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MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression in human diseases, including lung cancer. miRNAs have oncogenic and nononcogenic functions in lung cancer. In this study, we report the identification of a novel miRNA, miR-7515, from lung cancer cells. The novel miR-7515 was characterized using various predictive programs and experimental methods. miR-7515 was able to forming a stem-loop structure and its sequence was conserved in mammals. The expression level of miR-7515 in lung cancer cells and tissues was profiled using TaqMan miRNA assays. miR-7515 was downregulated in lung cancer compared with normal human lung cells and tissues. The target of miR-7515 was determined using a dual luciferase reporter assay. IntroductionThe first microRNA (miRNA) was discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans, (1, 2) and there are currently more than 1,500 human miRNAs listed in miRBase (http://microrna.sanger.ac.uk/index.shtml; ref. 3). miRNAs are endogenous noncoding RNAs that are 18 to 25 nucleotides (nt) in length and are derived from 60 to 80 nt precursor miRNAs refs. 4,5). The stepwise processing of miRNAs requires the double strand-specific ribonuclease (Drosha), the RNase III enzyme Dicer, and the