Gene expression
How do microRNAs recognize their targets?
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
Sites with as little as seven base pairs matching the miRNA 5′ end can confer regulation; such 5′-dominant sites are common in conserved 3′ UTRs.
Key findings
Seven-bp complementarity to the miRNA 5′ end suffices for in vivo regulation; genome-wide, 5′-dominant sites occur 2–3× more often than random in conserved 3′ UTRs and were often missed by energy-optimized predictors.
Methodology
Combined experimental and computational analyses of miRNA–target pairing rules in animals.
Limitations
Rules are for animal miRNAs studied; not every predicted site is equally functional in every tissue.
How this study connects
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