Analysis of putative miRNA function using a novel approach, GAPPS-miRTar<SUP>GE</SUP>

초록

Deciphering the function of miRNA is one of the most important research subjects directed toward understanding the regulation of gene expression. Several experimental methodologies and bioinformatics programs have been developed, however, elucidating miRNA function has not been an easy task. Herein, we suggest a new method, GAPPS-miRTar(GE), which is a novel methodology for predicting miRNA function based on the proportion of mRNA targets expressed during embryonic developmental stages, the Theilers stages (TS), in mice. GAPPS-miRTar(GE) is essentially a computational approach that groups miRNAs using shared expression patterns of their target genes during the 28 different TS. In this study, we present not only several examples derived from the GAPPS-miRTar(GE) analyses that confirm previously known miRNA functions but also examples of function prediction for valid but functionally unknown miRNAs. Furthermore, we show that tissue-centered GAPPS-miRTar(GE), such as brain-centered or heart-centered, is useful for predicting miRNA function on a more detailed level.

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