A Complete Pipeline for Isolating and Sequencing MicroRNAs, and Analyzing Them Using Open Source Tools

J Vis Exp. 2019 Aug 21:(150):10.3791/59901. doi: 10.3791/59901.

Abstract

Half of all human transcripts are thought to be regulated by microRNAs. Therefore, quantifying microRNA expression can reveal underlying mechanisms in disease states and provide therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Here, we detail how to accurately quantify microRNAs. Briefly, this method describes isolating microRNAs, ligating them to adaptors suitable for high-throughput sequencing, amplifying the final products, and preparing a sample library. Then, we explain how to align the obtained sequencing reads to microRNA hairpins, and quantify, normalize, and calculate their differential expression. Versatile and robust, this combined experimental workflow and bioinformatic analysis enables users to begin with tissue extraction and finish with microRNA quantification.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis*
  • Computational Biology / methods*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Library
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / analysis*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / isolation & purification*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods*
  • Workflow

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • MicroRNAs