Regulation of microRNA biogenesis and turnover by animals and their viruses

Item does not contain fulltextMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a ubiquitous component of gene regulatory networks that modulate the precise amounts of proteins expressed in a cell. Despite their small size, miRNA genes contain various recognition elements that enable specificity in when, where and to what extent they are expressed. The importance of precise control of miRNA expression is underscored by functional studies in model organisms and by the association between miRNA mis-expression and disease. In the last decade, identification of the pathways by which miRNAs are produced, matured and turned-over has revealed many aspects of their biogenesis that are subject to regulation. Studies in viral systems have revealed a range of mechanisms by which viruses target these pathways through viral proteins or non-coding RNAs in order to regulate cellular gene expression. In parallel, a field of study has evolved around the activation and suppression of antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) by viruses. Virus encoded suppressors of RNAi can impact miRNA biogenesis in cases where miRNA and small interfering RNA pathways converge. Here we review the literature on the mechanisms by which miRNA biogenesis and turnover are regulated in animals and the diverse strategies that viruses use to subvert or inhibit these processes

Alteration of processing induced by a single nucleotide polymorphism in pri-miR-126

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that inhibit expression of specific target genes at the post-transcriptional level. Sequence variations in miRNA genes, including pri-miRNAs, pre-miRNAs and mature miRNAs, could potentially influence the processing and/or target selection of miRNAs. In this study, we have found the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the twenty-fourth nucleotide (+24) of the mature miR-126 in the genome of RS4;11 cells, derived from a MLL-AF4 ALL patient. Through a series of in vivo analyzes, we found that this miR-126 SNP significantly blocks the processing of pri-miRNA to mature miRNA, as well as reduces miRNA-mediated translational suppression. Moreover, its frequency is different among races. Thus, our study emphasizes the importance of identifying new miRNA SNP and its contribution to miRNA biogenesis which is possible link to human genetic disease.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01 DK068348

Gaussia Luciferase for Bioluminescence Tumor Monitoring in Comparison with Firefly Luciferase

Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) is a secreted reporter, and its expression in living animals can be assessed by in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) or blood assays. We characterized Gluc as an in vivo reporter in comparison with firefly luciferase (Fluc). Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with tumor cells expressing both Fluc and Gluc and underwent Flue BLI, Gluc BLI, blood assays of Glue activity, and caliper measurement. In Gluc BLI, the signal from the tumor peaked immediately and then decreased rapidly. In the longitudinal monitoring, all measures indicated an increase in tumor burden early after cell inoculation. However, the increase reached plateaus in Gluc BLI and Fluc BLI despite a continuous increase in the caliper measurement and Gluc blood assay. Significant correlations were found between the measures, and the correlation between the blood signal and caliper volume was especially high. Gluc allows tumor monitoring in mice and should be applicable to dual-reporter assessment in combination with Fluc. The Gluc blood assay appears to provide a reliable indicator of viable tumor burden, and the combination of a blood assay and in vivo BLI using Glue should be promising for quantifying and localizing the tumors

Gaussia Luciferase for Bioluminescence Tumor Monitoring in Comparison with Firefly Luciferase

Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) is a secreted reporter, and its expression in living animals can be assessed by in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) or blood assays. We characterized Gluc as an in vivo reporter in comparison with firefly luciferase (Fluc). Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with tumor cells expressing both Fluc and Gluc and underwent Flue BLI, Gluc BLI, blood assays of Glue activity, and caliper measurement. In Gluc BLI, the signal from the tumor peaked immediately and then decreased rapidly. In the longitudinal monitoring, all measures indicated an increase in tumor burden early after cell inoculation. However, the increase reached plateaus in Gluc BLI and Fluc BLI despite a continuous increase in the caliper measurement and Gluc blood assay. Significant correlations were found between the measures, and the correlation between the blood signal and caliper volume was especially high. Gluc allows tumor monitoring in mice and should be applicable to dual-reporter assessment in combination with Fluc. The Gluc blood assay appears to provide a reliable indicator of viable tumor burden, and the combination of a blood assay and in vivo BLI using Glue should be promising for quantifying and localizing the tumors

MicroRNA-126-mediated control of cell fate in B-cell myeloid progenitors as a potential alternative to transcriptional factors

Lineage specification is thought to be largely regulated at the level of transcription, where lineage-specific transcription factors drive specific cell fates. MicroRNAs (miR), vital to many cell functions, act posttranscriptionally to decrease the expression of target mRNAs. MLL-AF4 acute lymphocytic leukemia exhibits both myeloid and B-cell surface markers, suggesting that the transformed cells are B-cell myeloid progenitor cells. Through gain- and loss-of-function experiments, we demonstrated that microRNA 126 (miR-126) drives B-cell myeloid biphenotypic leukemia differentiation toward B cells without changing expression of E2A immunoglobulin enhancer-binding factor E12/E47 (E2A), early B-cell factor 1 (EBF1), or paired box protein 5, which are critical transcription factors in B-lymphopoiesis. Similar induction of B-cell differentiation by miR-126 was observed in normal hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo in uncommitted murine c-Kit+Sca1+Lineage− cells, with insulin regulatory subunit-1 acting as a target of miR-126. Importantly, in EBF1-deficient hematopoietic progenitor cells, which fail to differentiate into B cells, miR-126 significantly up-regulated B220, and induced the expression of B-cell genes, including recombination activating genes-1/2 and CD79a/b. These data suggest that miR-126 can at least partly rescue B-cell development independently of EBF1. These experiments show that miR-126 regulates myeloid vs. B-cell fate through an alternative machinery, establishing the critical role of miRNAs in the lineage specification of multipotent mammalian cells. Keywords: cell fate decision; lymphopoiesi