Hidden Layers of Human Small RNAs

Overview

Journal BMC Genomics

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Genetics

Date 2008 Apr 12

PMID 18402656

Citations 169

Authors

Hideya Kawaji

Mari Nakamura

Yukari Takahashi

Albin Sandelin

Shintaro Katayama

Shiro Fukuda

Carsten O Daub

Chikatoshi Kai

Jun Kawai

Jun Yasuda

Piero Carninci

Yoshihide Hayashizaki

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Small RNA attracts increasing interest based on the discovery of RNA silencing and the rapid progress of our understanding of these phenomena. Although recent studies suggest the possible existence of yet undiscovered types of small RNAs in higher organisms, many studies to profile small RNA have focused on miRNA and/or siRNA rather than on the exploration of additional classes of RNAs.

Results: Here, we explored human small RNAs by unbiased sequencing of RNAs with sizes of 19-40 nt. We provide substantial evidences for the existence of independent classes of small RNAs. Our data shows that well-characterized non-coding RNA, such as tRNA, snoRNA, and snRNA are cleaved at sites specific to the class of ncRNA. In particular, tRNA cleavage is regulated depending on tRNA type and tissue expression. We also found small RNAs mapped to genomic regions that are transcribed in both directions by bidirectional promoters, indicating that the small RNAs are a product of dsRNA formation and their subsequent cleavage. Their partial similarity with ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) suggests unrevealed functions of ribosomal DNA or interstitial rRNA. Further examination revealed six novel miRNAs.

Conclusion: Our results underscore the complexity of the small RNA world and the biogenesis of small RNAs.

Citing Articles

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Shen L, Zhang W, Deng J, Qi Z, Lin Z, Wang Z Mil Med Res. 2024; 11(1):53.

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