SURVEY OF MICRORNA FUNCTIONS IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small noncoding RNAs, which act as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. They play an important role in fine-tuning a broad range of biological processes like growth, development, metabolism, neurodegeneration etc. This thesis work aims to characterize functions of miRNAs, using reverse genetics in Drosophila melanogaster. This work was started by studying 53 novel miRNAs, newly predicted in 2007. In-situ hybridization in embryos was used for screening the novel miRNAs for their expression pattern. Based on their expression patterns, conservation (at least across 12 different Drosophila species), and their location in the genome, 8 miRNAs (miR-252, miR-965, miR-927, miR-980, miR-993, miR-995, miR-998 and miR-1000) were selected for detailed functional analysis. This thesis describes in depth functional characterization of two of these miRNAs, miR-1000 and miR-965 and their role in nervous system and morphogenesis respectively.