Genome-wide identification of SNPs in microRNA genes and the SNP effects on microRNA target binding and biogenesis
✍ Scribed by Jing Gong; Yin Tong; Hong-Mei Zhang; Kai Wang; Tao Hu; Ge Shan; Jun Sun; An-Yuan Guo
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2011
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 440 KB
- Volume
- 33
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1059-7794
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are studied as key regulators of gene expression involved in different diseases. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA genes or target sites (miRNA-related SNPs) have been proved to be associated with human diseases by affecting the miRNA-mediated regulatory function. To systematically analyze miRNA-related SNPs and their effects, we performed a genome-wide scan for SNPs in human pre-miRNAs, miRNA flanking regions, target sites, and designed a pipeline to predict the effects of them on miRNA-target interaction. As a result, we identified 48 SNPs in human miRNA seed regions and thousands of SNPs in 3' untranslated regions with the potential to either disturb or create miRNA-target interactions. Furthermore, we experimentally confirmed seven loss-of-function SNPs and one gain-of-function SNP by luciferase assay. This is the first case of experimental validation of an SNP in an miRNA creating a novel miRNA target binding. All useful data were complied into miRNASNP, a user-friendly free online database (http://www.bioguo.org/miRNASNP/). These data will be a useful resource for studying miRNA function, identifying disease-associated miRNAs, and further personalized medicine.