scholarly journals Interplay of target site architecture and miRNA abundance determine miRNA activity and specificity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Brancati ◽  
Sarah H. Carl ◽  
Helge Großhans

ABSTRACTThe recognition that the miRNA seed sequence is a major determinant of miRNA activity has greatly advanced the ability to predict miRNA targets. However, it has remained unclear to what extent miRNAs act redundantly when they are members of the same family and thus share a common seed. Using in vivo studies in C. elegans, we uncover features that drive specific target repression by individual miRNA family members. We find that seed-distal complementarity to a specific family member promotes specificity. However, the extent and robustness of specificity are greatly increased by seed match ‘imperfections’, such as bulges and G:U wobble base pairs. Depending on the seed match architecture, specificity may be overcome by increasing the levels of a miRNA lacking seed-distal complementarity. Hence, in contrast to a binary distinction between functional and non-functional target sites, our data support a model where functionality depends on a combination of target site quality and miRNA abundance. This emphasizes the importance of studying miRNAs under physiological conditions in their endogenous contexts.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget Donnelly ◽  
Bing Yang ◽  
Chen-Yu Liu ◽  
Katherine McJunkin

MicroRNA (miRNA) abundance is tightly controlled by regulation of biogenesis and decay. Here we show that the mir-35 miRNA family undergoes regulated decay at the transition from embryonic to larval development in C. elegans. The seed sequence of the miRNA is necessary and sufficient for this regulation. Sequences outside the seed (3′ end) regulate mir-35 abundance in the embryo but are not necessary for sharp decay at the transition to larval development. Enzymatic modifications of the miRNA 3′ end are neither prevalent nor correlated with changes in decay, suggesting that miRNA 3′ end display is not a core feature of this mechanism and further supporting a seed-driven decay model. Our findings demonstrate that seed sequence-specific decay can selectively and coherently regulate all redundant members of a miRNA seed family, a class of mechanism that has great biological and therapeutic potential for dynamic regulation of a miRNA family′s target repertoire.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueying Zhou ◽  
Zhelong Li ◽  
Wenqi Sun ◽  
Guodong Yang ◽  
Changyang Xing ◽  
...  

Background: Exosomes are cell-derived nanovesicles that play vital roles in intercellular communication. Recently, exosomes are recognized as promising drug delivery vehicles. Up till now, how the in vivo distribution of exosomes is affected by different administration routes has not been fully understood. Methods: In the present study, in vivo distribution of exosomes following intravenous and intraperitoneal injection approaches was systemically analyzed by tracking the fluorescence-labeled exosomes and qPCR analysis of C. elegans specific miRNA abundance delivered by exosomes in different organs. Results: The results showed that exosomes administered through tail vein were mostly taken up by the liver, spleen and lungs while exosomes injected intraperitoneally were more dispersedly distributed. Besides the liver, spleen, and lungs, intraperitoneal injection effectively delivered exosomes into the visceral adipose tissue, making it a promising strategy for obesity therapy. Moreover, the results from fluorescence tracking and qPCR were slightly different, which could be explained by systemic errors. Conclusion: Together, our study reveals that different administration routes cause a significant differential in vivo distribution of exosomes, suggesting that optimization of the delivery route is prerequisite to obtain rational delivery efficiency in detailed organs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
pp. 8622
Author(s):  
Pilar Álvarez-Illera ◽  
Paloma García-Casas ◽  
Rosalba I Fonteriz ◽  
Mayte Montero ◽  
Javier Alvarez

Mitochondrial [Ca2+] plays an important role in the regulation of mitochondrial function, controlling ATP production and apoptosis triggered by mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. This regulation depends on Ca2+ entry into the mitochondria during cell activation processes, which is thought to occur through the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU). Here, we have studied the mitochondrial Ca2+ dynamics in control and MCU-defective C. elegans worms in vivo, by using worms expressing mitochondrially-targeted YC3.60 yellow cameleon in pharynx muscle. Our data show that the small mitochondrial Ca2+ oscillations that occur during normal physiological activity of the pharynx were very similar in both control and MCU-defective worms, except for some kinetic differences that could mostly be explained by changes in neuronal stimulation of the pharynx. However, direct pharynx muscle stimulation with carbachol triggered a large and prolonged increase in mitochondrial [Ca2+] that was much larger in control worms than in MCU-defective worms. This suggests that MCU is necessary for the fast mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake induced by large cell stimulations. However, low-amplitude mitochondrial Ca2+ oscillations occurring under more physiological conditions are independent of the MCU and use a different Ca2+ pathway.


2005 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Hendry ◽  
Maxine J. McCall ◽  
Trevor J. Lockett

The cleavage rates of RNA substrates by trans-acting, hammerhead ribozymes are controlled by interactions between helices I and II. The interactions are affected by the relative lengths of these two double helices and by unpaired nucleotides protruding beyond helix I, either in the substrate or the ribozyme strand. Maximum cleavage rates are observed for ribozyme–substrate complexes with three or more base pairs in helix II and six or less base pairs in helix I. However, for these helix combinations, rates fall sharply with unpaired nucleotides at the end of helix I. Cleavage rates by ribozymes with one or two base pairs in helix II increase as helix I is lengthened, and are unaffected by unpaired nucleotides on the end. Since miniribozymes, with one base pair in helix II, efficiently cleave long RNA transcripts under physiological conditions, they represent the optimal design for the simple hammerheads for application in vivo.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamilton Lee ◽  
Jenica Lumata ◽  
Michael A. Luzuriaga ◽  
Candace Benjamin ◽  
Olivia Brohlin ◽  
...  

<div><div><div><p>Many contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging are based on gadolinium, however side effects limit their use in some patients. Organic radical contrast agents (ORCAs) are potential alternatives, but are reduced rapidly in physiological conditions and have low relaxivities as single molecule contrast agents. Herein, we use a supramolecular strategy where cucurbit[8]uril binds with nanomolar affinities to ORCAs and protects them against biological reductants to create a stable radical in vivo. We further over came the weak contrast by conjugating this complex on the surface of a self-assembled biomacromolecule derived from the tobacco mosaic virus.</p></div></div></div>


Author(s):  
Tamilarasi G P ◽  
Sabarees G

Oxidation is an essential reaction in the human body, which determines the expression of proteins in the body. This results in the altered expression like rapid growth resulting in cancers and other disorders. Many synthetic drugs are available in the market that is effective in limiting the free radical generation and the reaction of radicals with cells. Unfortunately, all those synthetic drugs were found to cause side effects and adverse effects in the body. But given the accuracy of the predictability of the results and administration, this research focuses on testing the anti-oxidant efficiency in rat models testing the biochemical parameters. Investigations have also been done on the anti-oxidant activity of Tectona, but every research was concentrated to prove the anti-oxidant activity only. extract had been tested for anti-oxidant activity by estimating various tissue parameters and it showed better activity. As predicted, there is a significant difference in the and results which can be explained are due to the physiological conditions that exist inside the body.


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