁迫下下调。通过对这21个microRNA靶基因的CO富集结果表明,其靶基因广泛富集在包括信号转导,免疫系统和物质合成等细胞内过程中。这表明水稻可能通过多种micoRNA 介导,从各个方面来协同抵御低温胁迫。本研究为进一步阐明microRNA响应低温胁迫的分子机制提供了基础,且本研究所鉴定的microRNA为增强水稻对低温耐受性遗传改良提供了优异的miRNA资源。     

A pancreatic islet-specific microRNA regulates insulin secretion

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a growing class of non-coding RNAs that are thought to regulate gene expression by translational repression. Several miRNAs in animals exhibit tissue-specific or developmental-stage-specific expression, indicating that they could play important roles in many biological processes. To study the role of miRNAs in pancreatic endocrine cells we cloned and identified a novel, evolutionarily conserved and islet-specific miRNA (miR-375). Here we show that overexpression of miR-375 suppressed glucose-induced insulin secretion, and conversely, inhibition of endogenous miR-375 function enhanced insulin secretion. The mechanism by which secretion is modified by miR-375 is independent of changes in glucose metabolism or intracellular Ca2+-signalling but correlated with a direct effect on insulin exocytosis. Myotrophin (Mtpn) was predicted to be and validated as a target of miR-375. Inhibition of Mtpn by small interfering (si)RNA mimicked the effects of miR-375 on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and exocytosis. Thus, miR-375 is a regulator of insulin secretion and may thereby constitute a novel pharmacological target for the treatment of diabetes.     

大豆降解组文库microRNAs的启动子分析

研究目的：创新要点：通过分析miRNA的核心启动子和顺式作用元件为进一步解析大豆（Glycinemax）miRNAs表达调控及其功能研究提供重要信息。利用生物信息学方法全面解析了大豆降解组文库miRNA的启动子特征,并依据顺式作用元件及靶基因构建了miRNA的表达与生长素响应因子、赤霉素响应因子之问存在潜在的负反馈调控网络。研究方法：本研究利用TSSP程序和PlantCARE数据库预测了来自大豆降解组文库的440个miRNA的核心启动子以及369个miRNAs的顺式作用元件,并依据顺式作用元件及靶基因构建miRNA调控网络。重要结论：83．86％的miRNA在其上游序列中含有启动子,8．64％的miRNA在其下游序列中含有启动子,21．59％的miRNA包含增强子。核心启动子的TATA盒与转录起始位点（TSSs）的分布相似（见图2）。此外,对转录起始位点5’端的顺式作用元件预测为miRNAs的可能功能和表达的时空性提供了线索。miRNAs的顺式作用元件和靶基因的分析显示,部分miRNA的表达与生长素响应因子、赤霉素响应因子之间存在潜在的负反馈调控（见图3）。     

Widespread changes in protein synthesis induced by microRNAs

Animal microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression by inhibiting translation and/or by inducing degradation of target messenger RNAs. It is unknown how much translational control is exerted by miRNAs on a genome-wide scale. We used a new proteomic approach to measure changes in synthesis of several thousand proteins in response to miRNA transfection or endogenous miRNA knockdown. In parallel, we quantified mRNA levels using microarrays. Here we show that a single miRNA can repress the production of hundreds of proteins, but that this repression is typically relatively mild. A number of known features of the miRNA-binding site such as the seed sequence also govern repression of human protein synthesis, and we report additional target sequence characteristics. We demonstrate that, in addition to downregulating mRNA levels, miRNAs also directly repress translation of hundreds of genes. Finally, our data suggest that a miRNA can, by direct or indirect effects, tune protein synthesis from thousands of genes.     

Silencing of microRNAs in vivo with 'antagomirs'

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of non-coding RNAs that are believed to be important in many biological processes through regulation of gene expression. The precise molecular function of miRNAs in mammals is largely unknown and a better understanding will require loss-of-function studies in vivo. Here we show that a novel class of chemically engineered oligonucleotides, termed 'antagomirs', are efficient and specific silencers of endogenous miRNAs in mice. Intravenous administration of antagomirs against miR-16, miR-122, miR-192 and miR-194 resulted in a marked reduction of corresponding miRNA levels in liver, lung, kidney, heart, intestine, fat, skin, bone marrow, muscle, ovaries and adrenals. The silencing of endogenous miRNAs by this novel method is specific, efficient and long-lasting. The biological significance of silencing miRNAs with the use of antagomirs was studied for miR-122, an abundant liver-specific miRNA. Gene expression and bioinformatic analysis of messenger RNA from antagomir-treated animals revealed that the 3' untranslated regions of upregulated genes are strongly enriched in miR-122 recognition motifs, whereas downregulated genes are depleted in these motifs. Analysis of the functional annotation of downregulated genes specifically predicted that cholesterol biosynthesis genes would be affected by miR-122, and plasma cholesterol measurements showed reduced levels in antagomir-122-treated mice. Our findings show that antagomirs are powerful tools to silence specific miRNAs in vivo and may represent a therapeutic strategy for silencing miRNAs in disease.     

MicroRNAs研究进展

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成的初级前体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调控靶mRNA.这些microRNAs在广泛的生物过程中发挥重要作用,包括细胞增殖,分化和凋亡.主要介绍microR-NAs的特征,加工与成熟过程,作用机制以及其功能.     

Discoveries and functions of virus-encoded MicroRNAs

Virus-encoded microRNAs （miRNAs） are a new kind of miRNAs that regulate the expression of target gene in host cells or viruses through inducing cleavage of mRNA, repressing translation, etc., and change the processes of host cells or replicate viruses to escape or resist immune surveillance of host and protect viruses themselves. It has become a hot topic to discover viral genes encoding miRNAs and their target genes, and to identify their functions. This review provides background information on the history of virally encoded miRNAs including their genomic distribution, functions and mechanisms. In addition, we discuss the similarities and differences between virus- and host-encoded miRNAs, the future directions of researches in viral miRNAs and their applications in diseases control and therapy.     

MicroRNA expression profiles classify human cancers

Recent work has revealed the existence of a class of small non-coding RNA species, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), which have critical functions across various biological processes. Here we use a new, bead-based flow cytometric miRNA expression profiling method to present a systematic expression analysis of 217 mammalian miRNAs from 334 samples, including multiple human cancers. The miRNA profiles are surprisingly informative, reflecting the developmental lineage and differentiation state of the tumours. We observe a general downregulation of miRNAs in tumours compared with normal tissues. Furthermore, we were able to successfully classify poorly differentiated tumours using miRNA expression profiles, whereas messenger RNA profiles were highly inaccurate when applied to the same samples. These findings highlight the potential of miRNA profiling in cancer diagnosis.     

小鼠着床前胚胎Dicer 1和DGCR 8基因的表达

研究了miRNA生成相关基因Dicer 1和 DGCR 8在小鼠着床前胚胎各发育阶段的表达,探讨其对着床前胚胎发育的作用.建立小鼠超排、交配系统,采集着床前胚胎;采用二步法RT-PcR方法鉴定着床前胚胎Dicer1和DGcR 8表达.结果显示:小鼠卵母细胞及受精后1.5 d、2.5 d、3.5 d和4.5 d着床前胚胎均表达Dicef 1和DGcR 8基因.这是着床前胚胎IlliRNA生成物的重要基因,miRNA及其生物合成相关基因可能对着床前胚胎发育起重要作用.     

