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Cloning and Identification of MicroRNAs in Earthworm (Eisenia fetida)

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Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) (noncoding RNAs of 20–25 nucleotides) play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in various eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Piwi-interacting RNAs function by combining with PIWI proteins to regulate protein synthesis and to stabilize mRNA, the chromatin framework, and genome structure. This study investigates the role of miRNAs in regeneration. A scrDNA library was constructed, and 17 noncoding RNAs from Eisenia fetida (an optimal model for the study of earthworm regeneration) were cloned and characterized. In addition, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the expression of four small RNAs during different developmental stages. The expression levels of these RNAs in regenerating tissue were higher than in normal tissue, and the expression patterns of these small RNAs were unique during development.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30700067).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 of Science Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China

    Xue-Mei Huang, Qing-Nan Tian, Zhen-Xia Bao, Yun-Fei Qin, San-Jun Chen, Ping Lu, Xiao-Ling Zhang, Yi-Zhe Zhang & Shou-Tao Zhang

  2. Mobile Station of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China

    Shou-Tao Zhang

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  1. Xue-Mei Huang
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  2. Qing-Nan Tian
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  3. Zhen-Xia Bao
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  4. Yun-Fei Qin
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  5. San-Jun Chen
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  7. Xiao-Ling Zhang
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Correspondence to Shou-Tao Zhang.

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Xue-Mei Huang and Qing-Nan Tian contributed equally to this work.

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Huang, XM., Tian, QN., Bao, ZX. et al. Cloning and Identification of MicroRNAs in Earthworm (Eisenia fetida). Biochem Genet 50, 1–11 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-011-9452-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-011-9452-6

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