Argonaute High-Throughput Sequencing of RNAs Isolated by Cross-Linking Immunoprecipitation Reveals a Snapshot of miRNA Gene Regulation in the Mammalian Retina

Mounting
evidence points to roles for miRNA gene regulation in
promoting development, function, and cell survival in the mammalian
retina. However, little is known regarding which retinal genes are
targets of miRNAs. Here, we employed a systematic, nonbiased, biochemical
approach to identify targets of miRNA gene regulation
in the bovine retina, a common model species for vision research.
Using Argonaute high-throughput sequencing of RNAs isolated by cross-linking
immunoprecipitation analysis, we identified 348 high-confidence miRNA
target sites within 261 genes. This list was enriched in rod and cone
photoreceptor genes and included 28 retinal disease genes, providing
further evidence of a role of miRNAs in the pathology of blinding
diseases.