Specificity of microRNA target selection in translational repression

John G. Doench; Phillip A. Sharp

doi:10.1101/gad.1184404

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs found in organisms as evolutionarily distant as plants and mammals, yet most of the mRNAs they regulate are unknown. Here we show that the ability of an miRNA to translationally repress a target mRNA is largely dictated by the free energy of binding of the first eight nucleotides in the 5′ region of the miRNA. However, G:U wobble base-pairing in this region interferes with activity beyond that predicted on the basis of thermodynamic stability. Furthermore, an mRNA can be simultaneously repressed by more than one miRNA species. The level of repression achieved is dependent on both the amount of mRNA and the amount of available miRNA complexes. Thus, predicted miRNA:mRNA interactions must be viewed in the context of other potential interactions and cellular conditions.

Keywords

BiologymicroRNAPsychological repressionMessenger RNAContext (archaeology)GeneticsTranslation (biology)RNABase pairComputational biologyCell biologyGene expressionGene

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Publication Info

Year: 2004
Type: article
Volume: 18
Issue: 5
Pages: 504-511
Citations: 1622
Access: Closed

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APA Style

                            
                                    John G. Doench, 
                                
                                    Phillip A. Sharp
                                
                            (2004). 
                            Specificity of microRNA target selection in translational repression. 
                            Genes & Development
                            , 18
                            (5)
                            , 504-511.
                            https://doi.org/10.1101/gad.1184404

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1101/gad.1184404