MiRNA-126*靶基因预测及其相关信号通路的生物信息学分析

Bioinformatic analysis of target gene P rediction and related signaling pathways of miRNA-126*

摘要:

目的：通过对miRNA-126*进行靶基因预测及信号通路生物信息学分析，以期为miRNA-126*靶基因相关实验及其调控肺发育机制的深入研究奠定基础。方法：首先利用microRNA（miRNA）芯片技术分别检测胎龄16 d、19 d和21 d胎鼠肺组织中miRNA-126*的表达水平，进而应用miRGen2.0数据库通过生物信息学方法预测其可能的靶基因，然后对其靶基因集合应用Cytoscape及其插件BiNGO进行功能富集分析（GO-analysis），最后应用DAVID数据库进行靶基因信号转导通路富集分析（KEGG Pathway analysis）。结果：miRNA-126*表达量在胎龄16 d、19 d和21 d 3组胎肺组织间逐渐上升。miRNA-126*预测靶基因共有422个，其靶基因集合功能富集于葡萄糖醛酸转移酶、糖代谢等分子功能，多细胞器官发育、发育进程等生物学过程及细胞分隔、细胞器界膜等细胞组分上。信号转导通路则显著富集于RNA降解信号通路，以及朊蛋白疾病信号通路中。结论：本研究结果提示miRNA-126*参与了大鼠胎肺发育过程，为今后研究肺发育提供理论基础。

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To bioinformatically predict and analyze target genes of miRNA-126*, with the aim of providing certain basis for related research about target genes and regulatory mechanism in the future. METHODS: The miRNA chip technology was applied to measure expression levels of miRNA-126* in 3 time points (embryo 16, 19 and 21 days) of fetal lung development. Then the target genes of miRNA-126* were screened through miRGen2.0 database. Subsequent bioinformatic analysis of these target genes was performed by Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway analysis (KEGG Pathway analysis). RESULTS: miRNA-126* manifested continuously upregulated expression with the lung development (from embryo 16 to 21 days). There were 422 predicted target genes in total, and the gene set mainly located in glucuronosyltransferase activity, transferase activity (GO molecular function), multicellular organismal development, developmental process (GO biology process) and intracellular part (GO cellular component). The KEGG Pathway analysis demonstrated that the gene set mostly located in RNA degradation (signal transduction pathway) and prion diseases (disease pathway). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that miRNA-126* plays a certain role in fetal lung development and provide a basis for lung devlopment research in the future.