Biological functions of microRNAs: a review

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - Tập 67 - Trang 129-139 - 2010
Yong Huang1,2, Xing Jia Shen1,2, Quan Zou3, Sheng Peng Wang1,2, Shun Ming Tang1,2, Guo Zheng Zhang1,2
1Jiang Su University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang City, People’s Republic of China
2The Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang City, People’s Republic of China
3School of Information Science and Technology of Xiamen University, Xiamen City, People’s Republic of China

Tóm tắt

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered family of endogenous, noncoding RNA molecules approximately 22 nt in length. miRNAs modulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to complementary sequences in the coding or 3′ untranslated region of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). It is now clear that the biogenesis and function of miRNAs are related to the molecular mechanisms of various clinical diseases, and that they can potentially regulate every aspect of cellular activity, including differentiation and development, metabolism, proliferation, apoptotic cell death, viral infection and tumorgenesis. Here, we review recent advances in miRNA research, and discuss the diverse roles of miRNAs in disease.

Tài liệu tham khảo

El Ouaamari A, Baroukh N, Martens GA, Lebrun P, Pipeleers D, van Obberghen E (2008) miR-375 targets 3′-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 and regulates glucose-induced biological responses in pancreatic beta-cells. Diabetes 57:2708–2717

Faraoni I, Antonetti FR, Cardone J, Bonmassar E (2009) miR-155 gene: a typical multifunctional microRNA. Biochim Biophys Acta 1792:497–505