Poster abstracts

Poster number 19 submitted by Andrew Guzowski

Endogenous Targets of miR-488* microRNA in Prostate Cancer

Andrew Guzowski BS (Departments of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University), Jinani Slaibi MS (Departments of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University), Jagjit Singh MS (Departments of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University), Girish Shukla Ph.D (Departments of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University)

Abstract:
Micro (mi) RNAs are short ribonucleic acid segments 19 to 24 nucleotides in length. They are non-protein coding RNAs, first discovered in the nematode C. Elegans, and are highly conserved in eukaryotic organisms. The human genome encodes hundreds of miRNAs that target approximately 60% of human genes and are prevalent in many human cell types. MiRNAs post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by binding to the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA. This binding typically negatively affects the expression of the target gene. Our lab has shown that a miRNA, hsa-miR-488* down regulates luciferase activity for plasmids containing androgen receptor (AR) 3’ UTR segment. Using bioinformatics and rational approaches we have identified 43 more potential target genes of miRNA hsa-miR-488*. In this study, we have generated a library of luciferase reporters expressing 3’ UTR segments of potential target genes of hsa-miR-488*. Our data show that hsa-miR-488* can suppress luciferase activity for plasmids containing 3’ UTR target sites of many other genes and suggest negative regulation of multiple genes in prostate cancer. Further studies would determine the role of hsa-miR-488* and its potential array of target genes in prostate cancer development and progression.

Keywords: MicroRNA, Prostate Cancer, Gene Regulation