BLAST EST to identify possible microRNA? - (Oct/21/2005 )

Hi!

I started to drop into the field of microRNA´s and due to actual experiments I was wondering
if there is any possibility to identify EST´s as microRNA´s for example with BLAST.
I would be grateful for any ideas.
Thanks!

Oh, by the way: does anybody know open PhD positions in the area of microRNA?

-Bomber-

Hello,

In theory, because miRNAs are transcribed they should be represented by EST. But because the way EST is cloned and miRNAs don't have poly (A) tail, miRNAs are all lost during cloning, so all known miRNAs hardly have ESTs aligned to them in the genome database. If you want to identify and clone new miRNAs, use some special precedures.

-pcrman-

Identification and characterization of new plant microRNAs using EST analysis
Cell Res. 2005 May;15(5):336-60

-rui-

Thanks for your input everbody!
Cheers

-Bomber-