Transcriptional control of microRNA expression in C. elegans: promoting better understanding

RNA Biol. 2009 Jan-Mar;6(1):49-53. doi: 10.4161/rna.6.1.7574. Epub 2009 Jan 9.

Abstract

Transcriptional regulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression is one of the least understood aspects of miRNA biogenesis. In C. elegans the list of miRNAs whose transcriptional control has been described in some detail is currently limited to four: let-7, lin-4, lsy-6, and mir-61. Each of these genes has been shown experimentally to be transcriptionaly regulated by cis- and/or trans-acting factors that either promote or inhibit expression. Additionally, computational methods based on conservation among miRNA genes have yielded predicted regulatory sequences in C. elegans that may function to regulate miRNA expression on a genome-wide scale.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genes, Helminth
  • Genome, Helminth
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Models, Genetic
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Software
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • MicroRNAs