PUBLICATION

Dispatched Homolog 2 is targeted by miR-214 through a combination of three weak microRNA recognition sites

Authors
Li, N., Flynt, A.S., Kim, H.R., Solnica-Krezel, L., and Patton, J.G.
ID
ZDB-PUB-080630-19
Date
2008
Source
Nucleic acids research   36(13): 4277-4285 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Flynt, Alex, Kim, Rosemary, Li, Nan, Patton, James G., Solnica-Krezel, Lilianna
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • 3' Untranslated Regions/chemistry
  • Animals
  • Base Pairing
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/anatomy & histology
  • Membrane Proteins/genetics*
  • MicroRNAs/chemistry
  • MicroRNAs/metabolism*
  • RNA Interference*
  • Zebrafish/anatomy & histology
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
PubMed
18583362 Full text @ Nucleic Acids Res.
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression by inhibiting translation of target mRNAs through pairing with miRNA recognition elements (MREs), usually in 3' UTRs. Because pairing is imperfect, identification of bona fide mRNA targets presents a challenge. Most target recognition algorithms strongly emphasize pairing between nucleotides 2-8 of the miRNA (the 'seed' sequence) and the mRNA but adjacent sequences and the local context of the 3' UTR also affect targeting. Here, we show that dispatched 2 is a target of miR-214. In zebrafish, dispatched 2 is expressed in the telencephalon and ventral hindbrain and is essential for normal zebrafish development. Regulation of dispatched 2 by miR-214 is via pairing with three, noncanonical, weak MREs. By comparing the repression capacity of GFP reporters containing different dispatched 2 sequences, we found that a combination of weak sites, which lack canonical seed pairing, can effectively target an mRNA for silencing. This finding underscores the challenge that prediction algorithms face and emphasizes the need to experimentally validate predicted MREs.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping