MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, highly conserved noncoding RNA molecules that repress gene expression in a sequence-dependent manner. We performed single-cell measurements using quantitative fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry to monitor a target gene's protein expression in the presence and absence of regulation by miRNA. We find that although the average level of repression is modest, in agreement with previous population-based measurements, the repression among individual cells varies dramatically. In particular, we show that regulation by miRNAs establishes a threshold level of target mRNA below which protein production is highly repressed. Near this threshold, protein expression responds sensitively to target mRNA input, consistent with a mathematical model of molecular titration. These results show that miRNAs can act both as a switch and as a fine-tuner of gene expression.
Pubmed ID: 21857679 RIS Download
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A collection of tools for flow cytometer and application setup, data acquisition, and data analysis that help streamline flow cytometry workflows. It provides features to help users integrate flow systems into new application areas, including index sorting for stem cell and single-cell applications, as well as automation protocols for high-throughput and robotic laboratories.
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