Atypical transcription of microRNA gene fragments.

Authors

• Jin Song Gao
• Yingjie Zhang
• Ming Li
• Lynne D Tucker
• Jason T Machan
• Peter Quesenberry
• Isidore Rigoutsos
• Bharat Ramratnam

Publication/Presentation Date

5-1-2010

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short ( approximately 22 nt) RNAs that impact gene expression by sequence-specific interactions with messenger RNA or promoter sequences of genomic DNA. Ectopic expression of miRNAs can be accomplished by placing fragments of the corresponding miRNA precursor under the control of RNA polymerase II or III (RNAP II/III). Here, we report that, in the absence of exogenous promoters, DNA fragments incorporating miRNA precursors can be delivered directly into a variety of human cells and give rise to the corresponding mature miRNA. Notably, the transcription of these miRNA DNA fragments appears resistant to conventional inhibitors of RNAP I/II/III activity. Taken together, our findings suggest the existence of a previously unrecognized atypical transcription program for miRNA precursor sequences.

Volume

38

Issue

9

First Page

2775

Last Page

2787

ISSN

1362-4962

Published In/Presented At

Song Gao, J., Zhang, Y., Li, M., Tucker, L. D., Machan, J. T., Quesenberry, P., Rigoutsos, I., & Ramratnam, B. (2010). Atypical transcription of microRNA gene fragments. Nucleic acids research, 38(9), 2775–2787. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkp1242

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

20097657

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article