CpG Islands as a putative source for animal miRNAs: evolutionary and functional implications.
Mol Biol Evol
; 28(5): 1545-51, 2011 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21097999
ABSTRACT
MicroRNAs (miRs) are considered major contributors to the evolution of animal morphological complexity. Multiple bursts of novel miR families were documented throughout animal evolution, yet, their evolutionary origins are not understood. Here, we discuss two alternative genomic sources for novel miR families, namely, transposable elements, which were previously described, and a newly proposed origin CpG islands. We show that these two origins are evolutionarily distinct and that they correspond to marked differences in several functional and genomic characteristics. Together, our results shed light on the intriguing origin of one of the major constituents of regulatory networks in animals, miRs.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Evolution, Molecular
/
CpG Islands
/
MicroRNAs
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Mol Biol Evol
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Israel