What is it about?
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) support numerous sensory and metabolic functions and differ considerably in levels of expression; thus, the taste and smell receptors are much more abundant than the hormone receptors. The levels of GPCRs should link to regulation of their messenger RNAs (mRNAs) by microRNAs (miRs), dependent on stability of mRNA/miR complexes. The strength of binding between mRNAs and miRs is proportional to the content of guanine and cytosine nucleotides (GC content) and the length of binding zones (matches). The GC content correlates significantly with length in the ubiquitous matches of 7-12 nucleotides. Several GPCR groups strongly differ in overall match numbers and density. The mRNAs of smell and taste GPCRs have the lowest GC content and match numbers and fewest miR partners. The Glucagon and Frizzled (adhesion) receptor families show the highest matching.
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Why is it important?
Partnership of GPCR mRNAs and miRs should significantly relate to the type of function of the receptor proteins, with mRNAs of the sensory receptors having the lowest and those of glucose-regulating GPCRs the highest targeting. by miRs. This is also of interest for the regulation of GPCRs by exogenous miRs.
Perspectives
Control of hormone-receiving GPCRs, and especially of glucose-regulating receptors, could be improved by GC-rich small RNAs and short nucleotide chains (oligonucleotides), which however need to be modified by adding elements that facilitate uptake into cells (very low for plain RNAs and oligonucleotides). Alternative are treatments boosting the production of particular miRs by the cells, including transfection of the respective DNAs.
Prof. Steven L Parker
UTHSC Memphis
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Canonical microRNA Matching Differs Greatly Across Groups of G-protein Coupled Receptor mRNAs, MicroRNA, December 2017, Bentham Science Publishers,
DOI: 10.2174/2211536606666170804162421.
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