Post-transcriptional regulation of microRNA expression

• DOI: 10.1261/rna.2322506
• Publication Date: 2006-06-01T00:49:00Z
• Authors: Gregor Obernosterer; Philipp J.F. Leus...; Mattias Alenius; Javier Martinez
• Keywords: Dicer; Drosha; Post-transcriptional regulation; Ribonuclease III

microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, noncoding ∼22-nucleotide RNA molecules that have recently emerged as fundamental, post-transcriptional regulators of cognate target gene expression. Many mammalian miRNAs expressed in a tissue-specific manner, phenomenon has so far been attributed to transcriptional regulation. We here show by Northern blots and situ hybridization experiments the expression can be regulated at level. In particular, miR-138 is spatially restricted distinct cell types, while its precursor, pre-miR-138-2, ubiquitously throughout all tissues analyzed. Furthermore, pre-miR-138-2 exported from nucleus cytoplasm, suggesting cleavage this pre-miRNA Dicer certain types. Thus, differential processing pre-miRNAs might an alternative mechanism control miRNA function.