MiR-3120 is a mirror microRNA that targets heat shock cognate protein 70 and auxilin messenger RNAs and regulates clathrin vesicle uncoating.

Abstract

We show that a single gene locus gives rise to two fully processed and functional miRNAs, i.e. that due to imperfect base pairing, two distinct microRNAs (miRNAs) can be produced from the fully complementary DNA strands. The antisense strand encodes miR-214, which is transcribed by its own promoter, whereas a novel miRNA, miR-3120, is co-expressed with its host gene mRNA. We also found that miR-3120 regulates important aspects of cellular function that are similar to that of its host gene, dynamin-3. miR-3120 was found to be located in neuronal cell bodies and to target Hsc70 and auxilin, and its lentivirus-mediated expression inhibited the uncoating of clathrin-coated vesicles. Finally, mirror miRNAs are likely to represent a new group of miRNAs with complex roles in coordinating gene expression.

• Authors: Helen Scott, Joanna Howarth, Youn Bok Lee, Liang-Fong Wong, Ioannis Bantounas, Leonidas Phylactou, Paul Verkade, James B Uney
• Journal: The Journal of biological chemistry (J Biol Chem) Vol. 287 Issue 18 Pg. 14726-33 (Apr 27 2012) ISSN: 1083-351X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22393045 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Auxilins
• HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
• MicroRNAs
• RNA, Messenger
• Dynamin III

Topics

• Animals
• Auxilins (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Clathrin-Coated Vesicles (genetics, metabolism)
• Dynamin III (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Gene Expression Regulation (physiology)
• HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics)
• MicroRNAs (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Neurons (cytology, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar