Dataset Information

Origin and evolution of a placental-specific microRNA family in the human genome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short regulatory RNAs encoded in the genome of DNA viruses, some single cell organisms, plants and animals. With the rapid development of technology, more and more miRNAs are being discovered. However, the origin and evolution of most miRNAs remain obscure. Here we report the origin and evolution dynamics of a human miRNA family.

Results

We have shown that all members of the miR-1302 family are derived from MER53 elements. Although the conservation scores of the MER53-derived pre-miRNA sequences are low, we have identified 36 potential paralogs of MER53-derived miR-1302 genes in the human genome and 58 potential orthologs of the human miR-1302 family in placental mammals. We suggest that in placental species, this miRNA family has evolved following the birth-and-death model of evolution. Three possible mechanisms that can mediate miRNA duplication in evolutionary history have been proposed: the transposition of the MER53 element, segmental duplications and Alu-mediated recombination. Finally, we have found that the target genes of miR-1302 are over-represented in transportation, localization, and system development processes and in the positive regulation of cellular processes. Many of them are predicted to function in binding and transcription regulation.

Conclusions

The members of miR-1302 family that are derived from MER53 elements are placental-specific miRNAs. They emerged at the early stage of the recent 180 million years since eutherian mammals diverged from marsupials. Under the birth-and-death model, the miR-1302 genes have experienced a complex expansion with some members evolving by segmental duplications and some by Alu-mediated recombination events.

SUBMITTER: Yuan Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2996404 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Origin and evolution of a placental-specific microRNA family in the human genome.

Yuan Zhidong Z Sun Xiao X Jiang Dongke D Ding Yan Y Lu Zhiyuan Z Gong Lejun L Liu Hongde H Xie Jianming J

BMC evolutionary biology 20101110

<h4>Background</h4>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short regulatory RNAs encoded in the genome of DNA viruses, some single cell organisms, plants and animals. With the rapid development of technology, more and more miRNAs are being discovered. However, the origin and evolution of most miRNAs remain obscure. Here we report the origin and evolution dynamics of a human miRNA family.<h4>Results</h4>We have shown that all members of the miR-1302 family are derived from MER53 elements. Although the ...[more]

PMID: 21067568

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Project description:miRNA-mediated gene expression silencing has previously been shown to be important for a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Here, we have explored the role of one bona fide human-specific miRNA (miR-941) in evolution of the human-specific expression and function. Using combination of high-throughput sequencing (GSE26545), miRNA transfection and large-scale PCR of various human populations, we have shown that emergence and rapid expansion of miR-941 might take place on the human evolutionary linage between six and one million years ago. Functionally, miR-941 could be associated with hedgehog and insulin signaling pathways, and thus might potentially play a role in evolution of human longevity. Human-specific effects of miR-941 regulation are detectable in human brain and affect genes involved in neurotransmitter signaling. Furthermore, emergence of miR-941 on the human evolutionary linage was accompanied by the accelerated loss of its binding sites. Taken together, these results strongly implicate the contribution of miR-941 in evolution of the human-specific phenotype. Ago2 Immunoprecipitation (Ago2-IP) experiments after miR-941 overexpression were conducted in 293T cell line. Briefly, All transfections were performed using human 293T cells cultured in 6-well tissue culture plates. Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) was used for a Synthetic miR-941 or a scrambled oligo transfection, at 30 nmol/l each (final concentration) per 1x106 cells/well of a 6-well plate using DharmaFECT (GE Healthcare). Total 5x106 cells were collected and subjected to Ago2 immunoprecipitation (Ago2-IP) using the RNA isolation kit Mouse Ago2 (Wako Chemicals) according to the manufacturer's instructions. For a negative control, immunoprecipitation was performed using nonimmune IgG beads prepared with the antibody immobilization bead kit (Wako Chemicals). The IP pull down RNA was used as template for an “in vitro” transcription reaction generating biotin-labeled antisense cRNA. The cRNA was analyzed on affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 arrays following the manufacturer’s instructions. R RMA package was used to quantify gene expression levels.

Dataset Information

Origin and evolution of a placental-specific microRNA family in the human genome.

Background

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Origin and evolution of a placental-specific microRNA family in the human genome.

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