miRNA targets Using undergraduate molecular biology labs to discover targets of miRNAs in humans Adam Idica, Jordan Thompson, Irene Munk Pedersen, Pavan Kadandale
Labs 7-9 flow chart Pick target Design primers Isolate RNA from cells Make cDNA using RT-PCR Use qPCR to quantify expression level Repeat
RNA Isolation: Overview ? Lyse cells BindWashElute ??
RT-PCR What are components for RT-PCR? - RNA template - Primer: which? - dNTPs - RT - Buffer
Controls Product RTPCR RT PCR RT PCR
Controls Product -RTPCR -RT PCR -RT PCR
Quantifying DNA/RNA: qPCR 1 cycle 2 cycles 3 cycles 30 cycles Start with 1 molecule 2 molecules 4 molecules 8 molecules ~1 billion molecules Start with 10 molecules 20 molecules 40 molecules 80 molecules ~10 billion molecules
Same starting material… Looks different!
Different starting material… Looks the same!
Solution: qPCR
“Threshold” cycle
How can we quantify DNA in PCR? DNA molecules in PCR - Template - Primer - dNTPs - Product How to quantify ONLY product?
TemplatePrimerdNTPs Quantifying PCR products TemplatePrimerdNTPsProduct
qPCR – Things to think about… qPCR data: Conclusion? B. “X” is not target A. “X” is target C. Need a control Fluorescence units Wildtype miR-128 overexpression
qPCR controls Normalize amount of starting material? Could normalize total RNA Better method?
qPCR – Things to think about… qPCR data: Conclusion? B. “X” is not target A. “X” is target C. Need a control Normalized fluorescence Wildtype miR-128 overexpression
qPCR controls Normalize for overexpression of miR-128? Positive control
“Threshold” cycle
Calculations C T = C T (control) - C T (miR) C T (miR) = C T (target-miR) - C T (endogenous control-miR) C T (control) = C T (target-control) - C T (endogenous control-control) Expression fold change = 2 C T