title: Differential expression of microRNA patterns in planarian normal and regenerative tissues.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ~22-nt small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of specific target genes in many eukaryotes. miRNAs have been shown to play important roles in stem cell maintenance, cell fate determination, and differentiation. Planarians are capable of regenerating entire body plans from tiny fragments; this regenerative capacity is facilitated by a population of pluripotent stem cells known as neoblasts. Planarians have been a classic model system for the study of many aspects of stem cell biology. However, very limited knowledge on miRNA involved in this regulatory mechanism exists. This study profiles the expression of miRNAs in the normal and regenerative tissues of planarians using miRCURY LNA array technology. Thirteen miRNAs showed significant differences in expression between these two tissues. To further confirm our results, we examined the expression of two miRNAs by qRT-PCR. Results show that some known miRNAs may play key roles in the regulatory mechanisms of regeneration. Our findings can be utilized in future research on miRNA function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001 Henan, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Nan
authors.initials: QN
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Zhen-Xia
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yun-Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: San-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Jin-Mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhao-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yi-Zhe
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shou-Tao
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019295:Computational Biology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D010932:Planarians / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D035683:MicroRNAs