microRNA sensors: microRNAs表达位点

互联网2013-08-27

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There are several approaches that can be used to determine where specific microRNAs are expressed in a given tissue. Northern blots, microRNA microarrays, and in situ methods such as sensors.

In the figure above, a transgenic mouse was created where the lacZ gene is expressed throughout all tissues in the animal, thus the embryo stains almost entirely blue (see above, c). If specific microRNA target sites are placed in the 3"-UTR of the lacZ gene (see above, b), no blue stain will occur if that specific microRNA is present in the same tissue (see below) read the paper by Mansfield et al.

.The staining pattern in the mouse embryos above is Hox-like because the miR-10 and miR-196 Hox genes are located in Hox-clusters and are expressed in a manner that is overall consistent with their relative locations in the Hox cluster (see figure below).

We use sensors to detect the specific expression of microRNAs in tissues, and are developing newer approaches to follow expression in more sensitive ways-- even in adult mouse tissues. We hope these new tools will give us insight into the function of microRNAs, and perhaps their potential interplay in human diseases such as cancer.