Backward proteomic approach for microrna's target recognition

In the last decade the role played by miRNAs in post-transcriptional gene expression control has acquired great importance for molecular biology. In fact, the analysis of miRNA expression profile could be a powerful support for the identification of new biomarkers of diseases. The availability of miRNA specific microarray has allowed to obtain a `mirnomic' profile of different organisms or human pathologies. Unfortunately a single miRNA is able to control the expression of several protein's mRNAs. The lack of knowledge about the bio-physical processes of recognition and interaction between a miRNA and its potential targets is a limiting factor in the identification of the `true' miRNA's targets. Here we present a novel `backward' approach that integrates the proteomic data outcome of an antibody array profile, obtained from human smooth muscle cell samples, with miRNA and structural biology information in order to predict and identify potential miRNA's targets.