Adenosine deamination in human transcripts generates novel microRNA binding sites.
Animals regulate gene expression at multiple levels, contributing to the complexity of the proteome. Among these regulatory events are post-transcriptional gene silencing, mediated by small non-coding RNAs (e.g. microRNAs), and adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing, generated by adenosine deaminases that act on double-stranded RNA (ADAR). Recent data suggest that these regulatory processes are connected at a fundamental level. A-to-I editing can affect Drosha processing or directly alter the microRNA (miRNA) sequences responsible for mRNA targeting. Here, we analyzed the previously reported adenosine deaminations occurring in human cDNAs, and asked if there was a relationship between A-to-I editing events in the mRNA 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) and mRNA:miRNA binding. We find significant correlations between A-to-I editing and changes in miRNA complementarities. In all, over 3000 of the 12 723 distinct adenosine deaminations assessed were found to form 7-mer complementarities (known as seed matches) to a subset of human miRNAs. In 200 of the ESTs, we also noted editing within a specific 13 nucleotide motif. Strikingly, deamination of this motif simultaneously creates seed matches to three (otherwise unrelated) miRNAs. Our results suggest the creation of miRNA regulatory sites as a novel function for ADAR activity. Consequently, many miRNA target sites may only be identifiable through examining expressed sequences.
Borchert
Glen M
GM
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Gilmore
Brian L
BL
Spengler
Ryan M
RM
Xing
Yi
Y
Lanier
William
W
Bhattacharya
Debashish
D
Davidson
Beverly L
BL
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D003641:Deamination; D006801:Humans; D007288:Inosine / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017393:RNA Editing; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C546275:MIRN513A1 microRNA, human; C546957:MIRN769 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C109664:caspase-activated DNase inhibitor; D007288:Inosine; C567955:ADARB1 protein, human; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase; D000241:Adenosine