Link-weight distribution of microRNA co-target networks exhibit universality

TL;DR

This study reveals a universal pattern in the link-weight distributions of miRNA co-target networks across 22 species, with a simple model explaining the observed universality and linking it to species complexity.

Contribution

It introduces a universal scaling law for miRNA co-target network link weights and proposes a simple random-target model to explain this universality.

Findings

Link-weight distributions collapse onto a universal curve when scaled.

The scale-factor correlates with species complexity.

A simple random-target model reproduces the universal distribution.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs which regulate gene expression by binding to the 3' UTR of the corresponding messenger RNAs. We construct miRNA co-target networks for 22 different species using a target prediction database, MicroCosm Tagets. The miRNA pairs of individual species having one or more common target genes are connected and the number of co-targets are assigned as the weight of these links. We show that the link-weight distributions of all the species collapse remarkably onto each other when scaled suitably. It turns out that the scale-factor is a measure of complexity of the species. A simple model, where targets are chosen randomly by miRNAs, could provide the correct scaling function and explain the universality.