Cluster organization of miRNA binding sites in mRNA of atherosclerosis candidate genes

Mukushkina Dina¹, Aisina Dana², Ivashchenko Anatoliy³
¹SRI of biology and biotechnology problems Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Almaty, Kazakhstan, dina.mukushkina@gmail.com
²SRI of biology and biotechnology problems Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Almaty, Kazakhstan, dana.aisina03@gmail.com
³SRI of biology and biotechnology problems Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Almaty, Kazakhstan, a.iavashchenko@gmail.com

Many candidate genes are involved in the development of atherosclerosis, which are manifested in a variety of metabolic processes, disturbances of which are observed in this disease. Many publications describe the involvement of miRNAs in the development of atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is necessary to establish which miRNAs can affect the expression of candidate genes. Quantitative characteristics of the interaction of miRNAs with mRNAs candidate genes were determined using the MirTarget program, which detects localization of miRNA binding sites in 3\’UTR, 5\’UTR and CDS; free energy interaction miRNA with mRNA; schemes of nucleotide interaction between miRNA and mRNA. In the mRNA of atherosclerosis genes, the binding sites of two or more miRNAs located in 3\’UTR, 5\’UTR and CDS are established. The organization of miRNAs binding sites with overlapping nucleotide sequences forming clusters was revealed. Such an organization of miRNAs binding sites leads to their compaction several times and causes competition among miRNAs for binding to mRNA. The features of the interaction of miRNAs with mRNA of candidate genes depending on their expression are established. Associations of miRNAs and candidate atherosclerosis genes are proposed for the early diagnosis of this disease.