Work

The C. elegans microRNA let-7 binds to imperfect let-7 complementary sites from the lin-41 3′UTR

Year: 2004

Type: preprint

Abstract: Caenorhabditis elegans let-7, a founding member of the microRNA family, is predicted to bind to six sites in the 3'UTR of the mRNA of its target gene, lin-41, to down-regulate LIN-41. Here, we demonstrate that wild-type let-7 microRNA binds in vitro to RNA from the lin-41 3'UTR. This interaction is dependent on two conserved let-7 complementary sites (LCSs). A 27-nucleotide sequence between the LCSs is also necessary for down-regulation in vivo. LCS mutations compensatory to the lesion in let-7(n2853) can partially restore lin-41 3'UTR function in a let-7(n2853) background, providing the first experimental evidence for an animal miRNA binding directly to its validated target in vivo.

Source: Genes & Development

DOI: 10.1101/gad.1165404

Authors: Monica C. Vella, Eun-Young Choi, Shin-Yi Lin, Kristy Reinert, Frank J. Slack

Institutions: Yale University, University of Kentucky, Princeton University

Language: English

Topic: MicroRNA in disease regulation

Subfield: Cancer Research

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Yale University, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Award: Temporal Patterning by the let-7 RNA, &the lin-4I gene