microRNAs in Oscillatory gene networks (360G-Wellcome-110566_Z_15_A)

MicroRNAs are key regulators of gene function that have emerged as highly represented connectors within gene networks. Current work in the field suggests that microRNAs primarily serve a role in the buffering and regulation of transcriptional and translational network motifs. Unpublished data suggests that microRNAs are found in certain network motifs, such as double feedback loops, more frequently than would be expected by chance. Dynamic gene expression is a field which has recently been shown to be important in the understanding of progenitor cell maintenance and differentiation. Modulation of dynamic gene networks by microRNAs has been shown to be able to control the timing of progenitor cell differentiation in neuronal progenitor cells. It is not currently understood how microRNAs integrate into oscillatory gene networks or if they perform similar regulatory roles in other oscillatory network motifs. Using a top down computational approach gene interaction maps will be generated for human transcription factors and microRNA target predictions. Utilizing this map potentially oscillatory gene network motifs will be identified and their interactions with microRNAs predicted. A subset of neuronal transcription factors which are found within potentially oscillatory network motifs will be selected, validated and the functional analysis of the microRNA interaction investigated.