Abstract:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control the abundance of the majority of the vertebrate transcriptome. The recognition sequences, or target sites, for bilaterian miRNAs are found predominantly in the 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs) of mRNAs, and are amongst the most highly conserved motifs within 3′UTRs. However, little is known regarding the evolutionary pressures that lead to loss and gain of such target sites. Here, we quantify the selective pressures that act upon miRNA target sites.Notably, selective pressure extends… Show more
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