Transcriptome-wide miR-155 binding map reveals widespread non-canonical microRNA targeting [mRNA expression data]

microRNAs (miRNAs) are essential components of gene regulation, but identification of miRNA targets remains a major challenge. Most target prediction and discovery relies on perfect complementarity of the miRNA seed to the 3 untranslated region (UTR). However, it is unclear to what extent miRNAs target sites without seed matches. Here, we performed a transcriptome-wide identification of the endogenous targets of a single miRNAmiR-155in a genetically controlled manner. We found that approximately forty percent of miR-155-dependent Argonaute binding occurs at sites without perfect seed matches. The majority of these non-canonical sites feature extensive complementarity to the miRNA seed with one mismatch. These non-canonical sites confer regulation of gene expression albeit less potently than canonical sites. Thus, non-canonical miRNA binding sites are widespread, often contain seed-like motifs, and can regulate gene expression, generating a continuum of targeting and regulation.

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Loeb GB, Khan AA, Canner D, Hiatt JB, Shendure J, Darnell RB, Leslie CS, Rudensky AY