miRNAGene

miRNAGene is a computational tool designed for the identification and annotation of microRNA genes in genomic sequences. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that play crucial roles in regulating gene expression. Identifying miRNA genes accurately is essential for understanding their function and involvement in various biological processes and diseases. miRNAGene utilizes a combination of sequence homology, structural prediction, and conservation analysis to predict potential miRNA loci within a given genome. The tool can process large-scale genomic data and aims to provide a comprehensive catalog of miRNA genes. Its output typically includes the genomic coordinates of predicted miRNA genes, their precursor sequences (pre-miRNAs), mature miRNA sequences, and associated information such as conservation levels. The development of tools like miRNAGene contributes to the growing field of non-coding RNA research, enabling scientists to explore the regulatory landscape of genomes more effectively. Researchers can use miRNAGene to discover novel miRNAs, validate existing ones, and investigate the evolutionary dynamics of miRNA gene families. The accuracy of miRNAGene predictions can be further refined by integrating experimental data, such as small RNA sequencing results.