Structure, evolution and function of the bi-directionally transcribed iab-4/iab-8 microRNA locus in arthropods

Jerome H L Hui, Antonio Marco, Suzanne Hunt, Janet Melling, Sam Griffiths-Jones, Matthew Ronshaugen

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    In Drosophila melanogaster, the iab-4/iab-8 locus encodes bi-directionally transcribed microRNAs that regulate the function of flanking Hox transcription factors. We show that bi-directional transcription, temporal and spatial expression patterns and Hox regulatory function of the iab-4/iab-8 locus are conserved between fly and the beetle Tribolium castaneum. Computational predictions suggest iab-4 and iab-8 microRNAs can target common sites, and cell-culture assays confirm that iab-4 and iab-8 function overlaps on Hox target sites in both fly and beetle. However, we observe key differences in the way Hox genes are targeted. For instance, abd-A transcripts are targeted only by iab-8 in Drosophila, whereas both iab-4 and iab-8 bind to Tribolium abd-A. Our evolutionary and functional characterization of a bi-directionally transcribed microRNA establishes the iab-4/iab-8 system as a model for understanding how multiple products from sense and antisense microRNAs target common sites. © The Author(s) 2013.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)3352-3361
    Number of pages9
    JournalNucleic acids research.
    Volume41
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2013

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