Abstract
Since their serendipitous discovery in nematodes, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of biological processes in animals. These small RNAs form complex networks that regulate cell differentiation, development and homeostasis. Deregulation of miRNA function is associated with an increasing number of human diseases, particularly cancer. Recent discoveries have expanded our understanding of the control of miRNA function. Here, we review the mechanisms that modulate miRNA activity, stability and cellular localization through alternative processing and maturation, sequence editing, post-translational modifications of Argonaute proteins, viral factors, transport from the cytoplasm and regulation of miRNA-target interactions. We conclude by discussing intriguing, unresolved research questions.
Keywords
microRNAArgonauteBiologyFunction (biology)Computational biologyGene silencingRegulation of gene expressionCell biologyRNA interferenceRNAGeneticsGene
MeSH Terms
AnimalsArgonaute ProteinsCell DifferentiationCytoplasmHomeostasisHumansMicroRNAsNeoplasmsProtein ProcessingPost-Translational
Affiliated Institutions
Related Publications
Regulation of mRNA Translation and Stability by microRNAs
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that extensively regulate gene expression in animals, plants, and protozoa. miRNAs function posttranscriptionally by usually base-pai...
The biochemical basis of microRNA targeting efficacy
Biochemical prediction of miRNA targeting MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate most human messenger RNAs and play essential roles in diverse developmental and physiological processes. Co...
A microRNA in a Multiple-Turnover RNAi Enzyme Complex
In animals, the double-stranded RNA-specific endonuclease Dicer produces two classes of functionally distinct, tiny RNAs: microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)....
MicroRNA Biogenesis and Cancer
Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a recently discovered family of short non–protein-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression. Recent studies of miRNAs highlight a requi...
Systematic Identification of mRNAs Recruited to Argonaute 2 by Specific microRNAs and Corresponding Changes in Transcript Abundance
microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate mRNA stability and translation through the action of the RNAi-induced silencing complex (RISC). Our current understand...
Publication Info
- Year
- 2018
- Type
- review
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 21-37
- Citations
- 2206
- Access
- Closed
External Links
Social Impact
Altmetric
PlumX Metrics
Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions
Citation Metrics
2206
OpenAlex
34
Influential
Cite This
Luca F. R. Gebert,
Ian J. MacRae
(2018).
Regulation of microRNA function in animals.
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
, 20
(1)
, 21-37.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-018-0045-7
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41580-018-0045-7
- PMID
- 30108335
- PMCID
- PMC6546304