title: Clock-controlled mir-142-3p can target its activator, Bmal1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  microRNAs (miRNAs) are shown to be involved in the regulation of circadian clock. However, it remains largely unknown whether miRNAs can regulate the core clock genes (Clock and Bmal1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, we found that mir-142-3p directly targeted the 3'UTR of human BMAL1 and mouse Bmal1. The over-expression (in 293ET and NIH3T3 cells) and knockdown (in U87MG cells) of mir-142-3p reduced and up-regulated the Bmal1/BMAL1 mRNA and protein levels, respectively. Moreover, the expression level of mir-142-3p oscillated in serum-shocked NIH3T3 cells and the results of ChIP and luciferase reporter assays suggested that the expression of mir-142-3p was directly controlled by CLOCK/BMAL1 heterodimers in NIH3T3 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates that mir-142-3p can directly target the 3'UTR of Bmal1. In addition, the expression of mir-142-3p is controlled by CLOCK/BMAL1 heterodimers, suggesting a potential negative feedback loop consisting of the miRNAs and the core clock genes. These findings open new perspective for studying the molecular mechanism of circadian clock.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaochao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Xiaozhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D056926:CLOCK Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019281:Dimerization; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D056926:CLOCK Proteins