MicroRNA sponges: competitive inhibitors of small RNAs in mammalian cells.

TitleMicroRNA sponges: competitive inhibitors of small RNAs in mammalian cells.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsEbert, MS, Neilson, JR, Sharp, PA
JournalNat Methods
Volume4
Issue9
Pagination721-6
Date Published2007 Sep
ISSN1548-7091
Keywords3' Untranslated Regions, Animals, Blotting, Northern, Blotting, Western, Genes, Reporter, Genetic Vectors, HeLa Cells, Humans, Luciferases, Firefly, MicroRNAs, Oligonucleotides, Antisense, Plasmids, RNA Interference, RNA Polymerase III, Transfection
Abstract

MicroRNAs are predicted to regulate thousands of mammalian genes, but relatively few targets have been experimentally validated and few microRNA loss-of-function phenotypes have been assigned. As an alternative to chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides, we developed microRNA inhibitors that can be expressed in cells, as RNAs produced from transgenes. Termed 'microRNA sponges', these competitive inhibitors are transcripts expressed from strong promoters, containing multiple, tandem binding sites to a microRNA of interest. When vectors encoding these sponges are transiently transfected into cultured cells, sponges derepress microRNA targets at least as strongly as chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides. They specifically inhibit microRNAs with a complementary heptameric seed, such that a single sponge can be used to block an entire microRNA seed family. RNA polymerase II promoter (Pol II)-driven sponges contain a fluorescence reporter gene for identification and sorting of sponge-treated cells. We envision the use of stably expressed sponges in animal models of disease and development.

DOI10.1038/nmeth1079
Alternate JournalNat. Methods
PubMed ID17694064
PubMed Central IDPMC3857099
Grant ListP30-CA14051 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U19 AI056900-010001 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
U19-AI056900 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
U54 CA112967 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U54 CA112967-03 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States