A single Hox locus in Drosophila produces functional microRNAs from opposite DNA strands.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 22-nucleotide RNAs that are processed from characteristic precursor hairpins and pair to sites in messages of protein-coding genes to direct post-transcriptional repression. Here, we report that the miRNA iab-4 locus in the Drosophila Hox cluster is transcribed convergently from both DNA strands, giving rise to two distinct functional miRNAs. Both sense and antisense miRNA products target neighboring Hox genes via highly conserved sites, leading to homeotic transformations when ectopically expressed. We also report sense/antisense miRNAs in mouse and find antisense transcripts close to many miRNAs in both flies and mammals, suggesting that additional sense/antisense pairs exist.
Stark
Alexander
A
Broad Institute of Massachussetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, USA. alex.stark@mit.edu
Bushati
Natascha
N
Jan
Calvin H
CH
Kheradpour
Pouya
P
Hodges
Emily
E
Brennecke
Julius
J
Bartel
David P
DP
Cohen
Stephen M
SM
Kellis
Manolis
M
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019521:Body Patterning; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017344:Genes, Insect; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000378:metabolism
D035683:MicroRNAs; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D004247:DNA