Synaptic enrichment of microRNAs in adult mouse forebrain is related to structural features of their precursors

Biol Direct. 2008 Oct 29:3:44. doi: 10.1186/1745-6150-3-44.

Abstract

Within mouse forebrain, a subset of microRNAs are significantly enriched in synaptoneurosomes (a synaptic fraction containing pinched-off dendritic spines) and a subset are significantly depleted relative to total forebrain homogenate. Here I show that, as a group, the pre-miR hairpin precursors of synaptically enriched microRNAs exhibit significantly different structural features than those that are non-enriched or depleted. Precursors of synaptically enriched microRNAs tend to have a) shorter uninterrupted double-stranded stem segments, and b) more symmetrical bulges containing a single nucleotide on each side. These structural differences may provide a basis for the differential binding of proteins that mediate dendritic transport of pre-miRs, or that prevent pre-miRs from being prematurely processed into mature miRNAs during the transport process.

Reviewers: This article was reviewed by I. King Jordan and Jerzy Jurka.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / chemistry*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Prosencephalon / metabolism*
  • RNA Precursors / chemistry*
  • RNA Precursors / genetics
  • Synaptosomes / metabolism*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA Precursors