Gene Promoters Direct microRNA action
The Division of Molecular and Cellular Science recently published a paper in
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA entitled: The mechanism of micro-RNA-mediated translation repression is determined by the promoter of the target gene.
Kong YW, Cannell IG, de Moor CH, Hill K, Garside PG, Hamilton TL, Meijer HA, Dobbyn HC, Stoneley M, Spriggs KA, Willis AE, Bushell M.
School of Pharmacy, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
Lay summary:
microRNAs (miRs) are short RNA molecules that repress gene expression. miRs act by affecting RNA translation, i.e. the conversion of RNA transcripts to protein. The precise mechanism of action has been the subject of some controversy, as there are examples of miRs acting prior to or after the initiation of protein synthesis. This study by Dr. Martin Bushell and colleagues in the RNA Biology Group describes a novel finding that the mechanisms of action of miRs are determined by their own gene promoters. In other words, the nuclear history of the miR appears to profoundly affect its mode of action. Kong et al., showed that identical mRNA targets but produced from different gene promoters, used differential modes of translational inhibition. The paper was in the top 3 most downloaded papers in PNAS in July 2008, and has been highlighted for commentaries in Faculty of 1000.
Click on the title of the publication (above) to see the abstract and full details.