ADAR2 reproducibly changes abundance and sequence of mature microRNAs in the mouse brain [gene expression]

Background: Adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADARs) bind to double-stranded and structured RNAs and deaminate adenosines to inosines. This A to I editing is widespread and required for normal life and development. Besides mRNAs and repetitive elements, ADARs can target miRNA precursors. Editing of miRNA precursors can affect processing efficiency and alter target specificity. Interestingly, ADARs can also influence miRNA abundance independent of RNA-editing. In mouse embryos where editing levels are low, ADAR2 was found to be the major ADAR protein that affects miRNA abundance. Here we extend our analysis to adult mouse brains where high editing levels are observed.

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Vesely C, Tauber S, Sedlazeck FJ, Tajaddod M, von Haeseler A, Jantsch MF