Abstract
Antisense transcription is a pervasive phenomenon, but its source and functional significance is largely unknown. We took
an expression-based approach to explore microRNA (miRNA)-related antisense transcription by computational analyses of
published whole-genome tiling microarray transcriptome and deep sequencing small RNA (smRNA) data. Statistical support
for greater abundance of antisense transcription signatures and smRNAs was observed for miRNA targets than for
paralogous genes with no miRNA cleavage site. Antisense smRNAs were also found associated with MIRNA genes. This
suggests that miRNA-associated ‘‘transitivity’’ (production of small interfering RNAs through antisense transcription) is more
common than previously reported. High-resolution (3 nt) custom tiling microarray transcriptome analysis was performed
with probes 400 bp 59 upstream and 39 downstream of the miRNA cleavage sites (direction relative to the mRNA) for 22
select miRNA target genes. We hybridized RNAs labeled
Original language | English |
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Journal | PLoS Genetics |
State | Published - Apr 17 2009 |