Regulation by let-7 and lin-4 miRNAs results in target mRNA degradation.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 22 nucleotide RNAs that negatively regulate the expression of protein-coding genes. In a present model of miRNA function in animals, miRNAs that form imperfect duplexes with their targets inhibit protein expression without affecting mRNA levels. Here, we report that in C. elegans, regulation by the let-7 miRNA results in degradation of its lin-41 target mRNA, despite the fact that its 3'UTR regulatory sequences can only partially base-pair with the miRNA. Furthermore, lin-14 and lin-28 are targets of the lin-4 miRNA, and we show that the mRNA levels for these protein-coding genes significantly decrease in response to lin-4 expression. This study reveals that mRNAs containing partial miRNA complementary sites can be targeted for degradation in vivo, raising the possibility that regulation at the level of mRNA stability may be more common than previously appreciated for the miRNA pathway.
Bagga
Shveta
S
Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
Bracht
John
J
Hunter
Shaun
S
Massirer
Katlin
K
Holtz
Janette
J
Eachus
Rachel
R
Pasquinelli
Amy E
AE
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology; D020871:RNA Stability / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C102669:LIN-14 protein, C elegans; C452195:LIN-28 protein, C elegans; C410586:LIN-41 protein, C elegans; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C474488:let-7 microRNA, C elegans; C452194:lin-4 microRNA, C elegans