LAUSR

The combinatorial interplay between transcription factors (TF’s) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in numerous biological processes including the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The dopamine neuron differentiation and survival are controlled by the levels of TFs, Nurr1, Foxa1, Lmx1a/b, En1/2, which are regulated by miRNAs. To predict the miRNAs regulating TFs expression concerning PD, three different algorithms; DIANA Micro-T CDS, TargetScan, and miRanda were used. The consensus prediction result is considered as satisfactory, when its statistically significant and it has a high probability to specific target. In three algorithms show 28, 9, 14, 16,3 miRNAs for Nurr1, Foxa1, Lmx1a, En2, En1 respectively. While no identical miRNAs were observed for Lmx1b. using Fisher’s exact test we juxtapose the results from three algorithms which take into account different aspects of binding microRNA to the target. In summary, the identified miRNAs strongly suggested to be involved in dopamine neuron differentiation and survival, which possibly regulate the expression of transcription factors and hence offer possibilities for further experimental validation, which may use diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.