Animal MicroRNAs confer robustness to gene expression and have a significant impact on 3'UTR evolution.
MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that serve as posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression in higher eukaryotes. Their widespread and important role in animals is highlighted by recent estimates that 20%-30% of all genes are microRNA targets. Here, we report that a large set of genes involved in basic cellular processes avoid microRNA regulation due to short 3'UTRs that are specifically depleted of microRNA binding sites. For individual microRNAs, we find that coexpressed genes avoid microRNA sites, whereas target genes and microRNAs are preferentially expressed in neighboring tissues. This mutually exclusive expression argues that microRNAs confer accuracy to developmental gene-expression programs, thus ensuring tissue identity and supporting cell-lineage decisions.
Stark
Alexander
A
European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
Brennecke
Julius
J
Bushati
Natascha
N
Russell
Robert B
RB
Cohen
Stephen M
SM
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009132:Muscles / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014335:Tropomyosin / Q000235:genetics; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014335:Tropomyosin; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases; C490776:Tm1 protein, Drosophila; C078019:cpo protein, Drosophila; C094064:gliotactin; C089200:l(1)sc protein, Drosophila; C089972:repo protein, Drosophila