Intensive research in past two decades has uncovered the presence and importance of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which includes microRNAs (miRs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs). These two classes of ncRNAs interact to a certain extent, as some lncRNAs bind to miRs to sequester them. Such lncRNAs are collectively called 'competing endogenous RNAs' or 'miRNA sponges'. In this study, we screened for lncRNAs that may act as miRNA sponges using the publicly available data sets and databases. To uncover the roles of miRNA sponges, loss-of-function experiments were conducted, which revealed the biological roles as miRNA sponges. LINC00324 is important for the cell survival by binding to miR-615-5p leading to the de-repression of its target BTG2. LOC400043 controls several biological functions via sequestering miR-28-3p and miR-96-5p, thereby changing the expressions of transcriptional regulators. Finally, we also screened for circular RNAs (circRNAs) that may function as miRNA sponges. The results were negative at least for the selected circRNAs in this study. In conclusion, miRNA sponges can be identified by applying a series of bioinformatics techniques and validated with biological experiments.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bib/bbw053 | DOI Listing |
J Ovarian Res
January 2025
Department of Urology, Zigong Fourth People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan, China.
Background: Granulosa cell proliferation and survival are essential for normal ovarian function and follicular development. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation. Nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been implicated in various cellular processes, but its role in granulosa cell function remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand)
January 2025
Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh-11623, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Mol Sci
December 2024
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Disease Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
The specific expression profile and function of circular RNA (circRNA) in follicular atresia remain largely unknown. Here, the circRNA expression profiles of granulosa cells derived from healthy follicles (HFs) and antral follicles (AFs) in buffalo were analyzed by RNA-seq, and the mechanism of a differentially expressed circRNA (DEcircRNA) circTEC regulating the granulosa cell function that affects follicular atresia was further explored. RNA-seq results showed that a total of 112 DEcircRNAs were identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlants (Basel)
December 2024
A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia.
Among the long non-coding RNAs that are currently recognized as important regulatory molecules influencing a plethora of processes in eukaryotic cells, circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a distinct class of RNAs that are predominantly produced by back-splicing of pre-mRNA. The most studied regulatory mechanisms involving circRNAs are acting as miRNA sponges, forming R-loops with genomic DNA, and encoding functional proteins. In addition to circRNAs generated by back-splicing, two types of circRNAs capable of autonomous RNA-RNA replication and systemic transport have been described in plants: viroids, which are infectious RNAs that cause a number of plant diseases, and retrozymes, which are transcripts of retrotransposon genomic loci that are capable of circularization due to ribozymes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnimals (Basel)
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China.
Lactation is a complex physiological process regulated by numerous genes and factors. Circular RNA (circRNA), a non-coding RNA, acts as a molecular sponge that sequesters microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate target gene expression. Although circRNA has been linked to mammary gland lactation, its specific role in yaks remains underexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!