Hubrecht Institute, Cancer Genomics Center, and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
BMC Genomics. 2011 Nov 3;12:546. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-546.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small regulatory RNAs that target sequences in messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to inhibit their protein output. Dissecting the complexities of miRNA function continues to prove challenging as miRNAs are predicted to have thousands of targets, and mRNAs can be targeted by dozens of miRNAs.
To systematically address biological function of miRNAs, we constructed and validated a lentiviral miRNA expression library containing 660 currently annotated and 422 candidate human miRNA precursors. The miRNAs are expressed from their native genomic backbone, ensuring physiological processing. The arrayed layout of the library renders it ideal for high-throughput screens, but also allows pooled screening and hit picking. We demonstrate its functionality in both short- and long-term assays, and are able to corroborate previously described results of well-studied miRNAs.
With the miRNA expression library we provide a versatile tool for the systematic elucidation of miRNA function.
MicroRNAs（miRNAs）是一类小的调节 RNA，可靶向信使 RNA（mRNA）中的序列以抑制其蛋白质输出。miRNA 功能的复杂性不断被证明具有挑战性，因为预测 miRNA 可能有数千个靶标，而数十个 miRNA 可以靶向 mRNAs。
为了系统地解决 miRNA 的生物学功能，我们构建并验证了一个包含 660 个已注释和 422 个候选人类 miRNA 前体的慢病毒 miRNA 表达文库。miRNAs 从其天然基因组骨架表达，确保了生理处理。文库的排列布局使其非常适合高通量筛选，但也允许进行pooled screening 和 hit picking。我们在短期和长期测定中都证明了它的功能，并且能够证实已经研究的 miRNA 的先前描述的结果。
通过 miRNA 表达文库，我们提供了一个通用工具，用于系统地阐明 miRNA 的功能。
