<i>bcl-2</i> is a target gene of miR-15a, but not miR-16 in chicken lung.

Abstract

<p>(A) miR-15a regulates the translation of <i>bcl-2</i> mRNA through a sequence that is not conserved with human sequence. miR-15a and the binding site in the gga-<i>bcl-2</i> 3′-UTR are shown, but miR-16 shows no target site in this part of the sequence. (B) miR-15a/16 have a consistent target site in human <i>bcl-2</i> 3′-UTR. The miR-15a binding site in the <i>bcl-2</i> 3′-UTR sequence mediates translation repression by miR-15a. (C) The luciferase reporter vector contains two luciferase cDNAs, Renilla luciferase (hRluc) and firefly luciferase (hluc). The <i>bcl-2</i> 3′-UTR was fused to the hRluc cDNA downstream sequence. In co-transfected cells, the miR-15a mimic decreased the expression of hRluc and miR-15a mimic inhibitor rescued hRluc activity; no differences were seen for miR-16. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. * <i>P</i><0.05, ** <i>P</i><0.01.</p