Conservation of small RNA pathways in platypus
Date
2008
Authors
Murchison, E.
Kheradpour, P.
Sachidanandam, R.
Smith, C.
Hodges, E.
Xuan, Z.
Kellis, M.
Grutzner, F.
Stark, A.
Hannon, G.
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Advisors
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Genome Research, 2008; 18(6):995-1004
Statement of Responsibility
Elizabeth P. Murchison, Pouya Kheradpour, Ravi Sachidanandam, Carly Smith, Emily Hodges, Zhenyu Xuan, Manolis Kellis, Frank Grützner, Alexander Stark, and Gregory J. Hannon
Conference Name
Abstract
Small RNA pathways play evolutionarily conserved roles in gene regulation and defense from parasitic nucleic acids. The character and expression patterns of small RNAs show conservation throughout animal lineages, but specific animal clades also show variations on these recurring themes, including species-specific small RNAs. The monotremes, with only platypus and four species of echidna as extant members, represent the basal branch of the mammalian lineage. Here, we examine the small RNA pathways of monotremes by deep sequencing of six platypus and echidna tissues. We find that highly conserved microRNA species display their signature tissue-specific expression patterns. In addition, we find a large rapidly evolving cluster of microRNAs on platypus chromosome X1, which is unique to monotremes. Platypus and echidna testes contain a robust Piwi-interacting (piRNA) system, which appears to be participating in ongoing transposon defense.
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Copyright © 2008 by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press Orginally published online May 7, 2008