title: Computational challenges in miRNA target predictions: to be or not to be a true target?
abstract: All microRNA (miRNA) target--finder algorithms return lists of candidate target genes. How valid is that output in a biological setting? Transcriptome analysis has proven to be a useful approach to determine mRNA targets. Time course mRNA microarray experiments may reliably identify downregulated genes in response to overexpression of specific miRNA. The approach may miss some miRNA targets that are principally downregulated at the protein level. However, the high-throughput capacity of the assay makes it an effective tool to rapidly identify a large number of promising miRNA targets. Finally, loss and gain of function miRNA genetics have the clear potential of being critical in evaluating the biological relevance of thousands of target genes predicted by bioinformatic studies and to test the degree to which miRNA-mediated regulation of any "validated" target functionally matters to the animal or plant.
authors: European Brain Research Institute-Fondazione EBRI-Rita Levi-Montalcini, Roma, Italy.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Barbato
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Arisi
authors: Marcos E
authors: ME
authors: Frizzo
authors: Rossella
authors: R
authors: Brandi
authors: Letizia
authors: L
authors: Da Sacco
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Masotti
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger