Figure 2

Validation of MAP2K3 mRNA as a target of miR-21. (A): Sequence of potential binding site of miR-21 in the 3’UTR of MAP2K3 mRNA (top panel), mutations were introduced into the binding site for generation of mutated MAP2K3 3’TUR (bottom panel). (B and C): Validation of miR-21 target using MAP2K3 3’UTR luciferase reporter. Cells co-transfected with pMIR-Report/MAP2K3 3’UTR (WT) or pMIR-Report/Mut-MAP2K3 3’UTR (Mut) and pAd/pri-miR-21 (B), pAd/miR-21/inhibitor (C), and pAd/con plasmids showed a decreased luciferase activity in pAd/pri-miR-21 cells (B). Luciferase activity after site directed mutagenesis of the 3’UTR of MAP2K3 mRNA in the miR-21 seed sequence (pMIR-Report/Mut-MAP2K3) was significantly higher with respect to the pMIR-Report/MAP2K3 vector transfected cells (B and C). Results represented the mean ± SD from three independent triplicated experiments (N=9).