Structural and thermodynamic features of intergenic and intronic human primary microRNAs

Abstract

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs involved in the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. Being transcribed in the nucleus in the form of a long primary precursor a primary microRNA undergoes multistep biogenesis that leads to the formation of a mature microRNA. One of the critical biogenesis steps is the recognition and processing of primary microRNAs by microprocessor complex. A primary microRNA secondary structure is considered to play a key role during this biogenesis step, but specific structural motives have not been identified yet. In the result of the study on structural and thermodynamic features of intergenic and intronic microRNAs we have demonstrated that the two main classes of human microRNAs have no statistically significant difference in respect of these parameters. The conclusion maybe a base for combining the two class microRNA sequences in a common set for the search for new microRNAs. Specific structural and thermodynamic features in human primary microRNA transcript hairpins have been found; the data may be used for search of new microRNA candidates in human genome and for a design of artificial microRNA sequences for gene therapy and functional genomics purposes.