Mir-124 microRNA precursor family
Encyclopedia
The miR-124 microRNA precursor is a small non-coding RNA
molecule that has been identified in flies (MI0000373), nematode worms
(MI0000302), mouse (MI0000150) and human (MI0000443). The mature ~21 nucleotide
microRNAs are processed from hairpin
precursor sequences by the Dicer
enzyme, and in this case originates from the 3' arm. miR-124 has been found to be the most abundant microRNA expressed in neuronal cells
. Experiments to alter expression of miR-124 in neural cells did not appear to affect differentiation.
Non-coding RNA
A non-coding RNA is a functional RNA molecule that is not translated into a protein. Less-frequently used synonyms are non-protein-coding RNA , non-messenger RNA and functional RNA . The term small RNA is often used for short bacterial ncRNAs...
molecule that has been identified in flies (MI0000373), nematode worms
Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living, transparent nematode , about 1 mm in length, which lives in temperate soil environments. Research into the molecular and developmental biology of C. elegans was begun in 1974 by Sydney Brenner and it has since been used extensively as a model...
(MI0000302), mouse (MI0000150) and human (MI0000443). The mature ~21 nucleotide
Nucleotide
Nucleotides are molecules that, when joined together, make up the structural units of RNA and DNA. In addition, nucleotides participate in cellular signaling , and are incorporated into important cofactors of enzymatic reactions...
microRNAs are processed from hairpin
Stem-loop
Stem-loop intramolecular base pairing is a pattern that can occur in single-stranded DNA or, more commonly, in RNA. The structure is also known as a hairpin or hairpin loop. It occurs when two regions of the same strand, usually complementary in nucleotide sequence when read in opposite directions,...
precursor sequences by the Dicer
Dicer
Dicer is an endoribonuclease in the RNase III family that cleaves double-stranded RNA and pre-microRNA into short double-stranded RNA fragments called small interfering RNA about 20-25 nucleotides long, usually with a two-base overhang on the 3' end...
enzyme, and in this case originates from the 3' arm. miR-124 has been found to be the most abundant microRNA expressed in neuronal cells
Neuron
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling. Chemical signaling occurs via synapses, specialized connections with other cells. Neurons connect to each other to form networks. Neurons are the core components of the nervous...
. Experiments to alter expression of miR-124 in neural cells did not appear to affect differentiation.
Targets of miR-124
- Visvanathan et al.. showed that miR-124 targets the mRNA of the anti-neural function proteinProteinProteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
SCP1 (small C-terminal domain phosphatase 1).
- Makeyev et al showed that miR-124 directly targets PTBP1PTBP1Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PTBP1 gene.-Interactions:PTBP1 has been shown to interact with HNRPK, PCBP2, SFPQ and HNRNPL.This gene is targeted by the microRNA miR-124...
(PTB/hnRNP I) mRNA, which encodes a global repressor of alternative pre-mRNA splicing in non-neuronal cells.