title: Cloning and identification of microRNAs in earthworm (Eisenia fetida).
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) (noncoding RNAs of 20-25 nucleotides) play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in various eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Piwi-interacting RNAs function by combining with PIWI proteins to regulate protein synthesis and to stabilize mRNA, the chromatin framework, and genome structure. This study investigates the role of miRNAs in regeneration. A scrDNA library was constructed, and 17 noncoding RNAs from Eisenia fetida (an optimal model for the study of earthworm regeneration) were cloned and characterized. In addition, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the expression of four small RNAs during different developmental stages. The expression levels of these RNAs in regenerating tissue were higher than in normal tissue, and the expression patterns of these small RNAs were unique during development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 of Science Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qing-Nan
authors.initials: QN
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Zhen-Xia
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Yun-Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: San-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi-Zhe
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shou-Tao
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D022661:RNA, Untranslated