A mutation in porcine pre-miR-15b alters the biogenesis of MiR-15b\16-1 cluster and strand selection of MiR-15b

PLoS One. 2017 May 24;12(5):e0178045. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178045. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that are involved in translational regulation of the messenger RNA molecules. Sequence variations in the genes encoding miRNAs could influence their biogenesis and function. MiR-15b plays an important role in cellular proliferation, apoptosis and the cell cycle. Here, we report the identification of a C58T mutation in porcine pre-miR-15b. Through in vitro and in vivo experiments, we determined that this mutation blocks the transition from pri-miRNA to pre-miRNA, alters the strand selection between miR-15b-5p and miR-15b-3p, and obstructs biogenesis of the downstream miR-16-1. These results serve to highlight the importance of miRNA mutations and their impacts on miRNA biogenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / ultrastructure
  • Mutation / genetics
  • RNA Precursors / genetics*
  • RNA Precursors / metabolism
  • RNA Stability / genetics
  • Sus scrofa

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA Precursors

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (2013AA102502), the Basic Science research Foundation Project of Chongqing (2013cstc-jbky-00105-zj), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31601930, 31372284, 31201770), the Chongqing Fund of application and development (cstc2013yykfC80003), the Chongqing agricultural development foundation (12404, 14440), the National “Twelfth Five-Year” Plan for Science & Technology Support (2015BAD03B02-6) and the National Biological Breeding Capacity Building and Industrialization Projects [(2014)2573] sponsored by National Development and Reform Commission. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.