Evaluation of the mirn23a Cluster through an iTRAQ-based Quantitative Proteomic Approach

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that are implicated in a number of disease states. MiRNAs can exist as individual entities or may be clustered and transcribed as a single polycistron. The mirn23a cluster consists of three miRNAs: miR-23a, miR-24-2, and miR-27a. Although these miRNAs are transcribed together, they often exist at varying levels in the cell. Despite the fact that the mirn23a cluster is known to play a role in a number of diseases and developmental processes, few direct targets have been identified. In this study, we examined the effects of miR-23a, miR-24-2, miR-27a, or the mirn23a cluster overexpression on the proteome of 70Z/3 pre-B lymphoblast cells. Quantitative mass spectrometry using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) allowed for the global profiling of cell lines after miRNA overexpression. We identified a number of targets of each miRNA that contained predicted miRNA seed sequences and are likely direct targets. In addition, we discovered a cohort of shared miRNA targets and cluster targets, demonstrating the importance of studying miRNA clusters in their entirety.