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Predicting human microRNA targets: a combined computational-experimental approach.

A new paradigm of gene expression regulation has emerged recently with the discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs). Most, if not all, miRNAs are thought to control gene expression, mostly by base pairing with miRNA-recognition elements (MREs) found in their messenger RNA (mRNA) targets. Despite a large number of reported human miRNAs, many of their mRNA targets remain unknown. Here we use a combined bioinformatics and experimental approach to identify important rules governing miRNA-MRE recognition that allow prediction of human miRNA targets. We describe a computational program, "DIANA-microT", that identifies mRNA targets for animal miRNAs and predicts single mRNA targets for human and mouse miRNAs.

Marianthi Kiriakidou, Peter T. Nelson, Andrei Kouranov, Petko Fitziev, Costas Bouyioukos, Zissimos Mourelatos, and Artemis Hatzigeorgiou (2004) A combined computational-experimental approach predicts human microRNA targets. Genes Dev. 18: 1165-1178.

This paper was highlighted in Nature Methods.