FANTOM5 delivers interactive map of microRNAs in human primary cells

An interactive map of microRNAs in human primary cells

The latest chapter in the FANTOM5 consortium includes an interactive online map displaying the expression of microRNAs in hundreds of primary human cells was published in Nature Biotechnology (PDF 19.3 MB), in August.

FANTOM5 is an international consortium led by Dr Michiel de Hoon from RIKEN, Japan. University of Melbourne researchers Professor Christine Wells and PhD student Edward Huang (Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience) contributed monocyte libraries, annotations and analyses that led to the description of new immune miRNAs.

Professor Wells, Director of the Centre for Stem Cell Systems and Deputy Program Leader of Stem Cells Australia commented on the significance of these findings: “MicroRNAs form part of a broad genetic lexicon that help us understand how DNA, through transcription, controls the identity and function of cells. This study is important, not only because it is such a comprehensive map, but also because it helps build the rules that let us identify microRNAs. This sets the groundwork to help researchers add to the microRNA atlas as new tissues or disease states are surveyed.”

Readers are reminded that FANTOM5 won a Eureka Prize last year for an outstanding international collaboration.