title: Increased number of microRNA target sites in genes encoded in CNV regions. Evidence for an evolutionary genomic interaction.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and copy number variations (CNVs) are two newly discovered genetic elements that have revolutionized the field of molecular biology and genetics. By performing in silico whole genome analysis, we demonstrate that both the number of miRNAs that target genes found in CNV regions as well as the number of miRNA-binding sites are significantly higher than those of genes found in non-CNV regions. This suggests that miRNAs may have acted as equilibrators of gene expression during evolution in an attempt to regulate aberrant gene expression and to increase the tolerance to genome plasticity.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences and Molecular Medicine Research Center, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors: Kyriakos
authors: K
authors: Felekkis
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Voskarides
authors: Harsh
authors: H
authors: Dweep
authors: Carsten
authors: C
authors: Sticht
authors: Norbert
authors: N
authors: Gretz
authors: Constantinos
authors: C
authors: Deltas
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D019295:Computational Biology; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations / Q000235:genetics*; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D035683:MicroRNAs