Evolutionary changes of the target sites of two microRNAs encoded in the Hox gene cluster of Drosophila and other insect species.

摘要: MicroRNAs (miRs) are noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. In animals, target sites of a miR generally located in 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) messenger RNAs. However, how change during evolution is largely unknown. MiR-iab-4 and miR-iab-4as known to two Hox genes, Abd-A Ubx, Drosophila melanogaster. We have therefore studied evolutionary changes these genes their Drosophila, other insect species, Daphnia. Our homology search identified single copy each same genomic position cluster all species examined. The seed nucleotide sequence was also for species. Searching we found several miR-iab-4 Antp addition Ubx most phylogenetic analysis Abd-A, showed old sites, which existed before divergence 12 been well maintained under purifying selection. By contrast, new were generated evolution, often lost some mostly unalignable UTRs. These results indicate can be potential source generating multiple animals.