Cited by 166Gene Regulatory Network AnalysisMicroRNA in disease regulationBacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

MiRNAs confer phenotypic robustness to gene networks by suppressing biological noise

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Siciliano, Velia, Garzilli, Immacolata, Fracassi, Chiara, Criscuolo, Stefania, Ventre, Simona, di Bernardo, Diego·2013·Nature Communications

Abstract

miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs able to modulate target gene expression. It has been postulated that miRNAs confer robustness to biological processes, but clear experimental evidence is still missing. Here, using a synthetic biological approach, we demonstrate that microRNAs provide phenotypic robustness to transcriptional regulatory networks by buffering fluctuations in protein levels. We construct a network motif in mammalian cells exhibiting a 'toggle-switch' phenotype in which two alternative protein expression levels define its ON and OFF states. The motif consists of an inducible transcription factor that self-regulates its own transcription and that of a miRNA against the transcription factor itself. We confirm, using mathematical modelling and experimental approaches, that the microRNA confers robustness to the toggle-switch by enabling the cell to maintain and transmit its state. When absent, a dramatic increase in protein noise level occurs, causing the cell to randomly switch between the two states.

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  • miRNAs may play key roles in the post-transcriptional reduction of expression noise.

    “Intriguingly, miRNA do not solely, or maybe even predominantly, function as target-specific regulators but may play key roles in the post-transcriptional reduction of expression noise (89, 90).”

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Authors
Siciliano, V., Garzilli, I., Fracassi, C., Criscuolo, S., Ventre, S., & di Bernardo, D.
Affiliations
Telethon Institute Of Genetics And Medicine (IT)
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2013-09-30
Volume
4
Issue
1
Pages
2364-2364
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1974343943
Cited by
166
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 1
FWCI
6.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Fondazione Telethon (TGM11SB1)
  • Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › MicroRNA in disease regulation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
Keywords
microRNA, phenotypic robustness, biological noise, transcriptional regulatory networks, toggle switch, synthetic gene circuits, state switching
MeSH terms
Animals, Cricetulus, Gene Expression Regulation, Genetic Vectors, Models, Genetic, Phenotype, Stochastic Processes, Transcription, Genetic, Protein Biosynthesis, Lentivirus, CHO Cells, Feedback, Physiological, MicroRNAs, E2F1 Transcription Factor, Gene Regulatory Networks, Synthetic Biology

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