MiRNA targets

1. A method of identifying miRNA response elements (MREs), the method comprising:

conducting an affinity assay and a sequencing assay comprising the following steps:

(a) transfecting a cell with a biotinylated miRNA, wherein the biotinylated miRNA binds to an RNA target sequence and forms a biotinylated miRNA-RNA complex inside the cell;

(b) lysing the cell in lysis buffer containing a macromolecular crowding agent;

(c) isolating the biotinylated miRNA-RNA complex by binding the biotinylated miRNA in the complex to streptavidin-coated beads in the presence of the macromolecular crowding agent;

(d) generating a biotinylated miRNA-RNA fragment by contacting the biotinylated miRNA-RNA complex attached to streptavidin-coated beads with an RNase under conditions sufficient to degrade single stranded RNA associated with the miRNA-RNA complex into RNA fragments and a bead-bound biotinylated miRNA-RNA fragment complex;

(e) separating the bead-bound biotinylated miRNA-RNA fragment complex from single stranded RNA fragments;

(f) extracting the RNA fragment from the bead; and

(g) sequencing each nucleic acid sequence of the extracted RNA fragments wherein each extracted RNA fragment represents an miRNA response element; thereby

(h) identifying the miRNA response element nucleic acid sequence.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the macromolecular crowding agent is one or more of Ficoll PM400, Ficoll PM70, dextran sulfate, Ficoll (Fc) 70 kDa (Fc70), Fc400 kDa (Fc400), trehalose, proline, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4 kDa, and Dextran 670 kDa.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolating step is performed in the presence of EDTA.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the RNase is one or more of RNase T1, RNase A, RNase If, MNase, or an RNase capable of degrading single-stranded RNA.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the miRNA-RNA complex is contacted with the RNase for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, or 60 minutes.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the RNA fragment sequence ranges in length of 5-500, 5-250, 10-100, or 15-60 nucleotides.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence of the extracted RNA fragment is determined by ion semiconductor sequencing, pyrosequencing, sequencing by synthesis, sequencing by ligation, or chain termination sequencing.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the miRNA is selected from the group consisting of: miR-522, miR24, miR34a and let-7a.