MicroRNAs (miRNAs), with an average length between 16 nt and 26 nt, are small non-coding RNAs that can repress gene expression on the post-transcriptional level. Macaca fascicularis (M. fascicularis), one of the most important nonhuman primate animal models, is widely used in basic and applied preclinical research, especially in studies that involve neuroscience and disease. However, due to the lack of a complete genome sequence, the miRNAs in M. fascicularis have not been completely characterized. In this study, 86 putative M. fascicularis miRNAs were identified using a strategy of our design. The expression of some of these miRNAs in the tissue was confirmed by qRT-PCR. The function and pathway of their targeted genes were analyzed to reveal the potential relevance of miRNA regulation on diseases and physiological processes. The current study provides insight into potential miRNAs and forms a useful knowledge base for the future understanding of the function of miRNAs in M. fascicularis.
Keywords: B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 homolog; BMI1; CT; DAVID; DEPC; Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery; ES; Ezh2; FGF; HF; M. fascicularis; MFE; MFEI; Macaca fascicularis; MicroRNA; PBS; RCC; SMC; SPRED-1; Sprouty-Related, EVH1 Domain Containing 1; Transcriptome; VEGF; ZEB2; cycle threshold; diethylpyrocarbonate; embryonic stem; enhancer of zeste homolog 2; fibroblast growth factor; heart failure; miRNAs; microRNAs; minimal folding free energy; minimal folding free energy index; phosphate-buffered saline; renal cell carcinoma; skeletal muscle cell; vascular endothelial growth factor; zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2.
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