Characterization of Novel miRNAs During Development

描述（由申请人提供）： MicroRNA是一类在植物和动物中发现的新型基因调控分子，通过与靶mRNA上的互补序列结合来控制基因表达。最近在蠕虫、苍蝇和哺乳动物基因组中鉴定出数百种miRNAs。在动物中，只有五种miRNAs的功能得到了阐明，所有五种miRNAs都控制着重要的发育过程。未鉴定的miRNAs也可能在发育过程中作为重要的基因调控因子。30 C线虫的miRNAs在发育过程中受到时间调控，其中11种与哺乳动物miRNAs具有同源性。有待验证的假设是，保守的时间表达的miRNA对C。在哺乳动物的发育过程中，线虫的发育也很重要。本研究的目的是：1）研究6种新的、保守的、受时间调控的miRNA在C. elegans 2）确定选择的保守和时间调节的miRNA在C. 3）研究一个或两个有希望的时间调节的miRNA同源物在小鼠中的功能。这些研究将有助于理解基因调控和发育，并可能导致对人类疾病的宝贵见解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): MicroRNAs belong to a novel class of gene regulatory molecules found in plants and animals that control gene expression by binding to complimentary sequences on target mRNAs. Hundreds of miRNAs have recently been identified in worm, fly, and mammalian genomes. The function of only five miRNAs has been elucidated in animals and all five control important developmental processes. The uncharacterized miRNAs may also act as important gene regulators during development. Thirty C. elegans miRNAs are temporally regulated during development, eleven of which share homology to mammalian miRNAs. The hypothesis to be tested is that conserved temporally expressed miRNAs essential for C. elegans development will also be important during mammalian development. This proposal will 1) characterize the expression patterns of six novel conserved and temporally regulated miRNAs in C. elegans 2) determine the role of select conserved and temporally regulated miRNAs during C. elegans development and 3) investigate the function of one or two promising temporally regulated miRNA homologues in the mouse. These studies will contribute to the understanding of gene regulation and development and may lead to valuable insights on human disease.