An evolutionarily conserved mechanism for microRNA-223 expression revealed by microRNA gene profiling.
Many microRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved and have intriguing expression patterns. Tissue and/or time-specific expressions of some miRNAs are presumably controlled by unique cis-acting regulatory elements that coevolved with the miRNA sequences. Exploiting bioinformatics, we identified several miRNAs whose primary transcripts could be regulated by conserved genomic elements proximal to their transcription start sites. Such miRNAs include microRNA-223 (miR-223), which is reportedly controlled by a unique regulatory mechanism during granulopoiesis. Here, we define a mechanism distinct from that previously proposed to regulate miR-223 expression. We find that the mir-223 gene resembles a "myeloid gene" and might be driven by the myeloid transcription factors, PU.1 and C/EBPs. This mechanism is specified by the conserved proximal cis-regulatory element and might be common among different species. Hence, it needs to be considered that two distinct mechanisms that would play critical roles in myeloid functions and differentiation are actually concerned with the regulation of miR-223.
Fukao
Taro
T
Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan. tarofukao@2002.jukuin.keio.ac.jp <tarofukao@2002.jukuin.keio.ac.jp>
Fukuda
Yoko
Y
Kiga
Kotaro
K
Sharif
Jafar
J
Hino
Kimihiro
K
Enomoto
Yutaka
Y
Kawamura
Aya
A
Nakamura
Kaito
K
Takeuchi
Tsutomu
T
Tanabe
Masanobu
M
D000818:Animals; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000099232:Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1
D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099232:Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1