Role of microRNAs in Regulating Gene Expression

IFN-g 3UTR的片段在脊椎动物中是保守的，并且这种保守的非编码序列（CNS）被假设具有调节潜力。我们对IFN-g基因序列的分析揭示了miRNAs 29 a和B在3个UTR中ARE元件下游结合的有希望的靶点。该区域存在于从许多物种克隆的IFN-g基因中，因此暗示该miRNA结合位点在调节IFN-g基因表达中具有作用。通常，已知ARE元件和miRNA靶序列都参与基因表达的转录后调节。而在IFN-g 3 UTR中，ARE位于5端，miRNA-29 BS位于3端，没有报道证据支持miRNA与IFN-g的ARE区域结合的模型。 为了验证这一假设，我们通过突变ARE和miRNA-BS产生了几个3 IFN-g-UTR报告基因构建体，我们的实验揭示了ARE和miRNA之间的竞争效应，影响mRNA的稳定性。根据这些结果，我们推测ARE介导的衰变（AMD）和RNA诱导的沉默复合物（RISC）途径竞争性相互作用，从而调节IFN-g的转录后控制。我们推测RISC复合物可能通过与ARE结合蛋白相互作用而抑制AMD进程。我们的体外实验结果让我们得到了RNA结构专家布鲁斯·夏皮罗博士（NCI）的帮助。Shapiros实验室分析了3 UTR结构，并评估了miRNA的结合是否改变了3 RNA结构。他的实验室提供了计算证据，证明mir-29在1090-1109区域的结合导致mRNA二级结构的重排。与相邻区域中的miRNA结合相比，这种结构变化似乎更大并且性质不同（参见图6）。特别地，富含AU的区域和miRNA结合区域之间的长距离相互作用似乎受到miRNA结合的调节。这种调节似乎与最初预期的方向相反：预测在miRNA结合时存在长距离相互作用，而在未结合形式的mRNA中减弱或不存在。为了证实预测的miRNA结合后的RNA结构变化确实发生了，我们与Stuart LeGrice博士（NCI）合作，利用SHAPE技术（通过引物延伸分析的选择性29-羟基酰化）。这项技术使我们能够更好地了解miRNA结合如何影响IFN-g RNA结构，并确定预测的RNA结构理论变化是否真的发生在与miRNA相互作用后。如果该模型得到验证，我们将测试已经报道与IFN-g ARE相互作用的蛋白质TTP的结合是否在miRNA存在下改变。我们假设miRNA与mRNA的结合会干扰TTP与RNA的结合，从而稳定RNA。作为这个整体项目的一部分，我们也在寻找IFN-g基因的多态性，可能会影响基因表达，通过改变IFN-g mRNA的稳定性。

Segments of the IFN-g 3UTR are conserved across vertebrates and such conserved non-coding sequence (CNS) are hypothesized to have regulatory potential. Our analysis of the IFN-g gene sequence revealed that there is a promising target for miRNAs 29a and b binding downstream of the ARE element in the 3 UTR. This region is present in IFN-g genes cloned from many species, thus implicating this miRNA binding site as having a role in regulating IFN-g gene expression. Typically, both the ARE element and miRNA target sequences are known to be involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. While in the IFN-g 3 UTR, the ARE is located in the 5 end and the miRNA-29BS at the 3 end, there is no reported evidence supporting the model that miRNAs bind to the ARE region of IFN-g. To test this hypothesis, we generated several 3 IFN-g-UTR reporter constructs by mutating the ARE and miRNA-BS and our experiments revealed competing effects between the ARE and miRNA, affecting the stability of the mRNA. From these results, we hypothesize that the ARE mediated decay (AMD) and RNA induced silencing complex (RISC) pathways competitively interact and thereby regulate post-transcriptional control of IFN-g. We hypothesize that the RISC complex may inhibit the AMD process, by potentially interacting with ARE binding proteins. Our in vitro results led us to enlist the help of Dr. Bruce Shapiro (NCI), an expert in RNA structure. Dr. Shapiros laboratory analyzed the 3 UTR structure and evaluated whether binding of the miRNA altered 3 RNA structure. His laboratory provided computational evidence that binding of mir-29 in the region 1090-1109 leads to a rearrangement of the secondary structure of the mRNA. This structural change appears to be larger and different in nature compared to binding of miRNA in neighboring regions (see Figure 6). In particular, a long-distance interaction between the AU-rich region and the miRNA binding region seems to be modulated by the miRNA binding. The modulation appears to be in the reverse direction as initially expected: the long-distance interaction is predicted to be present upon binding of the miRNA and weakened or not present in the unbound form of the mRNA. To confirm that the predicted RNA structural changes upon binding of the miRNA actually occur, we initiated a collaboration with Dr. Stuart LeGrice, (NCI) utilizing SHAPE technology (selective 29-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension). This technology permits us to gain a better understanding of how miRNA binding may affect IFN-g RNA structure and determine if the predicted theoretical changes in RNA structure actually occur following interaction with the miRNAs. If this model is validated, we will then test whether the binding of the protein TTP, already reported to interact with the IFN-g ARE, is altered in the presence of the miRNA. We hypothesize that miRNA binding to the mRNA will interfere with the binding of TTP to the RNA, thus stabilizing the RNA. As part of this overall project, we are also searching for polymorphisms in the IFN-g gene that may effect gene expression by altering IFN-g mRNA stability.