Dynamic analysis of DNA damage induced miRNAs in colon cancer cells

It is known that microRNAs （miRNAs） expression profile shows substantial changes in cells under DNA damage. Here, we did miRNA microarray and quantitative real-time PCR to comprehensively identify the differentially expressed miRNAs in colon cancer cell lines HCT116 p53＋/＋ and HCT116 p53-/-. Cluster analysis revealed a panel of differentially expressed miRNAs which are regulated by p53 and/or UV-C induced DNA damage. These altered miRNAs tend to be located in chromosomes 13, X and 17. Moreover, pathways enrichment analysis estimated that MAPK pathway, focal adheren pathway, p53 pathway and Wnt pathway were mediated by these miRNAs to exert their functions in DNA damage response. Additionally, we found that miR- 320a, one of the UV-C induced miRNAs, play a role in protecting cells from DNA damage. Taken together, our results show that miRNAs are dynamic regulated in p53- dependent or -independent manners in different cell contexts and different situations following DNA damage.     

Correlation of microRNAs responding to high dose γ-irradiation with predicted target mRNAs in HeLa cells using microarray analyses

An increasing data indicates that altered microRNAs （miRNAs） participate in the radiation-induced DNA damage response. However, a correlation of mRNA and miRNA profiles across the entire genome and in response to irradiation has not been thor- oughly assessed. We analyzed miRNA microarray data collected from HeLa cells after ionizing radiation （IR）, quantified the ex- pression profiles of mRNAs and performed comparative analysis of the data sets using target prediction algorithms, Gene Ontol- ogy （GO） analysis, pathway analysis, and gene network construction. The results showed that the altered miRNAs were involved in regulation of various cellular functions, miRNA-gene network analyses revealed that miR- 186, miR- 106b, miR- 15 a/b, CCND 1 and CDK6 played vital role in the cellular radiation response. Using qRT-PCR, we confirmed that twenty-two miRNAs showed differential expression in HeLa cells treated with IR and some of these miRNAs affected cell cycle progression. This study demonstrated that miRNAs influence gene expression in the entire genome during the cellular radiation response and suggested vital pathways for further research.     

OsNAC2转录因子介导生长素代谢通路调节水稻早期根的发育

NAC家族是植物特有的一类转录因子,在植物的生长发育和逆境胁迫等方面具有重要的功能.研究发现,OsNAC2基因的过表达(ON11)和RNAi(RNAi31)转基因株系,早期主根的长度有显著变化的特征.与野生型日本晴水稻(WT)相比,ON11植株的主根变短,而RNAi31的主根变长.通过对早期OsNAC2pro∶∶GUS株系根尖染色结果表明OsNAC2在根尖具有时序性表达.不同激素诱导OsNAC2表达谱和OsNAC2pro∶∶GUS株系对激素响应结果显示OsNAC2受生长素显著性诱导.结合芯片数据和qRT-PCR分析,OsNAC2转基因株系中生长素合成代谢及信号通路相关基因表达量变化较为明显.同时,ON11根尖淀粉粒发育及其向重力性受到抑制.因此,推测OsNAC2可能通过抑制生长素的合成代谢及信号通路相关基因的表达,降低生长素含量,并参与生长素响应通路,最终影响水稻根的生长.     

microRNAs家族间负关联模式挖掘

microRNAs(miRNAs)广泛地存在于动植物的细胞中,它的前体具有发夹结构,并且具有很好的保守性.miRNAs在生物体内对细胞的生长、发育、死亡和病变起着重要作用.研究miRNAs家族间在生物体内的调控关系,对miRNAs在生物组织中的表达进行关联分析和对miRNAs成熟序列、种子区域以及二级结构数据进行相似性比较,从而了解miRNAs家族对生物体的调节机制.为了识别具有高相关性的miRNAs家族负关联模式,引入相关系数来改进传统的挖掘频繁项集算法和用互信息来衡量miRNAs家族间的交互性.     

The microcosmos of cancer

The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) almost two decades ago established a new paradigm of gene regulation. During the past ten years these tiny non-coding RNAs have been linked to virtually all known physiological and pathological processes, including cancer. In the same way as certain key protein-coding genes, miRNAs can be deregulated in cancer, in which they can function as a group to mark differentiation states or individually as bona fide oncogenes or tumour suppressors. Importantly, miRNA biology can be harnessed experimentally to investigate cancer phenotypes or used therapeutically as a target for drugs or as the drug itself.